Gone are the days when people compulsively shopped for whatever their hearts fancied. Sure, some people still do. But the reality is that nowadays you can’t escape from hearing more and more about being a responsible shopper. From being more aware of the harmful effects of single use plastic to being more conscious of the carbon footprint of our purchases as a whole, you can’t escape talk of sustainability.
And guess what, I think that’s a good thing!
If you’re a fellow jewellery lover and an enthusiast for eco-friendliness you may have wondered what effect your passion for jewellery is having on the planet. I know I have!
Buy Antique Eco-Friendly Jewellery
Antique jewellery is as sustainable as you can get! It is easier than you think to find a responsible seller of antique jewellery. For example, Carus Jewellery offers beautiful antique pieces that are truly antique, not just called vintage. Did you know that a piece of jewellery needs to be a minimum of 100 years old to be considered antique? If it can stand that test of time you can be certain that the quality is of a high standard!
I love history. So the fact that these pieces of jewellery have been around for generations is fascinating to me. They may have been family heirlooms, they may have been someone’s sense of comfort as they migrated to a foreign land. Or they even may have been bought and used by another antique lover before you.
Antique jewellery can also be re-purposed, which makes it very sustainable! If you want to tweak a piece to make it your own the high quality of the metals and jewels used makes this possible. Of course, only trust a professional with this!
Buying Handmade
I love supporting small businesses. I especially like small businesses that create handmade products. One of the things that makes handmade eco-friendly jewellery so special and sustainable is that many pieces are created from recycled materials!
Many jewellers who specialise in handmade jewellery use recycled precious metals. Some buy them whilst others delve deeper into it by using and re-purposing old pieces of jewellery that they own or have bought for the purpose of reusing.
Eco-friendly jewellery and sustainability also extends to the packaging that is used. Many of the Etsy crowd of sellers, for example, care so much about the environment that it really shows in their selection of packaging.
Forget the Diamonds!
Whilst diamonds may still be one of the most popular gems used for engagement rings and may types of jewellery, there are other contenders creeping up on the list!
You can find beautiful ruby’s, emeralds, and amethyst’s. But if you’re a diamond girl then a sustainable alternative is a lab-made diamond! Now, if you want to go even further and more sustainable you can opt for a good old cubic zirconia.
Zirconia’s are not as shiny or hard as a diamond, of course. But if you aren’t a trained jeweller you won’t even see the difference. I know that cubic zirconia’s have a bad reputation and are considered cheap. But honestly, don’t get caught up in the hype. They are affordable alternatives to diamonds and are ethical and sustainable.
So, there you have it! If you are concerned with sustainability in jewellery, then these 3 eco-friendly jewellery alternatives are a good way to start!
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