World Wisdom: Sustainable Jewelry

 Over the years, I've tried to be more conscious in what I've been purchasing. Our first step was just in being more thoughtful about how much we were purchasing, but we've also looked at where things are coming from. This first happened with the food we ate, and then moved into the personal care products we use. Now, I'm looking more at the environmental impact of what we wear, choosing, for example, to buy used when possible, and when new, to look for more eco-friendly options, such as socially conscious clothing and sustainable jewelry.

Sustainable jewelry is a relatively new thing - I had never heard about it when I was growing up. But in the move to pay more attention to how our lifestyles affect the world, I'm glad that more jewelry shops are moving in this direction.

You might be wondering what kinds of traits make jewelry sustainable? There are a variety of elements. One is that workers are paid a fair wage, whether that's the retailers, the people sourcing the material, or the people creating the jewelry itself.

Another thing to look at is the way materials are sourced. Like any company with a focus on eco-friendly goods, sustainable jewelry companies will be transparent about the source of their materials in a way that anyone can trace. This provides accountability for worker treatment and environmental impact.

Your own choices can drive how jewelry is sustainable. Instead of buying a lot of cheap pieces that break or go out of style, it can be worth it to spend a little more to get high-quality pieces that go with a variety of outfits and can be worn for a long time. You can consider buying used jewelry from consignment or thrift stores, or working out a jewelry exchange with friends and family for new pieces to refresh your wardrobe. I've become a lot more interested in buying mid-range pieces of jewelry, and buying them less often.

Finally, what a brand says and does makes a difference. Many sustainable jewelry brands are focused not just on their own profits but on what they can do in their communities. For some, that means investing in the communities where raw materials are sourced. For others, it means using their profits to support organizations with a mission that matches their values. 

If you've already started down a path of being more aware of the products you buy, consider sustainable jewelry your next step!