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Making Your Jewelry Business “Top Brass” in Your Ethics
Julie Starr • November 18, 2021
Consumers are becoming more aware of their buying choices, and as we become more aware of the ethical practices in our daily lives, we have to work to make our business embody the same ethics. In the jewelry world, we encounter a lot of people looking for fair and moral practices, not just buyers, but jewelry makers as well. So if you are running a jewelry business, here are some key things to consider if you are looking to make your business more ethical and eco-friendly.
Your Raw Materials
One of the most important ethical factors within the industry is the material. Whether you are using jump rings to make rings or you are using pearls, gemstones, precious metals, and other materials, it is important to look at some of the following components:
- The operations . It’s crucial to ascertain the legalities of the mind the materials are coming from.
- The labor . This would consist of the safety of the mines, who is involved in the trading, and who is employed to do the mining.
- The environmental impact . Because mining is changing the landscape in a literal sense, is this being done appropriately? This would also mean you have to consider if the waste material is being dealt with safely.
Ensuring You Are Purchasing Ethical Materials
It is important to research the companies that you are sorting your materials from. You can ask them about their ethical practices, but you also need to look at some of the following components:
- Traceability . Is the company able to tell you where all the materials came from? This is so important as we can then look at the footprint.
- The responsibility of the supplier . Does your supplier assume responsibility for every purchase they make or is this outsourced to another company?
- The supply chain practices . If you are looking to minimize your carbon footprint , you’ve got to find suppliers that are consciously reducing their carbon footprint through their suppliers.
Improving Your Business Operations
It’s not just about the materials and the suppliers, you need to ensure that you are developing your business to adopt a more ethical approach. These can consist of a few key areas:
- Your operational procedures . There are some very simple things you can do to improve your business operations. If you are posting products to customers as part of a direct-to-consumer business, you’ve got to consider how you are using your fuel. You can save your energy by driving to the post office only once a week. This will also have a positive impact on your work-life balance.
- Creating an ethical business policy . This could help you to remain accountable. If you start to create a more environmentally-friendly policy that you can share with your customers, this could bring them back to you. It’s also something that you can incorporate into your business plan.
Ultimately, operating with an eco-friendly mindset is important but every industry operates differently. If you are running a jewelry business you must take ownership and remain accountable.
In today’s world, sustainability is no longer a buzzword—it’s a business imperative. Consumers, investors, and stakeholders are demanding more transparency and accountability from brands. They don’t just want to know what you sell; they want to know who you are, what you stand for, and how your work contributes to a better world. That’s where your sustainability story comes in. Sharing your achievements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives isn’t just about meeting expectations—it’s about building trust, fostering loyalty, and inspiring action. At Taiga Company, we specialize in helping organizations authentically communicate their sustainability achievements in ways that drive measurable impact and align with their goals. Why Sharing Your Sustainability Achievements Is Good for Business Build Trust with Stakeholders Sustainability storytelling builds credibility and trust. Whether you’re addressing investors, employees, or customers, sharing your sustainability milestones demonstrates your commitment to accountability and long-term value creation. For example: Highlight your efforts in achieving science-based targets, reducing carbon emissions, or adopting circular economy practices. These stories resonate with audiences looking for businesses that align with their values. Differentiate Your Brand In a competitive marketplace, sustainability can set you apart. Brands that communicate their achievements in regenerative agriculture, water stewardship, or biodiversity conservation position themselves as industry leaders and innovators. Think of it this way: A well-told sustainability story is not just a report—it’s a statement of leadership, authenticity, and purpose. Drive Stakeholder Engagement Sustainability stories invite dialogue. By showcasing meaningful milestones, like successful recycling initiatives or community reforestation projects, you foster stronger relationships with stakeholders who want to be part of your mission. Engagement isn’t just about storytelling; it’s about inspiring action. Whether through social media campaigns, press releases, or executive thought leadership, your achievements can encourage others to collaborate and support your goals. Attract Purpose-Driven Talent and Customers Today’s workforce and consumers seek brands with purpose. Communicating your impact helps attract talent and customers who align with your mission. A transparent, well-executed sustainability strategy speaks volumes about your leadership and values. At Taiga Company, we specialize in results-driven communications that empower purpose-led brands to share their sustainability achievements with confidence and clarity. Our services ensure your story resonates with the audiences that matter most. Your sustainability achievements deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Whether it’s reducing carbon emissions, innovating in sustainable packaging, or leading water stewardship initiatives, telling your story is an opportunity to inspire trust, drive action, and shape a better future.
Alright, so here’s the deal, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword anymore. Sure, at this most most industries, yes, even the most unsustainable industries have this general idea, right? Well, you’re always going to find some businesses in some niches (and yes, industries too) who think that it doesn’t apply to them. But no, it applies to all niches and all industries, and yes, it’s a business requirement. Now, across every industry, the companies that are embracing green practices are the ones that are thriving. Why? Well, because customers, investors, and employees are all paying attention. If a business isn’t making an effort to be sustainable, it’s not just falling behind, it’s losing out. Overall, sustainability isn’t just about saving the planet; it’s about saving your business. Yes, this needs to be hammered in, so industry leaders, here’s why you’re just not excused. Green Practices Mean Growth Yep, it’s that plain and simple, So, sustainability isn’t just about doing the right thing, it’s about doing the smart thing. Businesses that prioritize green practices are cutting costs, staying competitive, and building trust with their audiences. So, reducing waste, switching to renewable energy, and sourcing materials ethically aren’t just good for the planet, they’re great for the bottom line. Simple enough, right? Well, take packaging, for example. Cutting down on unnecessary plastics doesn’t just make customers happy; it slashes production and disposal costs. So, switching to energy-efficient operations isn’t just environmentally friendly, rather, it saves a fortune on utilities. There don’t need to be roadblocks seen, rather they should be opportunities! There’s Plenty to Gain Okay, so sustainability isn’t just for industries with obvious environmental impact, it’s critical in healthcare too. Again, no excuses here. Hospitals and clinics use massive amounts of energy, and the waste from single-use supplies piles up fast. The same can be said for labs, and pharmacies too. Actually, go ahead and take specialty drugs as an example. Now, most people know that these life-changing treatments are for serious conditions, but they often come with sky-high costs. But why? Well, the production and distribution processes can be incredibly resource-heavy. But even sustainable practices can help lower prices, such as energy-efficient manufacturing or even cutting down on excess packaging. It might be hard to see, but little changes can make massive impacts on costs (and what’s being spent on both ends). Tech Easily Shows How Sustainability Drives Innovation The tech industry has been leading the charge when it comes to sustainability, and the results speak for themselves. Actually, companies like Google and Apple are proving that being green isn’t just possible, but this can actually be pretty profitable! If tech companies can do this, then yeah, all industries are capable. So above, medicine was mentioned, but data centers are also a great example ( since they use a lot of energy). Well, nowadays, most companies are now powering these centers with renewable energy, cutting costs and emissions at the same time. No Industry Gets a Free Pass It doesn’t matter if it’s healthcare, tech, retail, or manufacturing, basically, every industry has something to gain by going green. There are small examples like retailers ditching plastic bags for reusable ones. Then there are bigger examples like factories rethinking supply chains to cut emissions and save costs. But the reality is that businesses sticking to wasteful, outdated practices are falling behind. Besides, governments are rolling out stricter regulations.