At Cape Precious Metals we believe in business as a force for good. We were born as a recycling company, and we’ve carried this ethos through as we’ve expanded our range and services.
Our primary business as a refinery inherently protects mineral resources through the recycling of all jewellers’ waste as well as a wide variety of photographic material. But what you may not know is that we produce absolutely all of our purest quality precious metals from scrap products – not a single gram comes directly from the mines. When you buy a CPM in-house product, you are supporting the preservation of our natural resources, landscapes and waterways by keeping raw minerals in the ground. As RJC members with Chain-of-Custody certification, only metal from verifiably legitimate and ethical sources is allowed in our refinery. You can be assured that the jewellery you create from it is as harmless as possible to the Earth and its people.
In addition to supply chain transparency, the RJC Code of Practices includes a range of requirements for business ethics, human rights and social and environmental impact (especially with regards to cyanide and mercury use). Certification is achieved through an independent, third party audit, and as members we implement continuous improvement processes, conduct regular air immersion tests and dispose of chemicals responsibly. We closely monitor our water usage and are thrilled to announce that our water saving programme at head office has resulted in our municipal consumption being halved between November 2017 and April 2019! Our staff members are aware of the importance of saving water and electricity. CPM engaged the services of a green technology solutions company to assist with our power saving efforts, and part of the renovations in our new KZN branch included the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting.
All four of our branches have active recycling programmes and we make use of gamification techniques to keep our staff motivated and engaged. We regularly run competitions and challenges involving recyclable material collections or neighbourhood clean-ups. All participants are rewarded for their efforts, and winners are treated to extra perks.
We are committed to sustainable business practices and we believe that this must include an investment in people. In-house training has always been a priority for CPM, and we provide growth opportunities both within our company and the industry as a whole. We assisted in the creation of the refining qualification within the JCSA’s Professional Technical Skills Certificate initiative, which recognises expertise acquired by employees in the workplace. We are delighted that our staff members have earned 46 certificates to date, affording them the opportunity to advance their careers and secure future jobs, should their lives lead them away from our company. CPM also sponsors student awards and we play an advisory role to Universities looking to integrate pupils effectively into the trade.
Our Sales Executives (some of whom are ex-jewellers) are on hand to offer technical assistance and product advice. Ask us especially about our refining tips to maximize your returns and help us conserve our precious environment for future generations.
