How to Buy Eco-Friendly Jewelry

Necklaces. Earrings and bracelets. Even watches and money clips. It’s hard to imagine that jewelry can have a negative affect on the environment, but that is in fact the case. Gold mining is a dirty practice and releases tons of dirt and chemicals into the air like cyanide, which is found deep in the earth. As much as 280 tons of rock can be mined for just one ounce of gold. With 84 percent of gold being used for jewelry production worldwide, that makes these baubles an expensive commodity for the environment. Here’s how to reduce your environmental footprint when buying eco-friendly jewelry.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Initiative

1. If gold is your first love, then it is possible to find earth-friendly forms of it. There are several companies that practice green mining. If a company you want to purchase from is making this claim, you can check with the Earthworks watchdog service to research the validity of their statement.
2. A better option for jewelry is to shop at vintage stores for some really beautiful pieces that didn’t have to be created today. These pieces are often as intricate and beautiful as current pieces with a smaller price tag. Check out vintage pieces during your next antiquing trip.
3. Jewelry made from recycled silver is another eco-friendly possibility. Silver’s popularity is steadily increasing and many jewelers offer these pieces.
4. Eco-friendly jewelry can also be found in the forms of chemical-free leather goods and recycled beads. These unique materials can make for some intriguing pieces to add to your collection.
5. Sustainable materials like granite and bamboo are also being used to create fabulous jewelry today. Sustainable materials replenish themselves naturally faster that many sources. They can be stronger than man-made products for longer durability as well.