We put safety at the core of our business
At a time when global demand for gold is reaching record levels, recycling is increasingly establishing itself as an ecological and strategic alternative to mining. In 2024, annual demand for gold topped the 4,974 tonne mark, driven by investment, jewelry and massive purchases by central banks. Against this, mining production provided just 3,661 tonnes, despite a slight increase on the previous year. Once again, recycling rounded out the supply, with 1,370 tonnes of gold reintroduced to the market.
Gold is not a raw material like any other: it cannot be consumed. Once mined, it joins a global stockpile estimated at over 201,000 tonnes, which continues to grow slowly. This stock, in the form of bars, coins, jewelry or industrial gold, constitutes a permanent reserve that can return to the market at any time, particularly in recycled form.
So, unlike oil or copper, the scarcity of gold is not linked to its disappearance, but to its ownership. It is the decisions of holders - individuals, investors, central banks - that influence the short-term supply available, and therefore the price.
In 2024, recycling will account for almost 28% of total gold supply. This activity relies mainly on two sources:
In the first case, gold objects (often in 14 or 18-carat alloys) are melted down at over 1,000°C to extract the pure gold. This is then transformed into bars or reused in jewelry or industry. This industry is well-established in many countries, and experienced a notable boom after the 2008 crisis, with the rise of gold-buying stores. However, this growth has also led to abuses, with some unscrupulous players not hesitating to undervalue the gold they buy back.
In the second case, recycling electronic waste is becoming a strategic issue. A ton of computers can contain up to 230 grams of gold, mainly in connectors and printed circuits. Although the recovery of this gold remains complex and costly, it offers a promising way of reducing our dependence on mining.
The environmental stakes are high. Extracting 100 grams of gold requires approximately :
for a carbon footprint of around 1 ton of CO₂.
What's more, in many parts of the world, artisanal or illegal mining still resorts to extremely polluting techniques. The use of mercury, particularly in Amazonia or West Africa, causes lasting contamination of soils and waterways, seriously affecting local populations.
In the face of these impacts, recycling appears to be the most virtuous solution. It makes it possible to limit extraction and reduce associated pollution, while meeting growing demand without compromising natural resources.
Although gold recycling is making progress, it remains insufficiently structured worldwide. Collection, processing and recovery systems vary greatly from region to region. In developed countries, the infrastructure exists, but the supply of used jewelry is limited. In emerging countries, the potential volumes are significant, but recovery channels are sometimes informal or even illegal.
The company's development prospects lie in :
Gold recycling is no longer simply a complement to mining: it is becoming a strategic vector, at the crossroads of economic, environmental and geopolitical issues. At a time of increasing pressure on resources and growing ecological awareness, reusing gold that has already been mined is becoming a matter of course.