The global gold supply chain has long been defined by opacity. Once gold enters the refining stage, it is typically aggregated from multiple sources, melted together and homogenised. This process is efficient, but it erases any record of where the metal originated or under what conditions it was mined. As a result, responsible sourcing claims have historically relied on broad terminology rather than verifiable data — with “recycled gold” becoming the most widely used yet least defined label in the industry.

It is within this landscape that Betts Group, one of Britain’s oldest precious metals specialists, has introduced a framework that challenges traditional assumptions. Their Single Mine Origin (SMO) gold programme replaces ambiguity with a documented, mine-specific supply chain. Where most responsible sourcing language relies on generalisation, SMO provides a clear, traceable and independently verified pathway from the mine to the jeweller.

Why SMO Needed to Exist

The Betts Responsible Gold Guide confronts a central industry misconception directly and without dilution:

“Simply adding the word ‘recycled’ to gold doesn’t go far enough to prove it has any sustainability credentials.”

Charlie Betts - Managing Director

This sentence is significant — and technically accurate.

Recycled gold can include post-consumer items, industrial scrap or gold of unknown origin that has merely passed through a secondary stage before refining. Once the original source is mixed or lost, it becomes impossible to assess any ESG factor associated with it, including environmental performance, labour conditions, governance or risk.

SMO was created to address this structural flaw. Rather than retrofitting responsibility into an opaque system, it redesigns the supply chain so that provenance is preserved, not dissolved.

How SMO Rebuilds Provenance From First Principles

SMO operates on a simple but powerful foundation: a single, unbroken chain of custody. Each gram of SMO gold can be traced back to one identifiable mine and remains segregated throughout its entire journey.

Every batch of SMO gold is:

• Transported separately

• Refined in fully segregated batches under independent audit

• Kept physically segregated from other gold

• Accompanied by full chain-of-custody documentation

• Independently audited

• Aligned with RGMPs, ICMM and IRMA requirements

This approach restores the one thing the wider gold market has lacked: verifiable origin.

For jewellery brands and retailers, it transforms the way they communicate responsibility — from conceptual to evidential.

The Mines Behind SMO: ESG Leadership in Practice

Bellevue Gold — Western Australia

One of the most notable mining partners within the SMO system is Bellevue Gold. As reported by the Financial Times, Bellevue is recognised as the world’s first net-zero gold mine, operating primarily on renewable energy through a combination of wind, solar and battery infrastructure.

Bellevue demonstrates that industrial-scale mining can align with global decarbonisation goals, breaking the long-standing assumption that responsible gold production is limited to small-scale or artisanal contexts.

Sabodala–Massawa — Senegal

In West Africa, Sabodala–Massawa offers an equally strong example of ESG-aligned mining. The mine operates extensive biodiversity conservation zones, invests millions annually into community development and meets the labour and governance standards set out in the Responsible Gold Mining Principles.

Its environmental management systems and audited performance metrics show that responsible mining at scale is not only achievable but already in operation.

Together, these mines reinforce the credibility of the SMO framework. They provide quantifiable, independently assessed ESG performance rather than aspirational commitments.

The Recycled Gold Misconception — And How SMO Resolves It

While recycled gold has become a popular sustainability marker, its limitations are often misunderstood. Recycled gold is simply reprocessed metal — it does not inherently indicate ethical mining conditions, environmental responsibility, transparent supply chains or governance compliance.

SMO resolves this by providing:

• A defined mine of origin

• ESG performance linked to a specific site

• Complete segregation through refining

• Transparent documentation and auditing

This is the difference between a broad sustainability claim and a demonstrable one.

It allows jewellers to speak with accuracy, not approximation, about the materials they choose.

A Model Already Gaining Industry Momentum

According to the Financial Times, SMO supplied approximately 12 tonnes of segregated gold between July 2024 and June 2025, with demand in the United States rising by more than 300% year-on-year. High-end brands including Boodles and Messika have already trialled or integrated SMO gold into production — a clear indication that mine-specific traceability is becoming commercially relevant.

This shift is driven by several converging pressures:

• Consumers want transparency.

• Regulations around sustainability claims are tightening.

• Luxury brands are expected to demonstrate credible ESG performance.

• Investors are evaluating supply chains with greater scrutiny.

SMO places jewellers ahead of this curve by offering documented and auditable sourcing data from the outset.

Why SMO Reflects the Future of Responsible Gold

The direction of the jewellery industry is unmistakable: traceability and accountability will define the next era of responsible sourcing. SMO anticipates this by delivering a system built on mine-level data, independent verification and uncompromised segregation.

Rather than adapting to regulatory pressure, SMO positions jewellers to meet — and exceed — future expectations. It is a proactive, not reactive, framework.

The Jewels Club Take

SMO gold brings clarity and confidence to a supply chain that has rarely offered either. By pairing mine-specific ESG performance with complete traceability, Betts Group has established one of the most credible responsible sourcing models in the industry. As the jewellery sector moves toward greater transparency, SMO stands out as a solution built not on claims but on verifiable evidence — and one that offers a compelling blueprint for the future of responsible gold.

Read the full Betts Group Responsible Options Guide here