Ethical wedding jewelry is on the rise among bridal couples. Find out how to shop sustainably, promote fair labor, and support eco-friendly producers.

No wedding ensemble is complete without a little sparkle and bling.

But before you douse yourself in diamonds and pearls—have you stopped to consider where the jewels come from? For your special day, consider taking the green route by embracing ethical wedding jewelry.

The term ethical jewelry is generally used to signify that the precious metals involved have been sustainably sourced. Ethically sourced jewelry has a minimal negative impact on the environment and seeks to ensure workers have safe working environments, fair wages, and humane labor rights.

For the most part, precious gems and metals are extracted through mining processes. When not performed carefully, mining can have a detrimental impact on the surrounding environment by releasing a considerable amount of carbon dioxide and other dangerous gases into the atmosphere.

Most mining activities are performed in relatively poorer regions of the world, where any negative climate impact or human injustices unfortunately often fly under the radar. In addition to the climate impacts—many miners working in traditional mining operations are severely underpaid working in conditions reminiscent of modern-day slavery. And sometimes these mines are even found to be taking advantage of child labor. It’s a grim situation.

Thus, from both environmental and human justice standpoints—it is important to seek out ethical wedding jewelry whenever possible.

As brides become more interested in making their wedding day sustainable, there has been a rising demand for ethically produced and sourced goods. But finding ethical wedding jewelry can take a little extra work.

What’s the Problem With Sourcing Precious Stones and Metals?

The problem with commercial jewelry runs deep—right down to the source, actually.

The procedures involved in extracting precious metals and stones come with significant human, environmental, and economic impacts. And since commercial manufacturing thrives on overconsumption, large corporations do not shy away from exploiting the supply chain to pad their profits.

It all begins with the mines. An overwhelming majority of diamonds imported to the U.S. come from countries with volatile economies that have little to no labor protections.

Corporations operating outside of the US have access to cheap labor with few regulations. They can dodge heavy taxes and strong labor laws so they save funds by not having to provide safe working conditions for miners or their surrounding communities.

These same unregulated countries also tend to have lax environmental regulations as well. Corporations take advantage of this by using unscrupulous mining methods that emit excessive amounts of dangerous gases into the environment making mining a devastating process.

In any given diamond-mining operation, approximately 250 tons of earth is shifted per carat.

But the problems continue even once the jewelry leaves the mines. Commercial producers are often notoriously lenient with inspections and don’t refrain from making jewelry using cheap material which ultimately ends up littering landfills. In the end, these companies get a huge chunk of profit while we are all left with the effects of air and land pollution.

Whether mining is done for precious gems or for metals like platinum, gold, and silver—all these operations contribute to air and water pollution, ecosystem destruction, and greenhouse gas overproduction.

So as you can see, it’s important to understand and pay close attention to where your jewelry comes from and how it’s extracted.

Choosing Wedding Jewelry from Sustainable Materials

While there are no fixed standards for ethics in the jewelry industry. Finding sustainable, ethical wedding jewelry isn’t a convoluted process.

Start your search by focusing on the material. Precious metals like gold and silver retain their properties even upon melting and remodeling. Since their quality remains intact, many vendors offer buyback deals on gold and silver jewelry.

Likewise, consider shopping for recycled metals.

Considering how you are repurposing something that has already been mined and your choices won’t be adding to the industry. Recycling is also a better option from a financial standpoint. It allows customers to breathe new life into old jewelry. Instead of ending up in landfills, old rings and necklaces get to find new loving homes.

Recycling gems are not as common and is often only done by small manufacturers. However, by looking for ethically sourced gems, you can still stay the course of sustainability. Ask vendors about the source of their gems. An eco-conscious vendor should have no issue with providing this type of information. Many ethical jewelry vendors are very vocal about labor rights and sustainable practices, especially with the rise of more conscious consumers. The list of ethical brands continues to grow and finding the right eco-friendly wedding vendor for your ethical wedding jewelry shouldn’t be an issue.

If you can't find ethically sourced gems, despite best efforts—there’s always lab-grown jewelry as an ethical option. Lab-grown diamonds naturally do not have the same environmental impact and unsavory history as mined diamonds.

Studies show, millennials are primarily pushing the drive to lab-grown gems, for the very fact they are better for the environment and promoting of human rights.

Choosing Ethical Wedding Jewelry Is So Worth the Extra Effort

A concerted effort on the part of shoppers interested in environmental sustainability and human rights has led to a number of ethical wedding jewelry vendors to emerge, and for many traditional jewelers to switch practices.

Danish jewelry giant Pandora recently announced a switch to entirely lab-grown diamonds!

With a bit of mindfulness, you can easily create the wedding of your dreams without harming the environment. Look for brands openly supporting ethical material sourcing for your stationery, flowers, jewelry, and fabric—putting together an eco-friendly and sustainable wedding will be worth the extra effort.

Afarose stocks a beautiful selection of ethical wedding jewelry, like the radiant gold-and-pearl Comets and delicate silvery Ceres—sure to complement any gown.

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Afarose is Dedicated to Sustainability

Afarose takes sustainability seriously.

Helping bridal couples choose a more environmentally friendly approach to wedding planning is built into their mission. They believe every small step we take today helps build a better tomorrow.

Dressmaking Process

Sustainability is at the forefront of Afarose’s dressmaking process. While most fast fashion produced in bulk boosts profits, the practice also leads to a shocking amount of fabric waste. Afarose’s made-to-order approach and custom designing all aid in minimizing excess or wasted fabric. Any extra fabrics are always used in creating new designs.

Online Operations Business Model

Afarose operates as a fully online e-commerce business model. Operating solely online rather than taking up retail space with a physical store allows for conserving water and energy which helps cut unnecessary carbon emissions.

You can also opt for an online virtual style session and try on dresses in the comfort of your own home with Afarose’s popular try-at-home program.

Partner with ethical wedding vendor—Afarose for eco-conscious dresses and ethical wedding jewelry for your special day!

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