Because extracting and refining gold is associated with large amounts of water and energy consumption and toxic chemicals, for many investors, gold does not have the reputation of being a sustainable investment. 

Mining of the precious metal accounts for most of its environmental footprint. Greater sustainability in gold mining and trading is therefore an ongoing issue in environmental protection discussions, but increasingly in investor circles as well.

Geneva-based MKS Pamp, one of the world's largest gold refiners, has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) organization has approved its goal to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, making MKS Pamp the first precious metals refinery in the world to have such a target.

Focus on Polluters

The company aims to reduce its supply-chain emissions by 27.5 percent by 2030, from a 2019 base year. To achieve this, the refiner plans to work with its partners. This could result in MKS Pamp having to reject gold from mines that produce too much carbon dioxide emissions in the future.

The financial and physical trading services provider also aims to reduce direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the company, known as Scope 1 emissions. In absolute terms, it is striving to reduce these by nearly 50 percent by the end of the decade and is committed to continuing to source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources each year until then.

Being Green

A famous frog from Sesame Street, Kermit the Frog, once said «It's not easy being green.»