Ethical Policy
April’s vision for her company is to strive for complete transparency throughout her business. This transparency stretches 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.

FAIRTRADE & FAIRMINED CERTIFIED GOLD
April only uses Fairtrade and Fairmined and Ecological gold in her wedding collection, look out for the label.
This gold is mined in accordance with the standards set by Fairtrade International (FLO) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM). By choosing to source her materials in this way April can be sure that they have been traded in an ethical manner. This means:

• Transparency & traceability in the supply chain
• Progressive environmental responsibility – management of toxic substances
• Greater access to mineral wealth for miners
• The minimum price limits exploitation by disreputable traders and companies
• I mproved gender equality for women
• Elimination of child labour
• Standards for labour conditions
• Health and safety improvements
• Premium payments direct to communities for their development priorities

It i s 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 jewellery 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.

CONFLICT FREE DIAMONDS
The diamonds April uses are sourced at present from Canada from the Diavik mine and Australia Argyle mine. The supply chain is socially and environmentally transparent; the diamonds can be traced to their origin, the mine and cutting centre can be named and the labour practices checked. Part of the profit from the diamonds gets pumped back into the Jeweltree Foundation to support Fairtrade 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 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.

RE-DESIGNING
April is able to discuss ways in which you might re-use the materials in jewellery 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.

< BACK TO TOP >