Materials & Responsibility

How I approach sourcing, making, and sustainability in my jewellery.

Sustainability in jewellery isn’t just about using “ethical materials.” Precious metals and gemstones come from the earth, and their extraction can have real environmental and human impact. Because of that, I make conscious choices about the materials I use, aiming to reduce harm wherever possible while still creating work that is beautiful, lasting, and meaningful.

FAIR TRADE GOLD
I use Fairtrade Gold in my work. This is the world’s first independent ethical certification for gold, and it sets strict standards around working conditions, environmental protection, health and safety, and fair pay.

For small-scale miners, this certification provides a fair price for their gold as well as an additional premium that supports education, healthcare, and community development. Using Fairtrade Gold means I know the metal has been sourced with care for the people and places involved in its journey.

REPURPOSED & RECYCLED GOLD
Not all the gold I work with comes from newly mined sources. I also reuse and repurpose gold from existing jewellery — pieces that may no longer be worn or have become sentimental but unusable in their current form.

Reworking existing gold reduces the need for new mining and gives the metal a new life. It also adds a quiet layer of meaning — your gold carries its own history into the next chapter of its life.

If you have old gold or silver jewellery you no longer wear, I can melt and reshape it into something new as part of a bespoke commission.

Scrap metal collected from the bench is melted down and poured into an ingot, ready to be reused in new pieces. This process allows material to be reclaimed and kept in circulation rather than going to waste.

ETHICALLY SOURCED GEMSTONES
When I use gemstones, I source them through suppliers who prioritise ethical and traceable practices. Two suppliers I regularly work with are Gemstones Brazil and Nineteen48, both of whom focus on responsibly sourced gemstones with attention to transparency, environmental care, and fair treatment of workers.

RECYCLED SILVER & RESPONSIBLE CASTING
All of the non-cast silver I use is 100% recycled. This can come in the form of recycled silver bullion from trusted suppliers, as well as silver that I reclaim myself — melting down off-cuts, filings, and dust collected from my bench during the making process. By gathering and re-melting this material, I’m able to minimise waste and ensure as little silver as possible goes unused.

For pieces that require casting, I work with JewelCast, who provide silver certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council. This helps ensure that the silver used meets recognised environmental and ethical standards throughout the supply chain.