When we hear the term sustainability applied to the world of jewelry, many will wonder what exactly it means. Today at Planderful we will tell you the key to sustainable jewelry, the latest trend in jewelry.
Source: https://www.cleanorigin.com/blog/sustainable-jewelry-everything-you-need-to-know/
What is sustainable jewelry?
Sustainable jewelry refers to practices of obtaining transparent and environmentally responsible raw materials. These practices have the lowest possible impact and pay the workers involved fairly, in addition to providing safe working conditions.
Although more and more artisans and jewelers are producing and selling sustainable jewelry, there is very little information available to consumers about why this type of jewelry is necessary, and how it differs from traditional jewelry.
Several decades ago, sustainable jewelry was a topic that lacked conversation and gained little relevance in the fashion world, due to the complexity involved in making the pieces with new and expensive technologies -in addition to the rise of the fast fashion culture-. It has been because the industry has taken action on this urgent need of consumers to take care of the planet in recent years, which has led designers to implement new processes and seek environmentally friendly materials that do not sacrifice the style of their creations.
That is why, over time, we have been part of a favorable evolution in sustainability in a fashion that increasingly offers us more options for conscious consumption, such as recycled and organic textiles, vegetable leather pieces, recycling of garments, biodegradable packaging, clearer processes of companies with their employees and, of course, sustainable jewelry.
The importance of sustainable jewelry
What has made the term sustainable jewelry gain importance in recent years has been the transformation of its production and manufacturing processes. Sustainable jewelry represents all those pieces that are produced with ethics and environmental awareness from the moment they are designed until they are manufactured, packaged, and distributed, reaching the final consumer.
In this type of jewelry, not only the methods of extraction of precious stones or the use of recyclable materials are involved, but also the commitment to seek suppliers that are aligned with these values and the working conditions of the employees involved in each part of the process.
You may be interested in: Guide to lab-created gemstones
Problems of Traditional Jewelry
- Environmental Problems
The extraction of precious metals such as gold, silver, or platinum, brings with it a multitude of problems, such as:
- Air pollution
- Water pollution
- Ecosystem loss
- Carbon emissions
- Hazardous materials
- Social Problems
There are millions of people working in the jewelry industry worldwide, and many of them live below the poverty line. Whether or not workers are forced to move to the mine sites, they are often exposed to new conditions that impact the quality of life of these workers, such as the loss of biodiversity and water pollution mentioned above.
Both adults and children working on these farms are exposed to injuries if the equipment is not sufficient or adequate. Throughout their lives, it is very common for them to suffer from lung diseases and skin anomalies.
Source: https://gurhan.com/blogs/tales-truths-transparency/sustainable-jewelry-jewelry-industry
Sustainable jewelry is a new trend
Every April 22 is celebrated the International Earth Day, which every day becomes more important and serves to raise awareness about the damage we do to our planet, with the help of major brands that have very interesting sustainability projects to ensure the welfare of the same.
The concept of sustainable jewelry has given a lot to talk about lately because many people are beginning to realize that, by choosing this type of jewelry, not only are they helping the planet, but they are also becoming more aware of the importance of what is called "the 3 R's": reduce, reuse and recycle.
Sustainable jewelry is taking off, with more and more jewelers advertising that they are eco-friendly. From using recycled metals to using gemstones created from sustainable sources, such as garnet.
Whatever type of jewelry you choose, if you're not creating it with sustainable jewelry, you're not doing your part to save the planet. By going green, you are helping to improve the environment and make the world a better place.
Many people are surprised to learn that not only are some gemstones better for our world, but some common types of jewelry can also be sustainable. Check out recycled metals like sterling silver, turquoise, and hematite jewelry.
You may be interested in: Jewelry Packaging: Ultimate Recyclable Guide
Advantages of sustainable jewelry
One of the biggest advantages of the use of sustainable or recycled jewelry is that it is much more environmentally friendly, in addition to saving some money for those who are made with this type of jewelry.
There are very few materials and metals that are not biodegradable or recyclable, so with this type of jewelry, not only does it not cause damage to the environment, as other materials could do, but it also contributes to an environment in favor of sustainability.
Sustainable jewelry not only has to do with the jewelry or materials used that are placed in the setting but it is also linked to the different types of packaging, wrapping models, and materials used to protect the piece of jewelry.
The abusive use of plastics has reached an extreme point where it can take hundreds of years for some materials to decompose, and when they do, it is very likely to be worse, since gases and toxins harmful to the environment and living beings are released.
One of the main advantages of using recycled metals is that you are likely to be able to find beautiful pieces of jewelry that will last for many years. The vast majority of these jewelry pieces are created using only precious metals, and as a result, they do not contain any of the harmful elements that can cause harm to the environment.
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