Online Articles

The Foundations of a Sustainable Jewelry Practice with Christina Miller Airdate: April 1, 2023 Christina Miller is the founder of Christina T. Miller Sustainable Jewelry Consulting, providing strategy, education, and guidance to small and medium-sized companies in the jewelry and fashion industries. In this episode, Miller, shares her insights and tips for building and supporting a […]

Live from Expo 2022 Mark Hanna on a Responsible Industry Hosted by Andrea Hill Mark Hanna, chief marketing officer with the New York City–based Richline Group, is a leading advocate for responsible practices throughout the jewelry industry. He’s collaborated with the U.S. Wildlife Council, Pure Earth, and Responsible Artisanal Gold Forum, among other groups, and […]

The Need for Sustainability Despite a slowing economy, focusing on sustainable efforts can create value and build resilience Even with the threat of a slowing economy in the new year, should companies still prioritize investments in sustainability? According to a recent McKinsey report, the answer is a resounding yes. The report notes that even “in […]

Going Green Tips for small shop changes that can make a global difference By Shawna Kulpa What does it mean to be an environmentally responsible jeweler? Is it knowing the origin of the precious metals and gemstones used in your work and ensuring that they were sourced responsibly? Is it recycling all of your metal […]

It Takes a Village Exploring best practices for sourcing responsibly By Deborah A. Yonick For more than a decade, there’s been a movement within the jewelry industry to improve how the precious materials used in it are sourced. As a result, many companies have begun referring to their products as “responsible,” “recycled,” and “sustainable.” But […]

Doing Good Is Good Business The path toward a socially responsibly business By Andrea Hill Most of us agree that being a responsible parent or adult is important, and, if asked, I imagine that every person reading this could articulate the elements of responsibility: Telling the truth, demonstrating good character, modeling good behavior and values, […]

Make Change Participation is essential to developing responsible sourcing solutions By Andrea Hill Three of the most challenging aspects of engaging in jewelry industry responsible supply chain activities are how opaque jewelry supply chains continue to be, how many problems remain to be solved, and the moral dilemmas around many of our materials. The truth […]

Doing It In-House Columbia Gem House’s system for qualifying stone suppliers Jewelry makers dedicated to responsible practices can get frustrated when it comes to sourcing colored gemstones, since there currently aren’t any gemstone-specific certifications for suppliers. That’s one of the reasons why Eric Braunwart, president of Columbia Gem House (CGH) in Vancouver, Washington, decided to […]

Making a Difference Adopting standards are a business necessity, not an option By Andrea Hill The world woke up on February 24 to the news that Russia had begun a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During the week that followed, as extraordinary international sanctions were implemented and the UN Security Council and General Assembly censured Russia, […]

For Good Reason Sustainability is key in sustaining diamond sales By Deborah A. Yonick Next to food and clothing, fine jewelry ranks as the third most frequently purchased category based on sustainability considerations among consumers. In fact, sustainability considerations are on par with price and design for jewelry consumers worldwide, according to De Beers’ 2021 […]

Just the Start Industry initiatives and projects promoting sustainability By Sharon Elaine Thompson Tucson is always hectic, but this year, Eric Braunwart and his staff were unable to leave their booth even to get lunch. What really surprised Braunwart—the founder of Columbia Gem House in Vancouver, Washington, a leading supplier of responsibly sourced colored gems—was […]

Certified Responsible Certifications and standards for responsible supply chains By Shawna Kulpa RJC, COP, SCS, IRMA, ARM, CRAFT, OECD… If you’ve looked into responsible sourcing within the jewelry industry, you’ve likely come across many of these acronyms. They may even have you scratching your head in an effort to keep them all straight. Being a […]

Profiles of two of the industry’s leaders in responsible sourcing By Shawna Kulpa Consumers love a good story, and jewelry, with its sparkling gemstones, storied history, and romantic underpinnings, has lent itself to many an intriguing tale. But there’s also a side of the jewelry industry that doesn’t make for a good story—one where precious […]