Amadeus is B Corp Certified sustainable jewellery. We try to be as transparent as possible and today we want to explain everything you need to know about shopping for sustainable jewellery.
What Is Sustainable Jewellery?
Ethical and sustainable jewellery are hot topics these days, but the terminology can get pretty confusing. Let’s break it down.
In a nutshell, jewellery made with minimal impact on the environment and the people involved with making it at every step in the supply chain is sustainable jewellery. Sustainable jewellery also includes jewellery made to last and encourages quality over quantity of consumption.
Sustainable and ethical jewellery is a win-win for everyone. Responsibly sourced jewellery supports the sustainable livelihoods of communities worldwide, which benefits the global market. Ethical jewellery also helps us remain environmentally conscious without sacrificing great style.
Types of Sustainable and Ethical Jewellery
Much like sustainable fashion, navigating sustainable jewellery can be complex because there are many ways for jewellery brands to be considered sustainable. Some brands such as Amadeus, choose to use upcycled and recycled materials. Some focus on materials with minimal effects on the planet, such as ethically sourced lab growm diamonds.
Others pay the most attention to how jewellery positively impacts the communities it’s made in by empowering women and marginalized communities. Let’s dive deeper into the ways jewellery can be sustainable.
Recycled Jewellery
Recycled jewellery is a great place to start. You can shop intentionally by thrifting vintage jewellery before looking at new options. You can also trade-in or donate your unwanted metal jewellery. Some sustainable jewellery brands, such as Amadeus, use unwanted metal jewellery and other recycled materials to create stunning pieces.
Ethical Jewellery
One of the most significant ethical issues of the jewellery industry is mining. Mining can severely impact the environment, including air pollution, water waste, and damaged ecosystems. Recycled jewellery doesn’t require mining, and neither do lab-grown gemstones. The second best option to these are brands that commit to reducing water waste and gas emissions from mining.
Fair Trade Products
Fair Trade refers to a standard for trading practices that protect workers from exploitation. This protection aims to make sure workers receive fair wages, their working conditions are safe, and their environment remains protected.
Fair Trade can also prioritize conflict-free products such as conflict-free gold or recycled silver and uplift local communities with the right to fair working conditions. A company’s commitment to these practices can be certified through third-party organizations such as the Wold Fair Trade Organization.
How to Shop Sustainable Jewellery
Buy Jewellery Made to Last
Sustainability is all about buying things made to last and decreasing mass production. Investing in a fine jewellery collection that is great for everyday wear as well as special occasions can reduce overconsumption.
You can invest in fine jewellery, like an engagement ring and pass it down as an heirloom through generations. Other pieces made of quality, sustainable materials can be sold, recycled, or become valuable vintage jewellery over time.
Opt For Sustainably Sourced Precious Metals
You can add stunning sustainable pieces to your jewellery collection by shopping for sustainably sourced materials such as fair trade gold and other fairly mined materials.
Fairly mined materials can include conflict-free materials or ensure the people producing the sustainable materials receive just compensation through fair wages and working conditions. Jewellery made from old jewellery’s upcycled materials (like recycled bronze and recycled gold) is also a sustainable option.
Shop Responsibly Sourced Gemstones
Aside from using recycled metals, ethical jewellery brands can use other ethically sourced materials such as gemstones.
The pearl industry is an exception, but most gemstones are not easily renewable materials. A jewellery brand might choose to use responsibly sourced gemstones, those sourced with ethics and environmental consciousness in mind. Lab grown gemstones are another ethical option that eliminates mining altogether.