Our Green Ingredients

Often we are asked how is HL jewelry eco-friendly. Our jewelry reflects our love and respect for the environment. We make our pieces using 100% recycled metals. All jewelry is lead, nickel, and cadmium free. Our main ingredient is jeweler's recycled grade brass, an alloy consisting of approximately 85% copper and 15% zinc, which is a beautiful, eco-friendly alternative to gold. We also use a green approach to casting and plating rather than traditional chemical etching methods which use harmful acids. See these buckets of raw ingredients are to be made into the jewelry you love! ;-)

Meeting the Eco Challenges Pt.2

METAL AND GEMSTONES SUPPLY CHAIN PROTOCOL

1) Material Origin, Preferred Suppliers and Product Assurance


The country of origin and, if possible, the name of the specific mine, is to be provided for all rough and cut stones to be purchased by Hovey Lee Eco Jewelry. It is necessary to maintain a tight, consistent supply chain in order to ensure the quality and integrity of all products it offers. The goal is to work with the same suppliers whenever possible in order to ensure a consistent quality. The majority of the rough cut by our supplier comes directly from the mines. The mine operator warrants that the labor and environmental policies defined by Hovey Lee Eco Jewelry and our suppliers will be followed.2) Stone Treatment Policies
It is our goal to deal with 100% natural, untreated stones. However, there are certain types of gemstones where treatments are necessary or even preferred (such as citrine). All treated stones purchased are with disclosure to us about the exact nature of any and all treatments that have been performed on the stones. 3) Environmental and Waste Disposal Policies
Any and all waste materials or hazardous waste produced in the cutting facility is disposed of in safe and legal manner, in accordance with all local laws. 4) Fair Workers Compensation
It is the mission we ensures our suppliers that the cutting facility provides a safe and comfortable working environment where all employees are treated fairly and given an equal opportunity for growth within the company. No underage or undocumented workers have been employed by thecutting facility. All aspects of the cutting facility are run in an ethical, legal, and professional manner, and protocols are in place to ensure all factory employees conform to these demands.

Meeting the Eco Challenges Pt.1

The world is changing, more miners, manufacturers, and designers prefer to act mindfully and morally, with regard for the environment and the people who live in it. I cherish the jewelry business. I have learnt over the years from working in it and it has allowed me the chance to cooperate in communities that I could never have dreamed conceivable. I have come to see that there is a unique responsibility for us as jewelry designer and producer to identify innovative courses to make helpful contributions to the social and environmental challenges we encounter.  It has been a while since we published our eco policy and education document and I just finished the revision of it. Can't wait to share with our partners and customers! Here's a sneak peek of the beginning chapter--

MEETING THE CHALLENGES

Place --

Is our source and supply chain transparent and traceable?

Hovey Lee works with local jewelry manufacturer that sources 100% reclaimed metals (recycled brass and silver) from certified recycle center. Our jewelry is free of toxic chemicals such as mercury, it is also lead, nickel and cadmium free. We rarely use karat gold unless we are certain of its vintage quality. The goal is to reduce the need for additional mining of precious metals that could be very harmful to our environment.

People --

Is it ethical, is there evidence of fair trade?

Our materials are sourced from the gemstone suppliers that adhere to fair trade sourcing standards. These standards ensure that gemstones are brought to the customer in a safe, socially and environmentally responsible way. We develop contracts that establish procedures for trading gemstones throughout the pipeline that shows origins and treatments of the stones. Prohibiting business practices such as child labors workers, unreasonable work hours, paying below minimum wages and environmental degradation.

Politics--

Are we raising concerns and asking questions?

We know diamonds and high karat gold can be the most problematic areas in the mining industry. A key concern is that of conflict gold and blood diamonds mined by rebel groups or militia, the proceeds of which are used to finance the purchase of weapons in regions of conflict or to finance corrupt governments, war lords or militia. As it is often difficult to trace these impacts, we find ourselves in the best interest to stay away and not engage in any buying and selling of these materials at all.