Material Sourcing
Material Sourcing, the why, where and how of the stuff we use to make things is one of the most important topics that Ethical Metalsmiths explores. Connecting jewelers and metalsmiths with responsibly sourced materials has been our mission, our fundamental challenge and our greatest opportunity.
One thing that we can all do is vote with our dollars, but at the same time we can't shop our way to a better world. Ethical Metalsmiths encourages jewelers, metalsmiths and the public to advocate for transparency and responsibility while choosing what materials to buy.
Our supporters, curious jewelers and the public have emailed us looking for information about what makes a given country, community, company or material more or less ethical. Making informed choices about the materials we use can demonstrate a demand for items like responsibly mined metals and traceable gemstones. If enough individuals ask for, seek out and buy materials with a trustworthy provenance we will all be able to see the positive results of our choices.
Ethical Metalsmiths wants to help you wade through contradictory certifications and fuzzy claims made by suppliers. We plan to publish a list of "more" responsible suppliers and materials in the near future. Our list will still require that you weigh your own ethical sourcing priorities before you make any purchasing decisions.
We know how important this information is to you. While this work is in progress please contact us with your questions and we'll do our best to send a personal response.