Looking for sustainable and stylish jewellery? The following brands are redesigning their industry and making a difference through responsible and sustainable business practices. Each brand offers stylish and modern gold and gemstone jewellery while contributing to a new generation of conscious consumerism.
Poppy Finch
Poppy Finch aims to craft high-quality, timeless jewellery while minimizing their impact on the planet. 75 percent of the brand’s gold is SCS certified recycled, while the remainder is fairly-mined. Poppy Finch sources their pearls from reputable farms in China and Japan, and they work with trusted suppliers for their gemstones. Their website states, “the rubies we use are from Thailand and Sri Lanka, emeralds from Columbia and Zambia, and sapphires from Australia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.” Lastly, all of Poppy Finch’s diamonds comply with the Kimberly Process to ensure conflict-free sourcing.
The company also focuses on quality. Master goldsmiths and jewellers with over 40 years of experience craft each piece. Poppy Finch produces each piece locally in Vancouver to ensure quality and support local craftsmen. This also allows the brand to keep production and overhead costs low so they can offer their jewellery at fair prices.
Aurate
Aurate was founded in New York by two friends when they couldn’t find affordable yet high-quality gold jewellery. Each piece starts as a sketch, drawing inspiration from New York City. Then, seventh-generation craftsmen make each item in-house. Aurate sources 100% recycled gold for their jewellery. Their diamonds and precious gems are traced from their source and adhere to the Kimberly Process (an international certification for ethical and fair sourcing of diamonds and gems). Aurate also sources AAA-grade pearls from family farms with respect for marine environments.
The brand commits to fair prices by not charging import taxes or adding retail markups. Aurate also gives back by donating a book to Mastery Charter (an organization that empowers literacy for children in need in the U.S.) for each item sold.
Ana Luisa
Ana Luisa’s mission as a jewellery brand is to “create clean, long-lasting jewellery with a conscience”. The first part of this mission involves sustainable materials. The brand uses 100% recycled gold in their pieces. They also plate their gold in-house to oversee safe working conditions. Ana Luisa also uses lab-grown diamonds over mined ones. Lastly, the brand commits to fair and transparent pricing without traditional retail markups, allowing a wider customer base to partake in their high-quality jewellery.
Washed Ashore
Washed Ashore focuses on creating beautiful, handmade jewellery with the cleanest materials available. They source 100% recycled gold and silver. This choice stems from the company’s belief in “limiting the amount of new and raw materials sourcing” to prevent unsafe working conditions and environmental damage. The brand’s metal supplier refines its own metal and holds certifications for being environmentally and socially conscious. Washed Ashore also exclusively uses post-consumer gemstones and diamonds, upcycling each one from existing vintage jewellery.
The brand’s packaging includes recycled cotton pouches made in the US and 100% recycled paper from California. Their shipping mailers and labels are also 100% recyclable. Washed Ashore also offsets its environmental footprint by partnering with the CarbonFund Foundation. For every dollar amount of emissions that Washed Ashore creates, they donate an equal amount to CarbonFund, which in turn are invested in carbon reduction projects.
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