Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a top of mind discussion across all industries and will be for years to come. But what does sustainability really mean, and what does it take for jewelry to be considered sustainable? Read on for a breakdown of ways that the jewelry industry does sustainability.
Shop the look: Lady Love Necklace in Mother of Pearl, Simple Diamond Shooting Star Necklace, Boob Necklace, Diamond Eye of Horus Necklace for Intuition, Falcon Necklace with Sapphire in Gold
What Does Sustainability Mean?
Sustainability is a broad concept that has very specific applications depending on the industry. According to the UN World Commission on Environment and Development: “sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” So what does this mean for the jewelry industry specifically?
Sustainable Practices in the Jewelry Industry
- Recycled metals: metals like silver, gold, and brass can be easily recycled and reshaped many times to create new pieces of jewelry. Using recycled metals cuts out the need to mine for new materials, a practice that can lead to harmful effects on the environment like deforestation and contamination of bodies of water.
Synthetic stones: similarly to recycled metals, synthetic or “lab created” gemstones erase the need for mining, and they also use far less natural resources. Lab created diamonds in particular use 80% less water, 50% less energy, and produce 95% less carbon emissions! You can learn more about lab created stone here.
- Ethically sourced stones: although the typical definition of sustainability has an environmental focus, human impact should be considered as well. Ethically sourced stones have to meet a set of standards for the origins and conditions in which they are mined and cut. All stones sold on LocalEclectic.com are “conflict free,” meaning their sourcing does not in any way fund violent armed groups or tyrannical governments (something that has happened historically in the mining industry).
- Small batch artisan made: anything produced in small batches and by hand tends to be more eco friendly since it cuts out the work of bigger factories, plus the creation process is more transparent. We’re so proud to support small batch independent designers from across the globe!
- Secondhand jewelry: one of the most sustainable ways to shop for anything is to buy it secondhand. And when it comes to jewelry, you’re never sacrificing style when it comes to secondhand styles, evidenced by our one of a kind Vintage Finds Collection sourced from sellers all over the world.