Our Eco Policy
Plastic-Free Packaging
One of the biggest issues facing the world today is the overconsumption of non-recyclable, and plastic, products which produces an enormous amount of waste in packaging, and also cheap, throwaway items. Whilst the onus is often put on consumers to reduce this non-recyclable waste, it’s my firm belief that if every company went plastic free, consumers would go plastic free more or less overnight! There are multiple plastic-free and recycled packaging options, it’s easier than ever to choose high quality, beautiful, luxury-feel packaging that fits seamlessly with our ethos.
Our packaging is made from 100% recycled black Kraft card with our classic Rebekah Rose Jewellery logo rose gold hot foil embossed on the lid. The foil is less than 2.5µm thick so it completely dissipates during the re-pulping process meaning that our recycled box is also 100% recyclable and can be put in with the regular recycling, but it’s so beautiful and perfect for keeping your stunning pieces safe - you won’t want to! We also use recycled/recyclable tissue paper, business cards, and our complimentary care instruction guide is made from the same. Your package is also posted in a recycled and recyclable Kraft PIP box.
So when we say Eco-Friendly - you know we mean it.
Eco-Silver
I try to use as much Eco-Silver as I possibly can in my pieces. Produced from 100% recycled silver recovered from the jewellery, medical and electronic industries, with a fully auditable and traceable process. It has the same qualities and working properties as non-recycled silver so, for us, it’s a bit of a no-brainer! Unfortunately, there are some components that aren’t currently available in a recycled capacity (such as scroll backs for stud pins, necklace chain, decorative bezel wires, etc.) that are not feasible for me to produce by hand, but I am regularly checking with my current suppliers, and endeavouring to find new ones that supply a wider range of recycled silver options.
Recycled Fine and Sterling Silver Metal Clay
You may have noticed that recycled fine silver crops up a fair bit in my descriptions. This is an incredible compound comprised of a non-toxic, organic binder and silver particles which forms a clay, with a similar look and consistency to chewing gum (without the minty smell unfortunately!). Once the clay has been formed, moulded, shaped, sanded, and dried, it has to be fired in a kiln at temperatures of up to 800°C for a set number of hours. The organic binder burns away and the remaining silver particles sinter together (or fuse) creating a solid, hallmark quality, pure silver piece. Because of this, silver clay pieces must be made approximately 8 - 10% larger before firing to account for shrinkage (this can make creating silver clay rings a little mathematical game). Metal clays come in a range of silvers, from pure 999 fine silver, to 950 sterling (a mix of 95% silver and 5% copper) and also base metals such as copper and bronze. There is even a 22ct gold clay which fires to form a solid lump of gold!
Silver particles for metal clays are waste collected from X-rays, the photographic industry, as well as electronics, that, because of their tiny size (20 microns!), wouldn’t be possible to reuse in traditional recycled silver. This enables every single molecule of Ag to be reused and recycled, so your silver has had an incredible journey before finding it’s forever home with you.
Ethical Gemstones
Although I have only just begun to scratch the surface of finding suppliers, I endeavour to primarily use small UK-based businesses and local lapidarists (someone who cuts and polishes gemstones) to try to keep things close to home. Lapidary as a skill is also something that I am interested in taking on as a skill which I feel would enhance my own business as well as create a more transparent chain of ethically produced jewellery. I also try to use a selection of human-made, lab-created gemstones which help reduce the strain of the gemstone industry on the planet; no mines need to be dug, there is a reduced carbon footprint, they leave less pollutants, as well as creating a less hazardous work environment.
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