Can you believe that the global jewelry market is expected to reach a worth of $519 billion by the time 2030 rolls around?
Despite this continual increase in worth, more and more customers are becoming conscious of where these jewels come from. No matter what types of jewelry you’re investing in, it’s possible that the product comes from companies that engage in unethical practices.
Are you looking for an emerald to buy but don’t want to support immoral behavior? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know when it comes to ethical jewelry.
What Is Ethical Jewelry?
Put in the simplest terms possible, ethical jewelry refers to a product that doesn’t come from slave labor or other harmful practices. The term “blood diamond,” for instance, means that a jewel is a result of overworking people or worse.
This is why some businesses have made an effort to avoid getting a natural emerald from places that take advantage of communities or even destroy them. Instead, they seek out sources that help communities thrive.
Supporting unethical businesses ensures that those practices are here to stay. By choosing ethical businesses over other ones, you can make a statement with your money. Over time, unethical practices will become obsolete, and those businesses will be forced to change their ways or close their doors for good.
What Does Sustainability Entail?
Aside from community damage, there’s also environmental pollution to consider. Nowadays, it’s possible to seek out environmentally friendly jewelry instead of supporting unethical practices.
For instance, some companies use recycled materials instead of making new ones regularly. Mindful companies also limit the use of toxic chemicals in their production process. Not only is a reduction in chemicals beneficial to the environment but it also reduces the health risks of workers.
The same is true for marketing material. Advertising methods that use fliers are a thing of the past. Nowadays, there are many different ways a jewelry business can get the word out about loose emeralds, such as via social media marketing which is entirely paperless.
While it’s not feasible for businesses to go 100% green overnight, every little bit can help. Businesses that break down their goals into manageable chunks can end up making a world of difference over the years.
Lab-grown jewels are yet another option that people are increasingly favoring. While this is full of promise, there’s still no guarantee that the process of growing these emerald-quality jewels is sustainable. Not many customers realize that growing jewels in a lab at a high rate can lead to a significant amount of CO2 emissions.
More and more people are opting to buy an emerald gem second-hand because this is a way of recycling. However, it’s often not possible to trace the origin of these jewels. Some people aren’t comfortable with a used piece of jewelry if it has a dark history, for instance.
Buying Ethical Jewelry
Now that you’ve learned about ethical and sustainable jewelry, you might be wondering how you can tell the difference between one that’s ethical and one that’s not. Many ethical-minded businesses will make it known that they don’t support harmful and predatory practices.
However, just because they say they don’t doesn’t mean this is true. It’s an unfortunate fact that some businesses will try to take advantage of well-intentioned customers by tricking them into thinking their products are ethical.
One way you can find out if this is true or not is by Googling the company. A little research can go a long way toward finding out if they stand by their mission statement or not. It’s worth taking the time to see what customers have to say about the brand online.
More often than not, you can find valuable information about the ethicality of the products, the quality of the natural emerald stone, their customer service, and so much more.
In-depth research can end up taking quite a bit of effort. If you’re pressed for time, you can often spot a legitimate vendor by browsing their website. For instance, there’s a difference between claiming sustainability and going into detail about it.
What exact practice do they engage in? What are the benefits of each one? The answers to these questions can make all the difference when buying natural emerald earrings.
Sustainable Mining of Emeralds
Anyone who wants an example of real vs. fake jewelry sustainability should look to Belmont Emeralds. They’ve garnered international recognition for supporting sustainable mining while also educating other brands and customers on the importance of ethical practices.
Belmont Emeralds has taken ethicality further by investing in reforestation. Not only do they have their reforestation team led by an experienced engineer, but they also maintain their nursery. The native trees in this nursery are used to help the reforestation efforts.
So far, the company has protected around 3,700 acres within the Atlantic Forest. Aside from helping with the trees and other flora, these conservation efforts also aid the wildlife.
As if that wasn’t enough Belmont Emeralds is also dedicated to empowering women. That’s why 75% of the natural emerald experts employed by this business are female. As part of ongoing education, Belmont Emeralds invests over 400 hours a year in training their professionals. That way, they know how to tell if an emerald is real and more.
Now You Can Choose an Emerald to Buy
Now that you’ve learned everything you need to know when it comes to ethical jewelry, you can find an emerald to buy. Avoiding the guilt that’s associated with unethical practices can make the emerald value feel priceless. Your friends and family members are sure to appreciate your thoughtfulness as well.
Belmont Emeralds can provide you with the highest quality jewels. We also keep sustainability in mind so that you can always feel good about your purchase.
Do you have questions about our emeralds? If so, feel free to contact us. We look forward to talking with you.