Ethical Policy & Press clippings

Ethical Policy

April’s vision of her company is to strive for complete transparency throughout her business. This transparency spreads from her sourcing of precious metals suppliers and gem stones to the design process with clients. April is committed to ensuring she uses suppliers that have social and environmentally responsible business practices.

GOLD
April only uses ethical and fair trade gold in her jewelry. This gold is mined in accordance with the standards set by Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM). In choosing to source her materials in this way April knows that they have been traded in an ethical manner. This means:

• a premium will go directly to the miners and their communities
• health and safety standards are in place in the gold mines
• child labour a is prohibited in the gold mines
• no toxic chemicals are used in the extraction of the gold

It is very important that effective social and environmental practices are put in place, and that these accord with fair trade principles. Such practices empower people in marginalised places in the world and keep environmental issues at centre stage.

SILVER
At present there are no artisanal silver mining operations that can guarantee their mining practices meet FLO/ARM standards. For jewelry that incorporates silver April prefers to re-use silver from older pieces. She will continue to use these recycled metals until such a time as there is an artisanal silver mining operation which mines in an ethical manner, certified by the FLO/ARM.

DIAMONDS
The Diamonds April uses are sourced at present from Canada. Keeping the supply chain socially and environmentally transparent, the diamonds can be traced to the origin of mine, cutting centre and labour practices, part of the profit from the diamonds get pumped back into the Jeweltree foundation to support fair trade initiatives.

OTHER STONES AND DECORATIONS
April uses a variety of different materials in her designs that work with her ethos of re-using and sourcing ethical materials. April’s interest in recycling has led her to re-use ebony taken from musical instruments in her work and also copper from old redundant electrical wires. April also prefers to use laboratory created coloured gem stones which simulate the mined gems they replicate. Using laboratory gems is important as obtaining ethically sourced stones (apart from conflict free diamonds) proves to be quite difficult. Settings can also include lamp worked glass sourced from Manda at Mango Beads, also located in Devon.

RE-DESIGNING
April is able to discuss ways in which you might re-use the materials in jewelry you no longer wear or may have inherited and would like to have re-designed by April. This is a great way of prolonging the life and value of materials which may also have precious associations.

LINKS
www.greengold-oroverde.org
www.communitymining.org (Alliance for Responsible mining)
www.madisondialogue.org