• 100% Recycled Silver and Gold or Fairmined Gold: Precious metal mining takes a huge toll on the planet and is often accomplished through modern slavery. I source my buillion from CooksonGold and Betts Metal Supplies. There is a lack of transparency in the recycled precious metal industry - it could be newly mined ore that was processed and stamped into shapes and then the scrap is recycled - but this still supports virgin mining. I am advocating for more traceability and transparency and opt to use AgAIN casting grain whenver possible as it is silver reclaimed from UK medical x-rays.
• NO products from Israel
• Why Sea Glass? Gemstones also have a murky supply chain and unfortunately, even the gemstones that theoretically have more traceability, like diamonds, are often subject to loopholes in the system that mean consumers could still be purhasing without knowing the true origins. This is an area I am actively trying to learn more about but until I can buy with certainty, I only use reclaimed gemstones. Sea Glass, on the other hand, I can collect from local beaches and pick up bits of trash while I am at it. Its value comes from its possible stories - maybe lost from a pirate ship or a tragic shipwreck of years past. It is treasure that market shares and stock prices can never diminish.
• Broken Dishes: For some people, it is a travesty that I intentionally destroy ceramic plates. I do often choose plates that have chips or scratches but the reality is, I usually find these plates stacked high in charity shops. Rather than let them go to landfill, I like to repurpose them. I am still considering what to do with the leftover ceramic shards. Perhaps tumbling them to make path or garden bed filler?

My goal is to never burden my customers with packaging that is difficult or confusing to responsibly recycle/compost. (See all the packaging in detail here)

To that extent, I choose materials that can either be recycled through council bins or composted at home.

I do not use the foam, fibre fill, or velvet inserts typically found in jewellery boxes. Even when plastics are made from plant-based materials, they often mimic plastic's characteristics to not biodegrade. (After all, plastic is made from oil which is technically plant-based). I will not pass on packaging to my customers that does not clearly biodegrade into organic matter or that can't be easily recycled.

I also try to provide clear instructions on my packaging of the recycling/composting options available which can also be found below:

Reuse as much as possible but when you are ready to dispose:

RECYCLE with paper or COMPOST:

Shipping Box incl. tape, labels, & wrap
Glassine Bag
Jewellery Card (Remove brass brad)
This Card
Business Card (Remove string)
Jewellery Box (Remove any waddding)

COMPOST at home or via council:

Tissue Paper
Bookmark Ribbon (Jute)
Wadding (All natural fibres)
Wax Seal (100% natural, no plastic)

RECYCLE with metal:

Brass Brad on jewellery card

I work from a home-studio which I renovated in 2024 with my own two glorified baby-hands. I picked the best insulation I could afford and now I can heat the entire space in winter with a very small electric blow heater. Equally, the space stays cool in the summer and I built a new wall with reclaimed French doors in it to create a cross-breeze for even more effective cooling.

The electric I use is generated from 100% renewable sources. I would love to invest in solar panels in the future, but right now it is not financially feasible.

For now, I make sure that nothing is left on charge and outlets are turned off to prevent small draws of energy to keep on display lights on machinery.

From tools to display items, I always try to find what I need secondhand. This is a way of life for me, both personally and professionally. So much already exists on the planet and if we are patient enough, we will likely find what we need without buying new.

When secondhand isn't an option, I try to buy from local, small businesses and prioritise those that are also making their best effort to be sustainable and ethical. What this looks like in practice:

• Checking if the local hardware store- Jackie Brown's - has what I need before gooing to B&Q.
• Using timber from Ballynahinch Building Supplies for my studio renovation
• Using Jewellery Casting Scotland as they use AgAin silver bullion and are just genuinely lovely people
• Using Zap Creatives for my badge pins and stickers as they offer eco-friendlier options, manufacture in house, and are committed to a work-life balance for their staff.
• Using Print.Work for my business stationery because their paper stock, inks used, and packaging are all intentionally as sustainable as possible.
• Buying from Klee Paper in Dublin for things like recycled tissue paper, recycled printer paper, home- compostable cellulose sleeves, and other packaging.