Recycled Materials in Jewellery
Today, as consumers, we are more conscious of our impact on the environment. We are ready to buy anything that has been labelled “sustainable”. It’s not a fad. Instead, it’s just a humble effort we can all make to conserve the planet. While everyone has become comfortable with the idea of sustainable fashion, a new entrant in this space is sustainable jewellery. Recycled materials are used to create stunning jewellery pieces that don’t just look great but also have a positive impact on the planet. Reusing and recycling jewellery materials considerably reduces the environmental impact.
Recycled jewellery can be real or imitation. Precious metals and gemstones are being reused to create brand new jewellery pieces.
What is Recycled Jewellery?
As the name implies, recycled jewellery is jewellery that has been made from repurposed materials including reclaimed metals, old coins, plastic, vintage beads, paper, fabric, and more. The focus is reducing waste and minimising the impact of the jewellery industry. Right now, switching to jewellery and accessories made from recycled materials is the need of the hour because the demand for mining and extraction of precious metals will reduce. It also reduces the carbon footprint of jewellery production. Also, the cost associated with producing a new piece from scratch is much lesser. Millennials and Gen Z have absolutely no problem wearing jewellery made from recyclable materials. In fact, they are all becoming advocates of the same.
Negative Environmental Impact of Jewellery Production
The Mining Process
Jewellery that is made from precious metals and gemstones is incomplete without mining. However, the extraction of these metals causes significant environmental damage. Further, the ill-effects of mining include soil erosion, water pollution and deforestation. Extracting materials also releases greenhouse gases which contributes to climate change. Also, in the mining process, several toxic chemicals are used which are detrimental to human health.
Jewellery Production
The entire jewellery making process also has an impact on the environment. In the refining and polishing process certain chemicals such as mercury and cyanide are used. This is harmful to the environment and human health. Additionally, jewellery production also leads to industrial waste including scraps, shavings and chemicals. Overall, the impact of jewellery production is harmful. By making jewellery using recycled materials, the demand for mining is reduced. When repurposed materials are combined with sustainable production methods, it gives birth to a whole new industry.
Materials used in making Recycled Jewellery
Jewellery made from repurposed materials carries a unique charm and touch of sustainability. A few popular materials include:
Glass:
Old bottles, window panes, and other small glass items can be reshaped into beads and pendants.
Metals:
Reclaimed metals, and old and unwanted jewellery can also be melted and reshaped into new pieces. This is an age-old but yet a very popular practice. Jewellery styles and trends change every decade. People melt their old jewellery and spend on making charges to create brand new jewellery pieces without burning a hole in the pocket.
Plastic:
When unwanted plastic is dumped into landfills, the results are disastrous. Instead, plastic too can be recycled and be made into jewellery. From beads to pendants, plastic can be used in a variety of ways.
Fabric:
Old clothes, fabric and linen can also be cut, braided and sewn into wearable art pieces.
Paper:
Students pursuing a jewellery designing course are usually asked to make jewellery using recycled materials as part of their end semester project. Paper is the most popular material used. From old magazines to newspapers, various materials can be rolled, folded and glued together. The possibilities and innovations with paper jewellery are endless.
Benefits of Producing Recycled Jewellery
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Jewellery production increases the greenhouse gases in the air. This leads to climate change. Using recycled materials can cut down on these emissions considerably. The industry’s carbon footprint too from processes such as mining, sourcing, polishing and fabrication is reduced. Natural resources and energy are also conserved which creates a sustainable environment for the present and future generations.
Waste Reduction
The jewellery industry has a bad reputation when it comes to generating large amounts of waste. This is especially for non-biodegradable materials such as plastics and metals. By using recycled materials, the waste generated decreases and the impact on the planet is reduced. Fewer resources are required to make new pieces from scratch. Waste that is usually dumped in landfills and in the ocean is reduced and reused instead.
Cost-effective
Manufacturing jewellery is an expensive process. Using recycled jewellery has big economic benefits. Less energy is required to produce new materials. This results in cost savings for jewellery production houses and designers. Using recycled materials also creates jobs for the recycling materials. Employment generation enhances people’s revenue.
Final Words
Manufacturing jewellery using recycled materials is here to stay. Aspiring jewellery designers and those studying diploma jewellery programmes should use natural materials, and mix-and-match to create stunning jewellery pieces. Research reveals that environmentally-conscious consumers prefer buying sustainable jewellery. Using recycled materials, handmade and personalised jewellery can also be made. As a consumer, it’s also your chance to support small businesses.
