Ethically Sourced Crystals
What “Ethical Gemstones” means and why it matters
What You’ll Learn:
The complexity of ethical sourcing and sustainable practices in the crystal industry
How we, as conscious consumers and sellers, can make a positive impact by promoting ethically sourced crystals and eco-conscious fashion
The rising demand for crystals, essential oils, and other natural resources has led to over-consumption, posing significant challenges to sustainability. When a product becomes popular, the need for more increases, which brings us to the question:
How Much is Too Much?
Can we continue to provide more product while still respecting and protecting the Earth and the people involved in the production? Ethical sourcing plays a critical role in answering this question. It’s about how we treat the planet and the people involved in every step—from miners to shippers to producers and beyond.
Watch the entire video here.
What Does "Ethically Sourced" Mean for Crystals?
There are two factors to consider:
1. Environmental impact of the mining process: Ever seen pictures of where they have dug up crystals, and it looks like giant wastelands and piles of earth? It's a lot like any other mining process in the sense that we have to get under the ground and extract these buried gems. Mining crystals can leave a huge hole in the ground and may also require swaths of trees to be cut down. Ethical sourcing requires an answer to this question: How can we remove these minerals from the earth without leaving irrevocable damage on the landscape and environment?
2. Treatment of workers: Beyond the effects on nature, ethical sourcing also includes the effects on humanity. Are you treating the people who are digging the crystal out of the ground with the appropriate respect? Are you paying them fairly?
Of course, this also goes beyond the Crystal Industry.
These same principles apply cross every industry - food, oil, natural gas, paper, skin care, fashion etc. Were there children use for labor? Were there adults use for labor that weren’t appropriately paid a living wage?
The Good News… As the importance of Ethical Sourcing and Ethical Manufacturing has gained more popularity, we’ve also seen changes happening within many industries. Consumers are demanding products that are ethically made, and companies have to change in response to the consumer demand.
How We Ensure Ethical Sourcing in Our Crystal Jewelry Business
As a crystal jewelry designer, ethical sourcing is at the heart of everything I do. Here’s how I promote ethical practices in my business:
Careful Sourcing: I search for verified ethical sources for all the crystals and gemstones I use. If I can’t find a specific crystal, I often opt for an alternative with similar healing properties from an ethical supplier.
Custom Orders and Alternatives: In custom designs, if an ethical source is unavailable, I either wait for one to become available or work with a trusted supplier, even if they aren’t explicitly labeled as ethical, ensuring high-quality materials.
Transitioning Inventory: As I sell older stock, I replace it with beads and stones from ethical sources, ensuring my collections continually align with my values.
Crystal Collectables too: The same applies for tumbled stones and display pieces. The more ethical options I find, the more stones I can add to our shop!
Cost vs. Values: Purchasing ethically sourced crystals is more expensive, but it allows me to provide products I’m proud of—both in their beauty and their ethical integrity.
It’s more expensive for me to purchase ethically sourced crystals, but I feel so much better knowing that I can label my crystal jewelry as ethically sourced!
The Benefits of Purchasing Ethically Sourced Crystals
When you purchase from my ethically sourced crystal collections, you’re investing in:
Superior Quality: Ethically sourced gems are often of a higher quality than their non-ethical counterparts. Their beauty and clarity reflect the care that goes into their sourcing and processing.
Better Energy: Crystals treated with love and care throughout their journey— from extraction to jewelry-making—carry more positive energy. You’re not just receiving a product, but a piece infused with good intentions.
Authenticity and Integrity: When crystals come from verified ethical sources, there’s less chance of misrepresentation (e.g., dyed stones, misnamed gems). You can trust that the gemstone you’re receiving is genuine and unaltered.
Ready to Shop Sustainably?
Browse our ethical crystal jewelry collections and feel the difference of consciously sourced products.
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BROWSE ETHICAL CRYSTALS AND STONES
Here are some of key takeaways:
Ethical sourcing of crystals encompasses many important aspects of Sustainability, including Environmental Stewardship, Social Responsibility, Fair Trade, and Quality Control.
Ethically sourcing crystals means that they have treated the earth with as much love, care, and respect as possible while getting these crystals out of the ground, ensuring sustainability throughout the process.
The ethical sourcing process also includes appropriately paying their employees to mine these gems.
There are more steps between the crystal coming out of the ground and getting to you in the form of jewelry, including paying workers fairly to create beads or carving large gemstones. When you're paying for any product, if you want it to be ethical, you're paying for all of those processes along the way.
“SUSTAINABILITY = Ensuring that the sourcing and production are done in a way that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing: The Future of Crystals
Ethical sourcing in the crystal industry is still evolving, but with growing consumer demand, positive changes are happening. Together, we can ensure the sustainability of our planet while enjoying the beauty and healing benefits of ethically sourced gems. When you choose to support ethical sourcing, you’re making a difference—not just in your own life, but in the lives of workers and the planet itself. Together, we can promote more mindful consumption and sustainable practices in the crystal industry.
What are your thoughts on sourcing crystals ethically? Let me know in the comments!
