A public benefit company named Regeneration, based in Washington, is aiming to restore land and waterways in the Yukon, B.C., and Alaska while also generating profits. The initiative involves utilizing advanced technology to extract metals from leftover materials at abandoned mine sites. Notably, Regeneration has forged partnerships with major companies such as Apple, Tiffany and Co., and Canadian jewelry firm Mejuri, which have committed to purchasing metals obtained from these legacy mine sites and supporting restoration endeavors.
The project, which commenced over ten years ago, primarily targets locations in the North that have been significantly impacted by decades of placer mining, resulting in extensive sediment and waste rock accumulation in streams and rivers. CEO Stephen D’Esposito highlighted the growing environmental consciousness within the mining industry among jewelry and technology companies, emphasizing their interest in contributing to solutions for environmental challenges.
The company’s innovative approach involves reclaiming remaining gold from waste materials while simultaneously restoring streams and vegetation to create a more habitable environment for species like salmon and grayling. Carly Vynne, Regeneration’s chief restoration officer and biologist, expressed satisfaction with the positive outcomes observed, noting instances where fish returned to restored sites shortly after completion.
Mejuri, among other companies, views this project as an opportunity to align with their sustainability goals and meet consumer demands for ethically sourced products. Holly McHugh, Mejuri’s vice-president of sustainability and social impact, emphasized the increasing consumer interest in ethically produced jewelry. The project necessitates collaborating with refineries capable of processing small gold batches separately to ensure a fully traceable product, allowing customers to track the metal’s origin back to the Yukon and Alaska.
Initially launched as a non-profit initiative by NGO Resolve, the project evolved into the startup company Regeneration in 2021, with broader ambitions for environmental impact. Regeneration’s mission addresses the widespread issue of abandoned and polluting mines across Canada, highlighting the financial potential in waste cleanup and restoration efforts. D’Esposito emphasized the need to establish a market model for reprocessing tailings, emphasizing the profitability of environmental remediation.
Regeneration’s ongoing expansion involves re-mining toxic waste using advanced technology to recover valuable metals and enhance environmental sustainability. The company’s work in locations like Hedley, B.C., focuses on tailings cleanup, with active engagement with First Nations and the federal government for projects in the Yukon. This innovative approach has garnered praise from stakeholders like Sebastian Jones of the Yukon Conservation Society, who lauded the initiative as a fresh perspective on addressing longstanding environmental challenges.
