Environmental impact is a key part of any business's sustainability strategy. In this blog we share 5 ways to improve the environmental impact of your business, whilst saving money.
Firstly, what does it mean to run a sustainable jewellery business ?
In a business context, sustainability refers to a company's strategy to improve social performance and reduce negative impact on the environment. It’s about finding ways to run a successful business, whilst ensuring no detrimental impact for future generations.
Alongside our moral duty to do the right thing, sustainability is becoming a necessity. By 2025, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of global jewellery sales will be influenced by sustainably minded consumers*, therefore it is important to embrace sustainability to retain the trust of our clients.
Whilst undoubtedly changing the way we work takes time and effort, it can have a direct positive impact on the day-to-day success of our businesses. Enhancing reputation, driving customer engagement, motivating staff, reducing risk, and even saving money, are all benefits sited by companies that have put sustainability at the forefront of their strategy.
Even the smallest changes can result in a significant improvement over time.
Your environmental impact
Improving the environmental credentials of your business is a continuous process. See it as a horizon to aim for, rather than an end goal. Firstly, map out the core areas of your business and determine the positive and negative impact your business has on the environment. For most small jewellery businesses, this will mean considering:
Products and Packaging – What your pieces are made from and how they are produced. Are you confident about the origin of metals and stones? How were they mined? Is the manufacturer working responsibly?
Premises - The impact of your office, studio or retail space. How much waste do you produce and where does your energy comes from? Are you using any potentially hazardous chemicals?
Distribution - How you transport your product. Are you using the most environmentally friendly shipment methods and packaging?
Involve your staff, suppliers, and customers in the review process to find out what’s important to them. This process can simply start with a brainstorm over a cup of coffee. Review your findings, identify where you think you can have the most impact and prioritise areas of improvement.
Simple, cost effective ways to make change
Reduce, Reuse, recycle.
We’ve all heard this mantra, but it remains one of the easiest ways to make a positive change in your business. Conduct an audit of your packaging and consider whether you can reduce the amount used. Could you choose reusable pouches to protect your jewellery, instead of throwaway boxes?
Rachel Sweeney of Cox and Power says, ‘We simply ask clients whether they would like a bag or box. It can feel like you’re going against the grain of traditional luxury branding rules, but clients are increasingly aware of packaging’s impact on the world and often prefer a pared down option, which reduces waste and is cost saving for the brand.
Go green in your workshop.
If you are producing your own collections, consider whether you could make changes to your workshop practices.
Jewellery designer-maker, Saskia Shutt, has replaced toxic chemicals with more environmentally friendly options. ‘We’ve swapped nitric acid for citric acid, and replaced ultra sonic fluid with organic washing up liquid. They're better for the planet and more cost effective.'
Calculate your carbon footprint.
Free online calculators, such as the one offered by the Carbon Trust, will help you to work out your business’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions - these are the ones linked to your gas, fuel, and electricity use - plus give advice on how to reduce them. As well as the positive environmental impact, reducing energy use obviously also results in a cost saving. Read more in our blog.
Reduce waste.
Carry out a waste audit. Over the course of a month, keep tabs on how many bags of waste are disposed of by your business and what percentage is recycled versus sent to landfill. What constitutes the bulk of your waste? Set yourself targets to reduce over time.
Stuart Pool, co-founder of ethical gem supplier Nineteen 48, says, ‘Our volume of waste is small and mainly from packaging materials. Our customers are supportive of our commitment to recycling, so we always reuse padded envelopes, bubble wrap, zip lock bags, etc. numerous times and don't dispose of them until they are beyond saving'.
Get thrifty.
From machinery to display cabinets and shop fittings, consider whether you could opt for upcycled, salvaged or second-hand instead of buying new. In 2023, Sheffield based Flinn and Steel won the NAJ Award for Store Design of the Year. Their store includes lighting made from tree branches sourced from the owners back garden, plus repurposed display shelving originally used to hold tools and dies at a stainless-steel factory.
For information on improving the environmental impact of your jewellery pieces follow the journey of our sister company Considered Jewellery.
If you need help taking your brand through the process then drop us a line – hello@vvcollective.com.
* McKinsey’s State of Fashion – Watches and Jewellery report 2021
A version of this article was first published in the National Association of Jewellers Magazine.
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