Sustainability | "Sparkle and Sustain: How My Jewellery Helps the Planet!"
As a maker who loves to craft with wood and acrylic, I’m super aware of my footprint on this beautiful planet of ours. I’m constantly on a quest to make my small independent business greener and cleaner. Sure, I might not have all the answers just yet, but I’m learning and growing every step of the way!
Materials:
I only use FSC certified ply wood from european suppliers. Bamboo is another material I like to use as bamboo is highly sustainable, due to its rapid growth rate and ability to regenerate after being harvested.
While the acrylic I use is not entirely eco-friendly and can pose recycling challenges, its durability and longevity provide significant advantages. I prioritize sustainability by minimizing waste; any offcuts are repurposed into studs and unique smaller limited edtion pieces. My designs are crafted to endure, emphasizing quality over fast fashion. Additionally, I incorporate greencast acrylics, which are a more sustainable option, ensuring that my jewellery reflects a commitment to both style and environmental responsibility.
The brass I use is typically made from recycled materials and can be recycled again and again so I tend to use these over gold plated pieces in my pieces.
The papers I use come from my personal collection, which I’ve curated over the years. Many of these are handmade, each featuring its own unique quirks and character. I also enjoy incorporating upcycled lampshade lining from a fellow maker, using it as a creative alternative to traditional brass and paper. This adds a distinctive twist to my work and emphasizes my commitment to sustainability.
The glitters I use are bio-degradable and are made from cellulose. They are plastic free and cosmetic grade. Any powders I use are 100% vegan friendly and sourced from a small independent business.
Paints are water based and I use whatever I can find, wheather its in the local craft shop or paint left over from the house I will use it. Lately I have been playing around with a quality, premium and sustainable craft paint upcycled from reclaimed acrylic materials destined for landfills. I hope to use more of this in my pieces.
The resin I use is non-toxic. No VOCs. No fumes. No solvents. Non-flammable. Non-hazardous. Conforms to ASTM D4236 (Safe for Home Use when used in a well ventilated area).
I create my jewellery in small batches, which means less waste and more love!
Packaging
Let’s not forget about packaging! I’m all about eco-friendly options, so I source from companies that keep waste to a minimum. No plastics here! I also love to repurpose packaging materials I get from my suppliers.
The gift boxes I use, complete with non-tarnish inserts, are recyclable, and I encourage you to give them a second life as jewellery storage. My cards are printed on FSC-certified paper with eco-friendly inks, and all tissue paper and stickers are also FSC certified and printed with soy inks. Oh, and my padded envelopes? You guessed it—they're FSC-certified too!
Studio:
As a small independent one woman business, I'm wearing all the hats - I design, make and package all of your jewellery in-house, in my Tippeary studio, this means I can keep my carbon footprint low while crafting all the goodies you love.
Tree Planting
As of October 2024, I’ve partnered with Sprout, an app that plants trees with every sale made through my website. This integration helps my business become more sustainable, offering eco-conscious customers the added benefit of contributing to reforestation. With each order, a tree is automatically planted. You can read more about it here on this blog post