You probably already know that Acailawen Designs is an eco-friendly label. What you may not know is the steps that we take to operate as a green business. Working in a traditionally “dirty” industry produces many unique opportunities to reduce carbon emissions, cut waste and make positive changes for a cleaner, more sustainable future. Being a green business means lessening our negative impact on the world and finding creative ways to help make a difference. Hopefully, our desire to see a cleaner, more sustainable industry emerge will take hold.

As I see it, being green starts at home and then spreads to other areas of our lives, including the place where we work. The process involves making simple, every day changes based upon the three R’s of sustainability. We can do this by reducing environmentally unkind practices, reusing materials on hand in creative ways to limit our waste production and recycle what’s old into something new. This is not only possible at home or in the office, but in the studio as well. It just requires a good look at existing practices and then finding more environmentally responsible ways to reduce our impact on the world around us.

As a designer in a traditionally “dirty” industry, my commitment to operating a green business poses some unique challenges. However, this also means there are many opportunities for improvement. A few of the more eco-friendly choices made at Acailawen Designs include…

• Selecting natural and biodegradable alternatives to toxic chemicals whenever possible
• Obtaining and using recycled, reclaimed and natural materials as part of the design process, as well as around the studio and the office
• Maintaining strong safety practices in the studio
• Obtaining rough gem material from small-scale mining or old stock supplies rather than large commercial operations
• Purchasing from ethically sourced suppliers
• Avoiding dirty gold as part of our commitment to the No Dirty Gold campaign
• Reusing packing materials, as well as containers and other materials that can serve another purpose
• Limiting work-related mileage, planning trips out intelligently and working in a home-based studio
• Recycling what cannot be used in the studio and/or office
• Limiting electricity and water usage, responsibly disposing of waste and looking for new ways to conserve
• Offsetting any remaining carbon emissions through other carbon-offsetting activities.
• Sharing this knowledge, and our enthusiasm for greener working practices, with others in the industry

Being committed to operating a green business in the areas of jewelry, accessories and art is something that I take very seriously. This commitment is shared by my team and also underlies the relationships that we establish with our business partners and customers. Environmental responsibility is vitally important to a sustainable future, not only globally, but as a business and an industry. It is not only important that we take steps to ensure a brighter future, but that we encourage others to do the same. Even small steps can quickly add up and make a big difference over the long run.