The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Jewelry

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As people become more environmentally aware, eco-friendly options have become more widely popular. And jewelry is no exception! Traditional designs may use precious metals and gemstones that have negative impacts on our surroundings. But there are plenty of easy ways to incorporate more sustainable accessories. And kudos to you for getting a head-start with this ultimate guide to sustainable jewelry.

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Mining for gold and gemstones is not great for the environment due to the emissions from the equipment

1. The environmental harm of traditional jewelry production

Traditional jewelry production can have an immense environmental footprint. Mining of precious metals and gemstones often results in deforestation, water pollution and soil degradation. Even the production itself often generates large energy consumption that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Gold mining in particular is notoriously harmful to the environment. Firstly, mining emits mercury which is an extremely toxic element which has been shown to cause neurological damage. Furthermore, the large scale removal of soil and rock from nearby waterways contributes to erosion and sedimentation issues.

But good news! There is a great alternative to mining for precious stones. And that is by purchasing lab-created jewelry. Not only is it sustainable jewelry, but it is extremely cost efficient. For example, my lab created jewelry engagement ring is 2.5 karats and cost $1,700. And yes – the diamonds on my ring are REAL. They just weren’t mined from the ground.

A sustainable jewelry option is purchasing a ring with wood or bamboo in the middle

2. Simple swaps to reduce environmental impact

There are various easy changes you can make when shopping for jewelry to lessen its environmental impact. For example, choosing recycled or upcycled materials. Many eco-conscious jewelry brands now incorporate recycled metals and gems in their designs. This helps to reduce demand for newly mined resources.

One approach is to choose jewelry made of alternative materials. Wood and bamboo jewelry has become more widely popular due to their eco-friendliness and unique appearance. Both materials can also be replenished sustainably, reducing environmental impacts over time.

Ethically sourced diamonds make an excellent selection of eco-friendly jewelry. Gemstone mining may involve conflict zones or harmful practices that negatively impact both local communities and the environment. By selecting ethically sourced stones, you help to support responsible mining methods that protect both environmental health and labor standards.

Person cleaning ring. Cleaning your jewelry properly also has an environmental impact

3. Maintain your jewelry the right way

Once you’ve made the switch to ethically made jewelry pieces, it is crucial that they are cared for properly. This will extend their lifespan while decreasing wasteful replacement needs and costs. Below are tips for caring for sustainable jewelry properly.

1. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive materials

One essential step to protect sustainable jewelry is to avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive materials. For example, some cleaning solutions and soaps contain acids. Instead, opt for using a soft cloth and gentle soap when cleaning jewelry pieces made of materials like wood or delicate gemstones.

2. Store your jewelry properly

Proper jewelry storage can play an integral role in protecting its value. Store them somewhere dry and cool to avoid direct sunlight or extreme temperatures that might expose them, such as direct heat sources. This helps prevent discoloration or any potential damages to them.

Woman wearing sparkly jewelry. Sustainable jewelry doesn't mean that the jewelry isn't as valuable.

Conclusion on this guide to sustainable jewelry

By making simple adjustments and caring for your jewelry properly, you can lower the environmental impact and support sustainable practices within the jewelry industry. From choosing eco-conscious brands or materials like recycled brass to selecting ethically-sourced gemstones there are multiple options for sustainable choices when accessorizing.

By purchasing environmentally sustainable jewelry, you’re helping support responsible practices within the industry while decreasing your environmental footprint. Remember – small choices still make a significant impact. Pair this with other easy eco-friendly habits, and you’re well on your way to living a sustainable life! 

With some care and consideration, your jewelry could bring joy and beauty into your life for many years while simultaneously contributing towards a cleaner planet. So next time you add to your collection consider going green by choosing sustainable options instead!

Top Ways to Plan for an Eco-Friendly Future

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When people think of the future, nowadays there is preference towards sustainability. “Let’s leave the planet better than we found it.” “If we aren’t careful, our world will look like how it looks in Wall-E.” Sure we have created amazing things. But in doing so, we have also created substantial damage to the environment. To try and offset this and bring on positive change, many people try to incorporate as many eco-friendly lifestyle changes into their lives as possible. If being more eco-friendly in 2023 is something that interests you, here are several top ways to plan for an eco-friendly future.

Consider and plan what you want your future to look like 

The best way to prepare for the future is to plan ahead. These plans can vary and come in many different shapes and sizes. Whether it’s as big as building and living in a house with renewable energy, or as simple as where you get your groceries from. Your plans can also be much farther in the future. You could even look as far ahead as planning a sustainable funeral and looking into alternatives such as biodegradable urns. Didn’t think that existed did you? Every aspect of our life (and afterlife) can be involved in our eco-friendly future planning.

Invest in products that will last a long time

Have you ever thought about how many different things that you use in a day? Whatever they may be, all of these products are designed and manufactured by a company to help you. The problem is that some of these products are not very eco-friendly. And worse, many of them aren’t designed to last a long time. Just take the latest iPhone as a great example! Ever notice how your phone starts to slow down after a couple of years? They want you to buy a new device. Even Tupperware has stains after a few uses.

For a lot of people, cutting out or removing many of these daily-used products is not doable. However there are still ways that you are looking to make a positive impact for the future. For almost every product you use regularly, there is a sustainable alternative. They are primarily designed to be repaired and re-used rather than replaced. You could also invest in higher quality products. Even though they are pricier, they are generally designed to last longer than cheaper products.

Purchase bamboo products

There are a lot of products that you didn’t know can be made from bamboo. The amount of bamboo-made products in my house would astound you! As one the most renewable resources in the world, switching to bamboo products instead of normal wood-based on cotton products can help tremendously! You can get bamboo clothes and bedding sheets from Cozy Earth (use the code DONNAGAIL40 for 40% off!). And a simple search on Amazon can bring up tons of bamboo products like toilet paper, paper towels, toothbrushes, drawer organizers, and so many more. If you’re looking for something for your house, odds are there is a bamboo alternative.

Easy and low-effort steps

When people talk about being eco-friendly there is a lot of stigma around making sacrifices. There’s even negativity around putting in hard work for things that may not even be noticeable for many years. However, there are small and easy low-effort steps you could take every now and then to help. If you own a garden one example could be to grow some native plants and trees. You can even just compost your food waste rather than send it to landfill. This way over the coming years you will have significantly reduced your waste footprint and improved your local wildlife habitat.

Your present and future are both entwined with one another. It is incredibly important to think about what you can do today to help tomorrow. Why not consider these top ways to plan for an eco-friendly future, and see if you can implement any of them into your life?

How to improve the energy efficiency of an older home

How To Improve Energy Efficiency in an Older House

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With newly built homes, energy efficiency is now considered one of the most important features. But older homes simply don’t have the same energy-saving features that we do now. That being said, if you live in an older house, you may be used to paying higher utility bills. This doesn’t have to be the case anymore! There is a range of things that you can do to make your older home more energy efficient and save on your pnm bill. Here are some of the simple things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of an older house.

Woman replacing old lightbulbs with LEDs

Replace your light bulbs to improve energy efficiency

This is one of the easiest and most affordable things you can do to make your home more energy-efficient. If you are still using the older style light bulbs, swap them out with modern LED lights. These can save up to six times as much energy. Not to mention, they won’t give off as much heat. This will also help to keep your home nice and cool, especially in the summer.

You could also add a new lighting system to your home. By installing things like motion sensor switches, you can make sure that the lights are turned off if the room is empty without having to think about it. You can also get systems that allow you to control your lighting from a smartphone app. This means you can turn your lights off if you forgot to do so before more. Or you can even turn your lights on when you aren’t home at night to deter robbers.

OhmConnect sign-up

Hook your energy utility service up to OhmConnect

OhmConnect is a free service that rewards you with giftcards or PayPal cashouts simply by reducing your energy usage. Once you hook your utility service up to OhmConnect, it automatically tracks what you save. After that, Ohm will start sending you Ohm Hour alerts. These alerts are Ohm’s way of trying to reduce the energy usage during certain peak times. You will earn “Watts” for how much energy you save during these Ohm hours which can be used to redeem rewards. During the summer, you can expect to see an Ohm Hour a few times a week – making it super easy to rack up rewards quickly. Last summer, I cashed out $75 in one month because of the energy I saved. It’s kind of a win-win honestly. You’re reducing your energy bill AND getting rewarded for it.

Replace showers, faucets, and toilets

Older toilets use a lot more water each time you flush them than more modern ones. You may also have leaky faucets and shower heads in an older home. These are all fairly simple and affordable to replace, and modern low-flow toilets can significantly reduce the amount of water that you use.

Solar power on a house can greatly improve the energy efficiency of your home

Look at alternative sources of energy to improve energy efficiency

While these cost more upfront, alternative sources of energy can save you big money in the long run. By switching to geothermal, wind, or solar energy, you will reduce your energy bill significantly. Of course, where you live plays a big part in the type of alternative energy that is best for you. But it is a great thing to do for both the environment and your bank account.

Fix gaps and leaks in windows and doors or replace them

In many households, windows and doors are the biggest sources of leaked air. Many older houses have the original single pane windows, or older versions of double-glazing, which are pretty ineffective at keeping air in. Older wooden doors also tend to warp and shrink because of humidity and fluctuating temperatures. The drafts caused by this will make it incredibly cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Swapping these out for new, more energy-efficient windows and doors will make your improve the energy efficiency of your older home.

As well as saving you money, making energy-efficient changes to your older house also reduces the impact that you have on the environment. It will also greatly increase the value of your home as a whole!

The 9 Pillars to Be More Eco Friendly in 2023

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Is it really that hard to be more eco-friendly? No it’s not. Simple switches that really will not add any extra labor on your part can make all the difference. And what better time to start than in April. Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22nd to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire people to take action to protect our planet. But good for you for doing some research regardless of the month!

Here are some sustainability tips that you can implement in your daily life to contribute to a greener world:

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

The three R’s? For being more eco-friendly? Groundbreaking. We all learned this in second grade so there’s nothing new here. Bring your own reusable bag for grocery shopping, recycle your soda can, and don’t leave the water running while brushing your teeth. Simple.

Bamboo-made products are very eco-friendly
Switch to bamboo-product alternatives

Switch to Bamboo Products

There are a variety of eco-friendly products available that can replace traditional, less sustainable products. For example, you can switch to bamboo products, like bamboo toothbrushes, utensils, or even clothes as they are biodegradable and compostable. Bamboo is also the most renewable resource in the world! This means it is also a great wood and paper alternative. Consider switching to bamboo paper towels, bamboo toilet paper, and the next time you update the floors in your house, use engineered bamboo hardwood! This ensures that those trees that took decades to grow can keep growing.

Save Energy with OhmConnect

One of the easiest ways to save energy is to turn off lights, electronics, and appliances when they are not in use. Consider using energy-efficient light bulbs, and set your thermostat to conserve energy. But isn’t it more fun when you get rewarded for doing these things? Connect your utility bill to OhmConnect and cash out your energy saving ways to PayPal or to other gift cards! This is only for eligible California utilities (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E), New York Con Edison customers, and friends in Texas who can choose their own electricity provider.

Conserve Water

You can conserve water by taking shorter showers, fixing leaky faucets, and using water-efficient appliances. And if you have house plants, collect your shower water in a bucket while it’s heating up and use it to water your plants.

Plant Indigenous Plants in Your Yard

Planting trees is a great way to give back to the environment. But even more so is planting plants that are specific to your area’s habitat! Every part of the world has its own little biodiverse environment. Making your front and back yard a continuation of the environment is a great way to offset the urbanization of your city.

Fair trade shade grown coffee plant. It is a great way to be more eco friendly in 2023
Shade-grown coffee

Drink Fair Trade Shade-Grown Coffee

Fair trade practices promote sustainable farming methods that minimize harm to the environment. Additionally, fair trade coffee is typically shade-grown, which helps to protect and preserve natural habitats and biodiversity. This is because instead of cutting down the forest to make coffee fields, these fields are made without cutting the trees down. Hence why it’s called “shade-grown”. And since shade-grown coffee usually takes longer to grow since it isn’t in direct sunlight, it actually produces a richer, more flavorful bean! Meaning your morning cup of joe is even that much better.

Support Sustainable Businesses

Look for companies that prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility. These businesses often use eco-friendly materials, reduce waste, and minimize their carbon footprint. Companies like Eminence for skin care, SunBum for sun care, and EcoRoots for home and bath products are just a few.

Reduce Meat Consumption

The production of meat is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Consider reducing your meat consumption or trying plant-based alternatives.

Switch to Reef-Friendly Sunscreen

That’s right – it’s not just about keeping the land critters happy, but the ocean’s as well. Hawaii has some of the strictest laws when it comes to sunscreen sales. As of January 2021, they have banned the sales of sunscreen containing Oxybenzone and Octinoxate. This is a great step to ensuring sunscreen brands start gravitating towards more “reef friendly” materials. SunBum is definitely the brand that is leading this charge! Read more about what they are doing to protect the reefs with their sunscreen.

These are just a few of the many things you can do to be more eco-friendly in your daily life. By making small changes and being mindful of our impact on the environment, we can all contribute to a more sustainable future.