If you’re someone who’s interested in sustainable fashion, then your choice of bridal jewelry will be no exception. While it can be easy to shop for organic cotton, recycled polyester, and plastic-free clothing, it can be a little more difficult to figure out what the standard is for sustainable jewelry.
In this article, you’ll learn more about what to look for in gemstones, diamonds, and gold to ensure you’re shopping for eco-conscious options. Keep reading to discover the best way to guarantee your bridal jewelry is eco-friendly and sustainable!
Conflict Free Stones
Gold and diamond jewelry is one of the most popular choices for your big day, but depending on your jewelry, it can also be the most harmful to people and the environment. The mining process for gold takes its toll on wildlife, while most diamonds come from slave labor that decimates the people and culture of a particular area. Blood diamonds, specifically, are mined in areas that are controlled by force through private armies that oppose the legitimate government in the region. These mines are full of human rights abuses, and the diamonds are most often sold to fund civil war and violence against the local government.
Anyone seeking to avoid association with conflict diamonds has options. You can search for conflict-free stones, which are diamonds mined through ethical standards, or buy a ring that uses a diamond alternative.
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Diamond Alternatives
In addition to stones that come from regions that aren’t conflicted, you can also choose bridal jewelry with lab-grown diamonds, moissanite, or a completely different stone to ensure a conflict-free wedding day! Lab-grown diamonds are the most ethical, as they have minimal impact on the environment, and they’re indistinguishable from natural diamonds to the naked eye. They’re also far more affordable than natural diamonds.
If you’re someone who’s interested in the unique look of colorful gemstones, these are available too. Emerald, ruby, and sapphire come in a variety of shades and hues — and they have a similar hardness to diamonds, so they can resist daily wear and tear just as well.
The Kimberley Process
One of the ways jewelers can guarantee the ethical sourcing of their stones is through the Kimberley Process. Established in 2003, this trade regime is designed to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the United States. If you’re shopping in America, and a jeweler abides by the Kimberley Process, you can be sure that their gemstones are certified to be conflict-free.
Diamonds under the Kimberley Process must meet the basic requirements of national legislation and import controls. They must also be completely traceable and traded only by members who are part of the KP agreement. This transparency has prevented 99% of conflict diamonds from entering the US since the KP trade agreement was established.
Sustainable Sourcing for Metals
Mining for gold and silver has always been considered an issue of both safety and health. It’s a dangerous profession linked to inhalation of toxic chemicals, mine collapses, and other safety hazards. There is also an environmental impact that results in reduced habitats for wildlife.
To find more sustainable solutions for gold and silver, many jewelers are turning to alternatives like recycled metal, eco-friendly metal, and ethical metal.
Recycled Metal
Recycling isn’t just for glass and plastics! You can recycle gold and silver that has been used before. Recycled metal for jewelry can usually be found in old jewelry or scrap metal, but it can also be a by-product of other industrial operations. Jewelry manufacturers can track exactly where their gold is coming from to ensure it’s ethically sourced.
However, if a manufacturer says their jewelry is 90-95% ethically sourced, that means they can’t track a small portion of it, so it may come from conflicted areas. Jewelers are doing their best to ensure transparency, but the process is still evolving to ensure a completely eco-conscious solution.
Eco-Friendly Metal
Eco-friendly gold and silver are metals that have been mined in a specific way that ensures a smaller impact on the environment. Mining companies must guarantee that they don’t use toxic chemicals or pollutants. They also often work to restore the native ecosystem after recovering the precious metals.
Ethical Metal
This method of sourcing is slightly different from eco-friendly metal, as it sources its materials from artisanal or smaller mining companies. These companies meet environmental and social best practices according to international standards. They ensure safe labor conditions, ban child labor, and protect fair pay. Unfortunately, they’re not as eco-conscious as recycled metal or green-focused companies.
Shop Smarter
Whether you’re looking for gold diamond jewelry for your wedding or hoping to buy an anniversary gift in the coming years, this guide should help you differentiate between ethical and problematic jewelers. Look for Kimberley Process diamonds, lab-grown gems, and recycled metals to ensure eco-conscious and ethical options for rings, earrings, necklaces, and more!