Mica mining is a practice that has been the subject of controversy due to the injustices associated with it. Mica is a mineral used in a variety of products, from cosmetics to electronics, and is known for its shine and transparency. However, the extraction of the mica is often carried out in dangerous conditions and to the detriment of local communities.
Most mica is mined in countries like India, Madagascar, and Brazil, where poverty is common and regulations are weak or non-existent. Many of the mica miners are children, who work long hours in dangerous conditions and without adequate protection. In addition, miners often work in illegal mines where they are not paid enough, leaving them financially vulnerable.
In addition, the extraction of mica often has a negative environmental impact, since deforestation and the alteration of ecosystems are used to extract the mineral. This can have long-term effects on local biodiversity and the ability of communities to survive.
Although mica mining has become more public in recent years, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that it is done in a fair and sustainable manner. Companies need to take responsibility for their supply chains and work with suppliers that source mica ethically and sustainably. In addition, local communities must be included in the decision-making process to ensure that their rights are respected and that they are supported.
In short, mica mining is a practice that has led to significant injustices and environmental problems. It is necessary to advocate for a fair and sustainable extraction of mica, which respects human rights and protects the environment.
For this reason, at Aletheia Acuarelas we make brilliant watercolors that contain mica that come from safe suppliers and supply chains free of child exploitation. The peace of mind of painting with a fairly traded and ethically sourced product is priceless. Consumers are responsible for supporting one product or another, which is why it is very important to ask about the origin of the mica in the watercolors we buy.
How to know if they are lying to us?
I, as a producer of watercolors, usually do not share my suppliers for obvious reasons and this can make it difficult to show the certificates that they offer me because it shows the name of the supplier and other sensitive data. So how do I know that ethically sourced mica is actually being used? Well, basically we will know depending on how the person we are asking handles the subject and how he answers you. If doubt is the main basis of the answer, if there is a lack of determination, if you don't know what to say or don't know the exact origin of the mica, clearly we can start to be suspicious.
If the producer of those watercolors knows the exact place of origin of the mica, can provide you with certificates (even if the supplier's name is hidden or crossed out), knows the problems surrounding the subject and deals with it with knowledge and solvency, it is likely that the producer be aware and produce your watercolors with ethical pigments.
Unfortunately, this is a question on which there is still a lot to be done and our only way to know if the mica we consume is ethical or not is to ask the brands directly and many times, they are not very willing to answer. Mica that is mined irregularly is cheaper and therefore more profit can be made. Mica that has been extracted legally and reliably is naturally more expensive because workers have been paid fairly in the extraction and production chain. For this reason, watercolors made with ethical mica command a correspondingly higher price; we can find similarities with the clothing industry, where there are cheaper brands that produce their clothes in countries where workers are paid little and other brands that produce their clothes fairly and paying the worker a legal wage.
At Aletheia Acuarelas we are very committed to this issue because it seems to us to be of great importance. We do not want our watercolors, which are an ideal tool for creative moments, imagination and even relaxation, to be made with an ingredient that goes against this whole idea of well-being and reflection. Our philosophy does not allow us to offer a product with such an irregular and unfair origin and associate it with a world as wonderful as watercolor and the creation of artistic works.
I'm saying goodbye now... I hope you liked or served this first entry of the new blog. Despite all the work I have (I do everything by myself!) I will try to write regularly :)
Regards and until next time.
Alice R.