I am actively pursuing ethical making within my practice, and it's important to me to be transparent in communicating the steps I am taking to be as responsible an artist and maker as I can. It is an ever evolving journey as I discover more and better alternatives. This page will be constantly changing as a result, and will serve to keep you informed and me accountable.
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING OF RAW MATERIALS
Precious Metals:
It is extremely important to me to use recycled (Eco) silver and gold.
It is of the exact same high quality but reuses material already in circulation and not newly mined or direct from conflict mines. Instead the precious metal is recovered from industrial use (ie. electric parts, plating), scrap jewellery and dentistry.
I also make sure to recycle all of my own silver 'waste' and offcuts including recovering and reusing the small amount of silver deposited in the photographic fix from my darkroom processes [more about that coming soon].
I very rarely use large amounts of gold and if recycled gold is not available for a piece I will use Fair Trade Gold.
Fair Trade gold and silver has the world’s most stringent traceability and transparency standards. Empowering artisanal mining communities thanks to social and environmental improvements. Importantly, the system is fully audited by an independent 3rd party to offer consumers full confidence.
However, I am still very mindful of the human and environmental impact of artisanal and small-scale mining and will continue to use recycled gold as an absolute priority.
Other Materials:
All other materials such as glass, base metals, plastics, paper and any stones are sourced recycled and/or sustainably where possible (ie. reclaimed/recycled glass, stones, metals and plastics, Bio Resin (plant-based resin), recycled papers, etc)
USE OF ALTERNATIVES TO CHEMICALS
- Non-toxic pickles and cleaning solutions
- Eco Resins (plant-based and sustainable)
- Biodegradable soap for degreasing metals
- Replacing acid etching with salt water etching
- Water-based, silica-free, vegan polishing compounds
- Moving from chemical patination methods to entirely natural homemade alternatives
PRINT & PACKAGING MATERIALS
My packaging is a perpetual work in progress!
The current trend for many small handmade businesses and independent artists appears to be a whole plethora of information cards, tissue, envelopes, bags, stickers, more tissue, ribbons, patterned tape, boxes in boxes in boxes and even more tissue. I desperately want to resist this rising pressure. I want to ensure that there is as little material waste for my customers to deal with as there is in making it and, let’s face it, reduce the overall expenditure on superfluous ‘stuff’ that will ultimately push up my prices or otherwise leave me barely covering my costs, for it to all end up in the bin anyway.
But, I do not wish to compromise on quality or that sensory experience of receiving an exciting and beautiful package.
It’s all about balance.
It is my mission to keep all packaging and accompanying ‘stationery’ as minimal, reusable and sustainable as possible*
[*but still achingly cool and edgy]
Currently...
Artwork
1. Prints are packaged using recycled card backing and compostable cellophane envelopes (made from corn starch).
2. Postage materials are recyclable and reusable by the recipient. With larger, heavier works I try to reuse boxes/packaging materials from deliveries (if I don't have any I ask around my neighbours!).
3. Labels, tape and cards/paperwork as detailed below.
Jewellery
I welcome your feedback to see whether what I’m doing, or trying to do, lives up to the experience you would want as a customer parting with your hard-earned cash. Your opinions matter and help me adapt and grow.
Please do feel free to drop me a line via my contact page.
REDUCING WASTE & ENERGY CONSUMPTION
- My whole practice is based on a circular economy to reduce waste
- Development and implementation of efficient metal reclamation systems within my studio
- Any chemicals are responsibly disposed of
- My studio is run using a green energy supplier
COMMUNITY & SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT ARTISTS/BUSINESSES
I'm very aware that although I'm a bit of a Jack-of-all-trades I am also a one-woman enterprise. So, whether I like it or not I can't always do absolutely everything myself (although it's not from lack of trying)! Therefore, it is extremely important to me to support other independent makers, artists and small businesses and as local to me as possible when choosing suppliers and assistance.
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING OF RAW MATERIALS
Precious Metals:
It is extremely important to me to use recycled (Eco) silver and gold.
It is of the exact same high quality but reuses material already in circulation and not newly mined or direct from conflict mines. Instead the precious metal is recovered from industrial use (ie. electric parts, plating), scrap jewellery and dentistry.
I also make sure to recycle all of my own silver 'waste' and offcuts including recovering and reusing the small amount of silver deposited in the photographic fix from my darkroom processes [more about that coming soon].
I very rarely use large amounts of gold and if recycled gold is not available for a piece I will use Fair Trade Gold.
Fair Trade gold and silver has the world’s most stringent traceability and transparency standards. Empowering artisanal mining communities thanks to social and environmental improvements. Importantly, the system is fully audited by an independent 3rd party to offer consumers full confidence.
However, I am still very mindful of the human and environmental impact of artisanal and small-scale mining and will continue to use recycled gold as an absolute priority.
Other Materials:
All other materials such as glass, base metals, plastics, paper and any stones are sourced recycled and/or sustainably where possible (ie. reclaimed/recycled glass, stones, metals and plastics, Bio Resin (plant-based resin), recycled papers, etc)
USE OF ALTERNATIVES TO CHEMICALS
- Non-toxic pickles and cleaning solutions
- Eco Resins (plant-based and sustainable)
- Biodegradable soap for degreasing metals
- Replacing acid etching with salt water etching
- Water-based, silica-free, vegan polishing compounds
- Moving from chemical patination methods to entirely natural homemade alternatives
PRINT & PACKAGING MATERIALS
My packaging is a perpetual work in progress!
The current trend for many small handmade businesses and independent artists appears to be a whole plethora of information cards, tissue, envelopes, bags, stickers, more tissue, ribbons, patterned tape, boxes in boxes in boxes and even more tissue. I desperately want to resist this rising pressure. I want to ensure that there is as little material waste for my customers to deal with as there is in making it and, let’s face it, reduce the overall expenditure on superfluous ‘stuff’ that will ultimately push up my prices or otherwise leave me barely covering my costs, for it to all end up in the bin anyway.
But, I do not wish to compromise on quality or that sensory experience of receiving an exciting and beautiful package.
It’s all about balance.
It is my mission to keep all packaging and accompanying ‘stationery’ as minimal, reusable and sustainable as possible*
[*but still achingly cool and edgy]
Currently...
Artwork
1. Prints are packaged using recycled card backing and compostable cellophane envelopes (made from corn starch).
2. Postage materials are recyclable and reusable by the recipient. With larger, heavier works I try to reuse boxes/packaging materials from deliveries (if I don't have any I ask around my neighbours!).
3. Labels, tape and cards/paperwork as detailed below.
Jewellery
- Postal boxes are recyclable and reusable by the recipient. I will ultimately replace this current stock with ones that are made from recycled material as well as being recyclable.
- The tape I use to secure the postal boxes is eco-friendly and recyclable
- The ‘filler’ material inside the postage boxes to protect the contents is hand made using waste paper produced from making work in my studio and can be reused or recycled (the type/colour of paper will vary depending on what kind of paper waste I have at the time!).
- Postage labels are made from waste paper offcuts from my studio and adhered using all natural rice paste glue.
- My business cards are from Moo, made from recycled cotton t-shirts and are mini artworks in themselves that you can frame if you want!
- My info card (which I admit needs updating, sorry!) is made from recyclable card. Once I’m out of this particular card I’ll be replacing it with 100% recycled as well as being recyclable. I also use reconditioned printer inks and recycle used cartridges.
- I currently don't include a ‘How to care for your jewellery’ card. This information is on my website and I was wary of adding another piece of potentially unnecessary paper. I’m in two minds about this though and would love to know your thoughts. Is it better to have that sort of information with the piece to draw attention to the fact that jewellery needs looking after?
- My jewellery boxes are currently from a UK company that are made from 40% recycled material and are fully recyclable. I do not use the non-recyclable nasty foam inserts! I have replaced them with recyclable black card from studio stock which I cut to size and texture using my etched copper plates. Again, once this card stock is depleted it will be replaced with 100% recycled card (or possibly handmade paper from my studio paper waste). My logo is debossed on a small piece of 100% recycled cotton rag paper that I use for some of my art prints, this can be kept or recycled (or perhaps used as a bookmark?!). I have refrained from having my logo printed on my boxes as it is a MASSIVE commitment. I've had a couple of samples done and it looks amazing BUT jewellery box companies impose a 50-100piece minimum order for EACH TYPE OF BOX when personalising. I’m still on the fence as to which company I want to use, particularly since they are all now very gradually producing new and better eco alternatives as time goes on. I am actually in two minds whether or not to ultimately have the logo on my boxes. I am currently experimenting making sleeves with my debossed logo to go around the boxes made from seeded handmade recycled paper, that can be planted and grown. I’d really love your opinion on this, would it make the boxes more reusable if they didn’t have a logo? Would you even consider reusing the box for anything other than keeping the jewellery in or would it ultimately be thrown away? Or, does the logo add to the experience and quality of the whole product and make it feel complete as a gift or treat? Incidentally, the logo does not affect the recyclability of the box.
I welcome your feedback to see whether what I’m doing, or trying to do, lives up to the experience you would want as a customer parting with your hard-earned cash. Your opinions matter and help me adapt and grow.
Please do feel free to drop me a line via my contact page.
REDUCING WASTE & ENERGY CONSUMPTION
- My whole practice is based on a circular economy to reduce waste
- Development and implementation of efficient metal reclamation systems within my studio
- Any chemicals are responsibly disposed of
- My studio is run using a green energy supplier
COMMUNITY & SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT ARTISTS/BUSINESSES
I'm very aware that although I'm a bit of a Jack-of-all-trades I am also a one-woman enterprise. So, whether I like it or not I can't always do absolutely everything myself (although it's not from lack of trying)! Therefore, it is extremely important to me to support other independent makers, artists and small businesses and as local to me as possible when choosing suppliers and assistance.
RTHER INSIGHTS
If you'd like to hear a bit more about my circular economy practice, I was invited to do a short presentation on my process by London Alternative Photographic Collective as part of The Sustainable Darkroom Residency that I took part in during April 2020.
The talk focuses on recycling and reusing waste in the studio and darkroom. In a society with such an abundance of waste, how can we change our approach to consider it as a material and potential sight of enquiry rather than undesirable rubbish?
This talk with myself, Michaela Davidova and Katrina Stamatopoulos took place via Zoom on the 23rd July, 2020 and was chaired by Hannah Fletcher.
Available to watch on YouTube HERE
Transcript for my presentation available to read HERE
If you'd like to hear a bit more about my circular economy practice, I was invited to do a short presentation on my process by London Alternative Photographic Collective as part of The Sustainable Darkroom Residency that I took part in during April 2020.
The talk focuses on recycling and reusing waste in the studio and darkroom. In a society with such an abundance of waste, how can we change our approach to consider it as a material and potential sight of enquiry rather than undesirable rubbish?
This talk with myself, Michaela Davidova and Katrina Stamatopoulos took place via Zoom on the 23rd July, 2020 and was chaired by Hannah Fletcher.
Available to watch on YouTube HERE
Transcript for my presentation available to read HERE
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