One of the things I struggle with is how to balance my love of fashion with my desire to be a socially and environmentally responsible shopper. I eschew fast fashion, choose more sustainable fabrics, but I struggle with my sustainable jewelry options. I recently went looking for more ethical jewelry choices and decided to share what I found.

Choosing to shop for ethical jewelry combines concerns about: the environmental impacts of mining and processing, the working conditions for mine workers, contributing to dictatorial regimes, the corporate monopoly of resources, the lack of economic development in mining areas, and more. No matter what your particular concern is, it is difficult to avoid the reality that jewelry creation can come at a high cost to the planet and the beings that inhabit it.

There are more ethical jewelry options out there options. Many jewelers wanting to have less of of an impact on the environment and in contributing to the conditions of peoples in mining areas, and realizing that there is a demand from consumers, have started using more ethical jewelry sourcing of raw materials. Ethical Metalsmiths is a group of jewelers who have organized and are committed to encouraging more ethical jewelry production and to educate consumers. In addition, there are campaigns to raise the profile of issues surrounding ethical jewelry, like Earthwork’s “No Dirty Gold” campaign and the Global Witness campaign to stop Conflict Diamonds.

Here is a list of amazing jewelry companies who offer more ethical jewelry options. From using recycled metals and gemstones to repurposing vintage jewelry, these jewelers have a commitment to offering lower impact jewelry choices, so consider their goods the next time you want to add a piece to your collection or you need to purchase a gift.

17 Ethical Jewelry Companies for Responsible Jewelry Shopping

1. East Fourth Street
2. Rose and Fitzgerald
3. Smart Glass Jewelry
4. Brilliant Earth
5. Alexis Russell
6. Anna Fine Jewellery
7. Honey Rosenk
8. Andrea Bonelli
9. VKeco Jewelry
10. Bario-Neal
11. Cred Jewellery
12. Nightfox Jewelry
13. Valkasinskas
14. Kara Daniel Jewelry
15. Rebecca Mir Grady
16. April Doubleday
17. Amalena

Related on EcoSalon

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Image: Alexis Russell

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Finding eco-friendly handbags can be a real challenge. We present some fashionable solutions.

As a vegetarian who is also committed to environmental sustainability, I find that being fashion presents some difficulties for me. I enjoy fashion, but I also want to be a conscientious shopper.

One of my biggest fashion woes are accessories like bags. Let’s face it, the choices out at the mall (a four-letter word in my book) and those hawked in fashion magazines and catwalks just don’t fit the bill for concerned consumers like me looking for eco-friendly handbags.

It can be a challenge, but not impossible to find vegan and eco-friendly handbags to suit both our functional and fashionable needs.

There are actually a lot of alternative bag materials out there for us fashion and eco-conscious shoppers. Here’s a sampling of some of those materials as well as examples of bags that utilize them.

1. Organic Cotton Clutch – This clutch is a great choice for those looking for vegan and eco-friendly handbags. It’s made using organic cotton that’s certified by the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), animal-free “leather”; it’s also free of harmful dyes and has chemical-free embroidery.

2.Pleather Shoulder Bag – Pleather, or vegan “leather” as it’s now called, has made real strides in quality lately. It’s now possible to find bags that appear to be actual leather. Just be careful, not all leather alternatives are eco-friendly. Read about the different types of vegan leathers here.

3. Cork Fabric Clutch – Cork fabric is made from cork, a natural, renewable and sustainable raw material and it’s also suitable for vegans.

4. Repurposed Coffee Bag Handbag – Repurposed bags made from burlap bags are awesomely eco-friendly handbags!

5. Organic Hemp Handbag – Hemp bags don’t have to be hippie and crunchy-granola. This sustainable organic hemp handbag is a stylish, chic and eco-friendly fashion statement.

6. Recycled Bottle Handbag – Matt & Nat bags are made with linings that are 100 percent recycled plastic bottles. They also are 100 percent animal free and they use the most sustainable options available.

7. Bent Wood Clutch  – Supplii offers gorgeous bent wood handbags using sustainable woods and utilizes a minimalist design that eliminates the need for extraneous materials.

Related on EcoSalon

Vegan Shoes and Handbags: On Trend

The Ultimate List of Sustainable Handbag Designers (From A-Z)

9 Reasons to Ditch Those Logo-Covered Designer Handbags (They’re So 1999!)

Top Image:  CanopyVerde

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Could textiles from trees replace our toxic and  oil-based ones? 

Finland, the Scandinavian country known as the land of the lakes, northern lights and endless forests, is bridging  a gap between its natural resources and the sustainable textile sector. Researchers at the country’s top university have created an environmentally friendly viscose manufacturing process that involves the use of native wood pulp to create cellulose based ‘ec0-viscose’. This new discovery is a breakthrough for the sustainable textile industry, as this versatile eco-viscose could replace the need for textiles that are harming the Earth.

Traditionally, viscose is produced with the use of highly toxic chemicals such as caustic soda and carbon disulphide, both of which are corrosive compounds. These chemicals are used to break down the cellulose fibers in wood pulp so that they can be spun into threads, and woven into cloths and materials for uses ranging from apparel to reinforcing high speed tires.

Finland’s alternative method for viscose production involves the use of non-toxic ionic solvents, resulting in a fabric that is actually stronger than conventional viscose.  Aalto University in Helsinki played the key role in developing this improved process for viscose manufacturing, with the aim of creating a sustainable, global  market for Finnish eco-textiles. A textile sample made from the cellulose fiber was designed by Aalto University Textile Arts student Marjaana Tanttu, who remarked that “the new material has an excellent capacity for reproducing shades and it’s surprisingly easy to work with”.

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Billing itself as an Etsy for Eco, London-based Eco Market is a natural online marketplace that connects buyers with eco-conscious products they’ll love — and sellers who share their passion for the environment.

Launched in 2010 under the name Ethical Community, the first iteration of Eco Market was born from the pleasure that founders Liam Patterson and Jason Dainter experienced when they received gifts with a personal connection to the giver. Realizing that the eco community is as much about relationships as products, they saw a need for a more personalized online marketplace experience.

“We’re concentrating on community, the stories of our sellers and the content that surrounds them,” Dainter told Desk.com’s Alyson Stone in a February 2012 blog post. “Customers seem hungry for an opportunity to purchase ethically from real people, and to read about the journeys.”

In early 2013, Dainter and Patterson decided there was still room for improvement. The site underwent a drastic revamp in an effort to better align the brand with the vision.

“We realized we had this opportunity,” Dainter told Techcrunch’s Sarah Perez in a March 2013 story. “We could either run with this brand that we weren’t totally happy with, and this platform that wasn’t scaling the way we wanted it to, or we could step back and fix what we should have fixed to start with.”

The result is a streamlined, social site that encourages visitors to build personal relationships with eco-friendly sellers. Less popular features like forums and events have been dropped, but now users can create profiles, share stories and videos with other members and even maintain “love lists” a la Pinterest.

“Our goal as a company is not only to give (often small one man band) sellers a platform to sell products,” the site claims, “but also to give consumers all the tools and information they need to demystify ethical shopping.” If that isn’t grand enough, the site also seeks to “create open debates about key issues that will help shape our planet.”

Online marketplace offerings are as varied and unique as they are eco-friendly. Buyers who came in search of fair-trade coffee or free-range chicken will also find organic clothing and jewelry. Acai vitamins, green kitchen appliances, biodegradable stationery — the selection is exhaustive.

What’s more, buyers can sort the store by the eco and natural causes most important to them, with vegan face scrubs in one search and recycled wine glasses in another. And sellers can attach ethical credentials and certificates to their products, ensuring that everything in the store is legitimately eco.

But Patterson and Dainter claim that Eco Market’s vision is less about items for sale and more about personal connections.

“It’s more about the story,” Dainter said. ”Maybe it’s handmade, but who made it by hand?”

With more than 15,000 products and 1,600 sellers to choose from, there are plenty of opportunity for buyers to find the answer.

Images: Eco Market

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A carefully curated crate made especially for you.

Heard about our Lost Crates partnership yet? Every month we bring you a curated crate of green goods (that you can subscribe to), and for August we’re excited to be featuring a selection of goods from one of our favorite eco-friendly, design savvy brands, Flip & Tumble. Beyond making products that are meant to be reused, and from sustainable materials, Flip & Tumble is also a carbon neutral business, using their carbon credits to support environmentally friendly projects.

What’s in this month’s crate?

24-7 Bag
The bag that’s fit for just about anything. Roll it up into a ball, keep it with you at all times and you’re always ready to say no to plastic. (Pictured above)

Produce Pouches
Shopping for bulk almonds, fresh nectarines and a bunch of kale? Stash them all with this set of reusable (and washable) produce bags.

Felt Pod
Add a bit of color to a room with this little pod, made from recycled felt and perfect for storing your favorite succulent.

All this for $38 plus shipping and handling.

We caught up with Flip & Tumble to learn a little bit more about what they do.

What inspired the launch of Flip & Tumble?

It all started with the 24-7 bag, please see our story here.

Beyond making reusable and sustainable products and being carbon neutral, your business is committed to doing “the little things that matter”. What are some of those things that you do on an everyday basis?

We are very conscious of the materials we use in every step of our business from recycling paper in our office to the amount of packaging we use on our products. We really keep this in mind for all the things we do as a business.

If you could give just one tip for living a more conscious lifestyle, what would it be?

I think it can be overwhelming to think about all the things you can do to be more environmentally responsible. I find it really helpful to try and introduce one new green initiative into your life at a time and really figure out a way to make it work for you so that you keep doing it.

Sign up for a subscription and get your Flip & Tumble crate now.

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