A few months ago a DIY video went viral, where a goldsmith made a beautiful engagement ring out of a penny coin. No other material was used for it and the stone installed in there was actually made out of glass bottles! In another viral video, an artist poured epoxy resin over a flower while making a pendant making the latter immortal as well as the star of the show!
In the era where consumers are embracing the environmentally-friendly and sustainable lifestyle in various aspects of life, businesses in various industries such as fashion-retail are also turning their focus towards eco-friendly materials that not only not harm the planet but also are durable and fashionable at the same time.
Here are 7 sustainable materials entrepreneurs can use to introduce their new collection:
1. Terracotta
Remember the clay decor we see on street markets owned by the gypsies, especially during the festival of Diwali? One can describe them having different shapes and sizes and the bargaining scenes all around were a sight, right?
Terracotta with the literal meaning of ‘baked earth’ is the prime example of an eco-friendly and sustainable product. It’s hand-made and the production is mostly recognised as ethical. The materials in terracotta are naturally based and thus, it doesn’t cause any rashes or skin allergies. For artists, terracotta clay is something that can be customised according to their imagination. From jhumkas to pendants, the clay can be moulded into various textures, shapes, and sizes, etc. One can also add stones or colors for final touches.
Fragility – Terracotta is an eco-friendly material but it is also breakable. It is advised to store accessories with a cushion base.
2. Wood
Wooden jewelry is a prime example of the trending ethnic yet tribal ornaments these days. Designers use these as storytelling accessories too!
To answer the questions around its sustainable nature, a lot of eco-friendly jewelry designers have shared that only wood from fallen trees or wastes from furniture is to be used for jewelry-making. The supreme advantage is that it can be polished and carved into endless designs because it is lightweight.
Fragility – Despite a regulation being established that the wooden material must be extracted from fallen trees, customers should always question the ethical resourcing of the material.
3. Cork
Cork can be considered an alternative to leather because leather has been the reason for increased pollution and animal cruelty for years. Grown on the bark of Cork Oak trees, cork extraction causes no harm to the trees. It is tear resistant and can be called a vegan replacement for animal hide material. Thus, along with working as a wine or a champagne bottle cover, corks can work as trendy light-weight pendants too!
Fragility – Cork is not stain resistant so one should be careful with their surroundings.
4. Recycled Metal
Who knew metals could be eco-friendly? Well, now we do!
Renowned Institutes have claimed that recycled metal tends to cut down harmful emissions causing global warming by 300 to 500 million tons. Therefore, the procedure of metal recycling is less damaging in terms of CO2 emissions and consumes far less energy and electricity.
Here are some eco-friendly metals which can be considered for sustainable jewelry-making:
Recycled Gold
Gold can now be extracted through ethical means which has proved to be more environmentally friendly. Recycled pocket-friendly examples are gold sheets, panels, or wire in various shops. Customers should be proud while purchasing as they are supporting a sustainable lifestyle and encouraging small-scale businesses.
Stainless Steel
Apart from being used for manufacturing utensils, sanitary equipment, and construction apparatuses, stainless steel can also be used for making trendy accessory for its non-corrosive property, durability, and waterproof characteristics.
Fragility – Since stainless steel is a rigid and durable material, it can be hard to design and resize in case you plan to do custom accessories.
Recycled Silver
The beneficial part of using recycled silver is that it can replace actual silver. There’s a vast range of products made from recycled silver such as solder, grain, rings, and many more.
Fragility – Since recycled silver can tarnish or corrode when it comes in contact with moisture, it is advisable to store silver jewelry in tight air containers after use.
Aluminium
Mostly used as foil or in geysers for its heat-conduction property, aluminium is a versatile as well as a sustainable material with a great potential in the jewelry industry.
Fragility – Aluminium can be difficult to resize.
5. Recycled Glass
Remember that viral TikTok video where a groom turns a broken glass bottle piece into a beautiful gemstone ring? Some people called him a miser, some called him a fraud, well I call him a recycling genius!
Glass has been one of the most recyclable materials since the dawn of industrialisation. Glass is composed of sand causing minimal harm to the planet. Thus, it can be replaced with gemstones for their conservation as it is known that these resources are on the brink of exhaustion.
Fragility – Artists need to be careful with glass as contaminated glasses may carry harmful infections. They should always sterilise the materials before starting the design process.
6. Resin
One might recall the promotion ad of the Leafy Affair on Instagram or the numerous DIY videos made on how resin can be used in accessory-making. Resin extraction can vary between chemical waste or plant extracts.
Resins that are naturally extracted from plants are epoxy resin, silicone resin, and eco resin. Doubts have been raised whether resins are biodegradable or not, however, if materials are dried then the product which is made with resin does not pose a threat to the environment. Therefore, resins are known for their durability and sustainability.
Fragility – One should always keep in mind that despite resin being eco-friendly, it is still a toxic material. So, wearing a mask is mandatory during the manufacturing process.
7. Sea Glass
Sea glass may have the texture of glass but has the value of any other gemstone. It is a material one can find in the form of frosted gems. Washed up in the ocean waves, it is a natural blessing that takes years to form and is considered a waste material. The common shapes of natural sea glass may vary from oval to tear-drop shapes with an aesthetic sea-blue appearance.
Fragility – Though sea glass has stunning textures of blue, they are breakable because under extreme polishing the glass membrane becomes thin. Thus, one has to be careful while storing it.
The sustainable jewelry-making process can have a minimal impact on the environment and thus they are an integral part of sustainable fashion. At first, the process might seem complicated but once you get the hang of it, then sky’s the limit.
Have an interesting sustainability story to share? Please write to us at hello@projectkive.com. To stay updated with our latest stories, follow us on Instagram.
