Sustainability
I care deeply about the impact my jewellery has on our natural world, and making environmentally conscious choices is a very important part of Wild Silver jewellery. Here are some of the ways I put my environmental principles into practice throughout my business.
The Silver
I use 100% recycled silver throughout my jewellery. The microscopic silver particles that form the silver clay I use to create my designs are made from recycled silver. I also use 100% recycled wire to make my ear wires and recycled silver chains to hang your pendants from. Using recycled silver means that no new silver needs to be mined, helping to reduce the environmental impact associated with silver mining. Even pieces that break during the dry clay stage and the clay dust from sanding can be reformed and recycled into fresh silver clay. I also collect any fired solid silver waste, nothing is wasted!
Jewellery Production
I believe in the principles of 'Slow Jewellery' – taking the time and care to create high-quality jewellery that is designed to last a lifetime, rather than mass-producing pieces that aren't designed to last. For me, this means going the extra mile with each piece, taking the time to get the smallest details right and putting care and love into everything I make. I also take care to consider where my materials come from, choosing ethical sources and reducing the distance they travel.
My studio is at my home in Croyde, so I have no commute and I am able to walk to my local post office to send orders. I use 100% renewable energy at home and in my studio. Even the patina I use to blacken the surface of the silver can be reused as a fertiliser in my garden!
I am also mindful when sourcing the natural materials I use to create my jewellery. The vast majority of the shells I use to make the moulds are found on the local beaches around Croyde, Putsborough and Woolacombe, or on beaches I visit while travelling. When collecting leaves to use as imprints in my leaf jewellery, I take just one or two from each plant, ensuring that it is not adversely affected.
Packaging
Wild Silver Jewellery boxes are made in Europe and are FSC certified, meaning the materials come from responsibly managed forests. The boxes are glued using a water-based glue and the foam inserts are made using 'tall oil', a by-product of paper production.
Your Jewellery will arrive carefully wrapped in recycled and recyclable tissue paper. It will be safely packaged in an FSC-certified cardboard postal box, sealed with plant based, recyclable tape and stickers.