ETHICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY
I am continually striving to be as sustainable as possible across every aspect of our business. Please see below for more information. I will keep this page updated as I continue to evolve and improve my practices
METALS
I source recycled silver & gold to use in our jewellery. Most recycled silver comes from the photography or medical industries. Gold pieces can be made in fairtrade gold on request. Within my own workshop I collect and reuse scraps of metal and collect silver and gold dust for recycling.
GEMSTONES
The sourcing of ethical gemstones is a complex issue. Ethical considerations can include political, environmental, fair trade and labour considerations. When sourcing one-of a kind stones I use a variety of suppliers. Where possible I always choose suppliers who say they follow the same principles and business practices that I strive towards and who pride themselves on ethically sourced gemstones. However, as stones are sourced from various suppliers around the world and often go through complex supply chains before reaching our suppliers it is sometimes difficult to guarantee exactly how each stone was sourced and the conditions at the mines. Most jewellery businesses are in this same position. When I can be 100% sure that I know the source of a stone and how it has been processed I will state this so you will know with certainty that it has been ethically sourced. I also re-use vintage stones on occasion. Moving forward I am continuing to look into ways to ensure better knowledge and transparency of the supply chains of the stones I use.
PACKAGING
I use two main types of packaging:
(i) My navy jewellery boxes are obtained from a company in the UK. They are recyclable after use. They consist of 99% recycled content by weight and contain a white non-tarnish eco-fibre insert. They are also made using 100% green hydro electricity and dyed with water based inks.
(ii) My tins are also sourced from a UK company who are committed to only sourcing products from suppliers who meet the highest ethical, social and environmental standards and who utilise recycled safe and sustainable materials in their products. They are made from aluminium and can be recycled or reused.
In addition I use 100% recycled card for my earring cards. The ribbon I use is also sustainably made using 100% post-consumer plastic bottles. My postal boxes are made from recycled material and are fully recyclable and I use eco-jiffy bags which are not only made from recycled content, but are also 100% recyclable once they’ve been used.
ANIMAL FRIENDLY WORKSHOP PRACTICES
Traditional jewellery making techniques often use animal products (including for example, rawhide, leather, animal fats, animal hair). I have sourced vegan alternatives and as far as I am aware I do not use any animal products in my own workshop. You can find out more about vegan jewellery making on my blog. On occasion I do use shared workshop space with other jewellers who may use animal products.
My workshop is not animal free however as Leo, the Odeda Jewellery studio dog, can also often be found supervising in the workshop!