What am I already doing?
– I use Eco-Silver (recycled sterling silver). This is when silver scraps are melted down into a repurposed wire.
– I upcycle old jewellery. I am part of the Rejewel Collective and additionally use charity shops and donations.
– I package my orders in cardboard boxes, and use either plastic-free or entirely recycled packaging.
-When I order materials, I am careful about who I shop with. I check the country of origin so that even if the company is based in the UK, they are mostly sourcing from European countries. I also never choose next day delivery.
– Research! It’s very important to know where my materials are coming from. I would never make jewellery if I was contributing to unsafe working conditions.
What am I aiming to achieve?
– I will not sell gold jewellery until I can use eco-gold or find a sustainable plating service. Right now this isn’t financially viable but it’s the goal!
– Continue to grow my network. I’d like to receive more second hand materials and my best contacts for these are other jewellers who have scraps they can pass on.
It’s important to me to be honest, and I will always be willing to listen to people’s ideas on how I can continue to become more sustainable.