It’s amazing, points out Katherine DalPra (owner/designer for Green Diva, an online boutique of eco-friendly bridal jewelry) how uneducated and distanced we’ve become from the goods we buy.  We don’t know where our jewelry comes from, and who has been affected by it. “Behind some of our most beloved purchases… there is a dirty secret involving worker exploitation, toxic pollution and cultural destruction.”

Among the sins that you DON’T want to be supporting are violent conflict and forced labor. Miners and gemstone artisans are often underpaid and work in unsafe conditions. Metal mining is the number one toxic polluter in America, and is also the cause of Acid Mine Drainage, which is destroying our drinkable water sources.

Luckily, there are several options for sourcing ethical engagement rings from people that have made a great effort to get it right. If you’re not into wooden rings, synthetic stones, or rings constructed of your own bone, here are some trusted sources you might want to consider buying from.

CRED Jewellery

The world’s first Fair Trade jewelery retailer, CRED has pioneered the search for transparent, ethical sources of precious metals and stones, delivering the first truly ethical wedding rings in 2003.  Their engagement rings combine classic and contemporary styling with the finest ethically-sourced diamonds and Oro Verde™ Fair Trade metals to perfectly encapsulate your values and your love.

C5 Company

C5 company is a leader in sustainable fine jewelry. They offer beautiful, well-crafted, ready-to-wear pieces and custom jewelry that you can feel good about purchasing, gifting and wearing.

All of their jewelry is made with 100% recycled precious metals and ethically sourced gems and diamonds (both fair-trade mined and lab-created) to ensure that C5 company jewelry has minimal environmental and social impact.

Below: Estate diamonds reset in recycled palladium; Lab-created rubies set in recycled palladium.

Green Karat

Green Karat has a mission, to provide an ecologically and socially responsible jewelry alternative to those who seek change. If you want to become part of the solution, they want to help you.

Did you know that there is enough gold above ground (already mined) to satisfy all demands of the jewelry industry for the next 50 years? Much of it sits in bank vaults and in the form of old and unused jewelry.  Green Karat believes that buying recycled gold is one of the most ecologically and socially responsible choices a consumer can make.

Artisan Wedding Rings

These unique wedding rings and engagement ring sets are heirloom quality and made by artisans with recycled gold, silver and platinum. Artisan use the most ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones available anywhere.

Brilliant Earth

“Luxury with a Conscience” brings you uncompromisable ethics and meticulous craftsmanship. Their jewelry is created with the highest quality Canadian Conflict Free Diamond Jewelry™ made with renewed gold and platinum. They also supply Ethical origin Namibian diamonds, and 5% of all profits are donated in Africa.

To learn about fair trade, conflict-free diamonds, eco-friendly, recycled metals and responsibly-made jewelry, visit any of the websites mentioned here! For a list of more ethical jewelry suppliers, visit this page at the natural wedding company.

Just as the willingness of a once-small number of consumers to seek out (and occasionally pay a premium for) organic produce is now changing the face of food production and consumption, we believe that we – and more importantly, you – can drive meaningful change in the world’s product-consumption habits, purchase by purchase.

Factors that make a product “sustainable” are assessed as follows:

1. The materials used must be environmentally responsible (recycled and/or recyclable, organic, biodegradable, non-toxic).

2. The manufacturing process must be ecologically sound (efficient use of energy, materials and other resources, such as using a renewable energy source).

3. The labor employed must be treated fairly and provided safe, healthy conditions in which to work. (Must come from fairly-traded sources or low-impact sources such as FSC-certified forests).

Check out some of the beautiful, environmentally responsible objects available at Branch, including furniture, such as this chair made of 100% recycled plastic, and room divider hand-made from FSC-certified wood and cotton rope:

Looking for some pretty objects to liven up your decor? Try these Bubble Pitcher + Cups
made from recycled glass stock, processed using wind power. Or treat your feet to the Seat Slice: Pink rug, handmade from 100% virgin wool felt.

For your kitchen, I love these 100% organically-grown bamboo bowls and serving pieces!

If you are having an event that requires disposable paper goods, try these biodegradable options:

Want some decorative pillows? Here are a few pretty options, made from hand-stitched linen and cotton or 100% reclaimed ultra-suede:

Dress up your bed in a 320 thread count, organically grown, cotton duvet, printed with non-toxic water-based dyes.

What wedding registry would be complete without a few sets of towels? At Branch, you get to wrap yourself in 100% sustainably harvested beech wood fibers! 9 pretty colors to choose from!

Start growing your own plants, spices, and veges! Get started with Branch’s “Egg plants” and “Garden in a Bag” options, including basil, oregano, chives, sage, red pepper, lavender, mint, dill, strawberry, parsley, English Thyme, and cilantro.

Some of the items pictured are pricey, but there is a page for Gifts under $30 and Gifts under $100. Happy Shopping!