Make Your Jewelry Standard Ethical & Sustainable

Valentine’s Day is near, and sales of chocolate, flowers and fluffy stuffed things with cute sayings stitched on them are abundant. More attention is being given to the destructive conditions under which chocolate (child slavery) and flowers (pesticides, unfair labor) are produced, and the positive alternatives, but what do we do about our love for bling?

People of all cultures have always adorned themselves in some way, including with jewelry, and clever marketing has caused many women to come to expect (or hope for) a love token in the form of diamonds, gold or other sparklies as part of this February holiday. Until recently, most people haven’t paid much attention to how our precious minerals become the twinkly baubles we like. The Hollywood movie Blood Diamond brought attention to the issue of conflict diamonds, but what about gold?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor (2009), 17 countries produce gold using child and/or forced labor.

In 2008 the Associated Press released a story about their exploration of gold mines in selected countries in Africa. What they found in these mines were thousands of children living and working in atrocious conditions. The children are also regularly exposed to toxins, such as the mercury used to find the little bits of gold. As the story notes:

If you wear a gold ring on your finger, write with a gold-tipped fountain pen or have gold in your investment portfolio, chances are good your life is connected to these children."

In addition to the issue of child labor, the journey of gold — from mine to someone’s body, bank vault or investment portfolio — is filled with environmental devastation and significant impacts on communities and adult workers. No Dirty Gold provides a brief overview of the issues, as well as campaign materials.

If you're concerned about the source and impact of your rings, necklaces, bracelets, pins and earrings, and want to make choices that do more good and less harm, consider some of these alternatives:

1. Don’t buy it.
   Consider how much joy and meaning that piece of jewelry would bring to your life. Do you really need it? Do you really want it that much?
   
2. Make your own.
   There are an almost infinite number of possibilities for creating your own jewelry that will please you, look good, and harm no person, animal or part of the planet. And it’s fun! I have a friend who makes beautiful jewelry from paper beads constructed from waste paper.
   
3. Borrow or swap.
   Like something your friend wears? Ask if you can borrow it! Offer something s/he likes in return. Have jewelry swap parties. There are endless options.
   
4. Go used.
   You can find all sorts of lovely jewelry at thrift shops, garage sales, etc.
   
5. If you’re into more expensive jewelry, consider why.
   "Precious" minerals, metals and jewelry have the value (both monetary and emotional) that they do, because we’ve given them that value. (Of course the jewelry company ads have certainly helped.) If our significant other spends large amounts of money on jewelry, does that really mean that s/he loves us? Are there better, healthier, more meaningful ways for that love to be manifested? And, if we're one of those lucky folks who has significant disposable income, then wouldn’t the money be better spent by using it to help create a peaceful, compassionate, sustainable world?
   
6. Choose jewelry made from less traditional, more sustainable materials.
   Take rings, for example. They can be made of sustainable wood and cork, glass, and several other materials that are lovely, and much more ethical.
   
7. Consider recycled jewelry.
   In addition to recycled gold, silver, etc., you can find all sorts of more unique creations made out of everything from forks to bike chains to computer chips to toothbrushes.
   
8. Buy fair trade, conflict-free, eco-friendly, and all the other appropriate labels.
   Just make sure that the labels mean what you think they mean.
   
9. Have a reputable craftsperson in your community (who can verify the origin and source of the materials) create custom jewelry for you.
   My friend and her husband had their wedding rings made out of recycled metals with their own custom design.

~ Marsha

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