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Laibach "Eco-Locally-Gathered" and "Thrucycling".

The cost of precious stones set in intricate metalwork is traditionally reflected in the substantial prices paid for bespoke jewellery. The detail similarly found in Laibach pieces interlaced with naturally-formed surface-stones, instead means that the price of each piece is calculated through alternative costing. For example, our "re-naturing costs" can be expenses incurred through selecting our materials and time-intense administration and liaison with select organisations to establish the ecological benefits the pieces can offer through Kerstin Laibach sales donations.
Our evaluation methods in slow, ethical jewellery creation using non-precious stones (see below) are in stark contrast to adding on current market values of environmentally damaging fresh-mined gemstones. So although a Laibach piece may be a little cheaper (because unlike a gem, a common pebble has no intrinsic value) our subsequent end cost reflects the following:

You may wonder if there are environmental consequences when gathering beach stones. Beach stones may seem to be in abundance - sometimes many billions along a few miles of coast. But on an industrial scale there can of course be an adverse effect on beach environments when stones are removed by the ton to cover patios and driveways or for other building purposes. Some local authorities and trusts, in Great Britain for example, do not encourage pebble collecting from beaches and some environmentally sensitive areas don't allow you to remove any. However, one or two pebbles for a keepsake memory from permissible areas, where nature would not be adversely affected, is usually OK.
Laibach collects just a small handful of stones each year - and often from domestic (man-laid "shingle") paths and driveways. Even in such places we only gather a tiny amount within the acceptable ecological tolerance of Laibach's principles. We reciprocate with nature by donating a sales percentage to local wildlife, conservation and re-naturing organisations. It is important to stress that the environment actually benefits far more than Laibach takes from it:

Through special liaison with more environmentally distinguishable areas in Europe, Laibach gathers a few surface stones to make pieces which directly benefit the overseeing conservation organisation in the gathering area with donations. As an example of how Laibach works in harmony for the benefit of conservation in central Europe, we are building a particularly effective relationship with TRUZ (near the Laibach atelier in southwest Germany). This important tri-regional organisation runs essential conservation and re-naturing projects in the area of France, Switzerland and Germany around the Rhine River. With joint publicity, TRUZ with Atelier Laibach are able to inform and educate the public as well as encourage similar creative businesses to minimise or reverse their carbon footprint with directly beneficial actions towards nature.

Where are the stones Eco-Locally-Gathered?

The primary regions where stones are sourced are nearly always close to where each Laibach workbench is based: South West England and Baden Württemberg in South West Germany. Other stones may be gathered from elsewhere in the event of essential or customary travel, (Combined Travel Gathering). With all aspects of travel, Laibach gathering is undertaken using the most environmentally friendly transport options whenever possible.
We also occasionally create pieces or small collections made from surface gathered stones sent to us by friends and colleagues from other regions of the world. These stones are gathered and transported strictly in accordance with our principles. A percentage of the sale of pieces made from these stones is awarded to relevant wildlife / environmental protection or humanitarian-based organisations near the gathering regions.
* A NOTE ABOUT THE BRITISH STONES:
The names given to Laibach pieces with British stones are sometimes place names. Such names do not reflect the actual source from where the stone in the piece was gathered. Where applicable, all stones used are permissibly gathered or occasionally chosen from an inherited 50 year old small collection of pebbles once gathered from around southern areas of the UK.
This photo shows a Laibach design, created using a customer's own self-gathered stone found on a Baltic Sea beach. If you are thinking of gathering your own stones for a keep-sake memory - or for us to make a special piece for you, you can find out more here.

What is "Eco-Locally-Gathered" and "Thrucycled?

"Eco-Locally Gathering" and Thrucycling" are principles of the Looking-Glass philosophy, actively adopted by Kerstin Laibach as the preferred choice to source raw creative materials. Here is an extract from Looking-Glass:

"Eco-Locally-Gathered (ELG) is essentially the same ethos as "locally produced" or locally grown; describing consumables and goods sourced or manufactured from the immediate area where you live thus reducing product mileage. Eco-Local can apply to anything which can be locally sourced with absolute minimal environmental impact. For example, wild vegetation and fungi for food - fallen trees or driftwood for carpentry - even discarded nontoxic junk from neighbours or local industries, which you can turn into something useful.
Like all locally gathered, grown, or manufactured instances, the less miles involved the greener the product, because the carbon footprint that would otherwise be generated by the movement of materials through long-distance transportation is greatly reduced ...".
" Thrucycling is the ultimate "earth to earth" environmentally friendly production method whereby crafters and manufacturers reclaim materials to make items which can be safely returned to the earth at the end of its usefulness (or can otherwise be upcycled to make something new with). For example, a wood carver or carpenter may make an new item from an old staircase. The new item is made without using toxic or non-biodegradable materials. After the item has served its purpose it can either be put in for recycling or reclamation ... or most importantly if it is useless for any further purpose it can be returned to the ground where it can naturally decompose without detriment to the environment. Items such as metal-works and jewellery can be made in this way too if using only recycled metals (and reclaimed gems from old broken jewellery). Providing there is nothing new-mined or plastics in the product, and is chemical-free, it can be continually thrucycled (with the metals being refined again... or even if lost to the earth from where it came, the item would be non-hazardous ..."

Laibach's pebbles are often sourced from areas geographically close to the workbench. This dramatically reduces the production miles involved in making a piece. In stark contrast, the production miles involved with the mining and transportation of precious stones, the cutting of them and subsequent journeys from one dealer worldwide to another amounts to a huge carbon footprint.

All Laibach jewellery is earth-to-earth "thrucycled". We do not use new-mined precious metals, only recycled. If for any reason a Laibach piece ended up back in the ground, the components are natural, non-toxic materials and pose no detriment to the environment. All Laibach jewellery is also recyclable.

Creating goldsmith quality jewellery pieces from meticulously chosen "pebbles" is an extremely skilled craft and we do not encourage or have any connection with dilettante pebble jewellery making, particularly in bulk, which presents no return benefit for the environment.

NOTE: Never take quantities of pebbles from sea, river or lake shores ... (in less sensitive areas it may be acceptable to gather one or two for keepsake or occasional craft use ... and even then, always return those which you have no further use for).

Laibach can also create bespoke pieces from stones which you have gathered yourself.
Find out More

FINALLY: Whichever Laibach piece you chose you can be assured that nothing about it is newly-mined or dug up. Only recycled precious metals and surface gathered stones are used, causing no damage to nature. And because we give a percentage of the sale of your piece to re-naturing, our precious eco-systems can benefit more in return than what we have taken from it.
(We had to make up an ethical term for this and we call it our "Carbon-Reversal Principle"!)

MORE INFORMATION ...

Atelier Laibach's commitment to wildlife and the environment
About the South and Southwest areas of England
About the Baden-Württemberg area (Lake Constance and the Rhine)

ALSO ...

A Creation from Your Own Gathering Memory
The Laibach Principle
Contact and Discuss Your Piece