AisleDash

It stands to reason that mining is pretty hard on the environment, but, as your mother always says, money -- in this case, gold -- doesn't grow on trees. The only way to get it is to mine it, right?

Perhaps not. I used recycled gold for my second wedding ring. I gave my first band to the goldsmith who crafted my wedding band, and that amount of gold was credited toward (but not included in!) my new band. This is a fine idea for second weddings, and can even save you a little money, but it's not so useful for those of you getting married for the first time.

According to Green Karat, "there is enough gold above ground (already mined) to satisfy all demands of the jewelry industry for the next 50 years, [m]much of it ... in the form of old and unused jewelry." As more consumers demand recycled gold, manufacturers will be motivated to provide it. It's a small and simple thing, but it's positive change.