Social Impact and Ethical Sourcing
Commitment to Social Impact
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Giving back to our community has long been part of our company’s identity, from making monetary donations to local nonprofits, to contributing products for silent auctions, and offering art workshops to raise funds. While these initiatives were once informal, 2018 marked a turning point. Since then, we have restructured our business with social impact at its core, making it the foundation of everything we do.
Our commitment to our local community remains unwavering. We actively research and support several organizations in our State that are dedicated to assisting victims of human trafficking.
The jewelry industry, from metal processing and stone mining to bead drilling, stone cutting, and even packaging and shipping, is unfortunately rife with unethical practices. Issues such as child labor, unsafe working environments, human trafficking, forced mine takeovers by local authorities, and even the funding of terrorism and conflicts are all too common. These challenges make it feel as though addressing human trafficking and exploitation within the industry is an insurmountable task.To play our part in creating positive change, we are committed to sourcing our materials with integrity. All our sterling silver is mined and sold within the United States, ensuring that those involved in its production are protected by robust human rights and labor laws. For turquoise, we work with a New Mexican family who buys directly from mines in both the US and Mexico, allowing us to avoid inadvertently supporting cartels or corrupt officials.
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The remainder of our stones are sourced from reputable US-based companies, such as Dakota Stones. Not only does Dakota Stones purchase directly from factories, but they also conduct in-person visits to verify product quality and ensure that working conditions meet ethical standards. Given the current state of the stone industry, it’s nearly impossible to avoid sourcing some materials from China. Nevertheless, we make every effort to prioritize US suppliers, when possible, always weighing cost-effectiveness and availability. If sourcing domestically isn’t feasible, we then look to suppliers within our hemisphere and then to China. This commitment to ethical sourcing is central to our mission, and we continuously strive to uphold these values as we navigate the complexities of the global trade market.
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Conflict Minerals
Another aspect of ethical sourcing that we focus on has to do with raw materials profiting war and terrorism. These are commonly referred to as conflict minerals or conflict stones. An example of this is Lapis Lazuli. Lapis is a beautiful deep blue stone that is found in Afghanistan. When we first purchased Lapis, it wasn't considered a conflict stone; however, it became one in 2016. At this time, it was discovered that most lapis mines were forcibly seized in January 2014. It is estimated that 50% of the profit made from Lapis sales goes directly to the Taliban. Lapis also fuels government corruption. Evidence shows that several government officials directly benefit from illegal lapis trading. Also, the people who mine the lapis are forced to do so and suffer greatly in the process. Because of all the social and political implications of Lapis, we no longer purchase Lapis. What we have in stock was purchased long before Lapis was labeled a conflict mineral and it will be the last that we use for the foreseeable future. (source: Global Witness www.globalwitness.org/afghanistan-lapis/).
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One question that we are asked regularly is, what stones are considered "conflict minerals"? We wish there was an easy way to answer this question. After extensive research, we were unable to find a complete list of all conflict minerals. The best rule of thumb is to look at the source of the stone. If the stone is mined in a country that is currently experiencing war, has a high level of terrorism, or has a government that is forcibly taking control of resources, then it is most likely a conflict mineral. If you are ever unsure about a stone's origin, ask the supplier. If they are unable, or unwilling, to tell you where they buy their stones, then you may want to buy from another place. We wish there was a better system in place, but there isn't. All you can do is educate yourself on the source of specific stones and use your best judgment.