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A UNIQUE ETHOS » LAIBACH PRINCIPLES
 Serving
you Luxury with a Clear Conscience.
Laibach's principles,
which you will find in detail below,
are always being fine-tuned to harmonise with the betterment of
global conservation.
Atelier Laibach takes a genuinely responsible approach to sustainability
... and with our carbon and environmental "inverted"
targets we are truly dedicated to putting more back into nature
than taking from it. For example, Kerstin Laibach harmlessly gathers
a few local stones and makes every aspect of her jewellery pieces
in her atelier with recycled materials and renewable energy. We
then award fifteen percent of profits directly to local conservation,
wildlife protection and nature restoration projects.
Kerstin uses only sustainable gold - this means carefully recycled
gold and other recycled precious metals. She never uses environmentally
disruptive new-mined gold and this also means she does not
use Fairtrade / Fairmined gold either ... which is new-mined.
(For
more on this see here).
What
is the difference between recycled gold and new-mined gold?
Atelier Laibach's goal
to "restore more than remove" may be unusual in the
jewellery profession, but we also hope that all trades will find
ways to adopt a similar approach ... not just marketing jargon,
but sincere action. Being ecologically accountable for every aspect
of a business, i.e. material resources and work practice, not
only helps to minimize carbon and environmental footprints, but
could essentially "back-step" them to help reverse the
damage caused by the exploitation of our world.
We are fully aware
that jewellery traditionally serves as an aid to personal desire
and has little to do with the protection of our planet. But what
we strive to do is retune aspirations of life's small luxuries;
to consider compassion and conservation as a natural postscript
to bespoke style. We want to show that elegance can evolve; it
can be served by us and worn by you ... with a truly clear conscience.
A Theme
of Compassion and Conservation.
Our focus on compassion
mainly refers to the unnecessary harvesting and killing of living
beings to make jewellery ... For the sake of vanity there is simply
no need for it.
Because our jewellery is suitable for vegetarians and vegans,
we don't use any derivatives from animals in our pieces; neither
parts of the animals themselves like coral, or else pearls extracted
from them. Neither do we use animal derivatives during the construction
process.
Further reading about our principles on a conservation / ecological
theme progressively explains why we avoid new-mined precious metals,
diamonds, other newly-extracted gems or any other form of commercial
rock / crystal extraction for use in the jewellery industry.
To read more on this subject see below and also on our Ethical
Information Menu Page.
A True
Path to Genuine Ecologically Sustainable Ethical Jewellery.
Ethics should not be
contrived or "greenwashed" just to suit the vested interest
of a business. But in a vacuous, self-regulated jewellery industry,
riddled with shallow, bought opinions, such practices have become
overwhelmingly common; designed to diffuse and confuse a customer's
moral concern about the source or making of a piece of jewellery.
(More)
When jewellery related companies
claiming to be green are speaking half-truths, it only adds further
tarnish to an industry already scrutinized for its ecological
and sociological shortcomings. Jewellery business ethics must
be properly substantiated to ensure guidance on a genuine ecological
path to help re-stabilize earth's increasingly fragile environments.
Our
Principles Explained ...
For your peace of mind
it is important to know that from conception to the finished piece,
the greenest possible path of creation has been taken. The prime
ethics which underline Laibach's Principles are laid out without
blinding you with science:
- We never give greenwash answers
to your questions. In the jewellery business, the term ethical
is grossly undefined and subsequently meaningless. This allows
makers and sellers to contrive almost any sourcing or crafting
method as "ethical". Atelier Laibach defines ethical
as being sustainable; ecologically / environmentally nondestructive
as much as it possibly can be, and this means that we do not
use new-mined gold and other precious metals. Neither do we
use new-mined gems. We do not use "Fair-trade" gold
... which is new-mined. We reject ethical embellishment or
"spin" such as using the terms "green" or "ecological" gold
when describing social improvements in artisanal mining (a
separate "ethical" issue entirely). The reality
is that all raw extraction of stones and metals leave environmental
scars and displaces / destroys habitats and ecosystems wherever
and however it takes place. There is absolutely no process
which can genuinely claim to the contrary.
At Atelier Laibach we are passionate about providing a genuine
earth-friendly service and we therefore clearly explain moral
discrepancies to make absolutely sure that our clients understand
our clear principles. We make it our priority to inform you
of the exact ecological nature of a Laibach piece, including
its packaging - and provide clarification of environmental
projects which a generous percentage of its sales profits
will benefit.
At Laibach, we respect that our clients appreciate our transparency
and honesty, and we would like to emphasize that we do all
that is possible to make certain that your trust in us is
fully warranted.
- Environmentally damaging chemicals,
common to jewellery making and repair, are replaced with safer,
greener alternatives. (Completely green methods are always
applied as a preferred option whenever possible.) Because
of the slower results when using ecologically safer ingredients,
things take longer but the end product is just as beautiful.*****
- Kerstin Laibach never uses
new-mined precious gems, or any type of stone which has been
commercially harvested for our new pieces. She only uses self-gathered
surface stones - approx one hundred each year to ensure no
detrimental impact on the gathering area.
- A cruelty-free environment.
No animal derivatives are used in any aspect of Laibach jewellery
construction and all pieces are suitable for vegans. Our specially
obtained polishing pastes are free of animal fat. ****
- Only recycled precious metals
are used in Laibach pieces and never newly-mined (which automatically
means they have been recycled without the use of mercury).
What
is the difference between recycled gold and new-mined gold?
- We do not electroplate our
jewellery.
(see
more about this on our marriage / relationship page)
- Atelier Laibach does
not make jewellery that ever feels disposable or short-lived.
Laibach pieces represent high definition fine goldsmithing,
made with durability for a lifetime of cherished wear. Although
some collections may aesthetically appeal
to clients as "seasonal"
wear, the fine craftsmanship of a Laibach piece should not
to be confused with typical
"designer" jewellery. Nothing is factory cast -
even repeatable pieces*****
- and are all hand forged from the raw metals. This becomes
immediately noticeable when looking closer at Laibach jewellery,
of which every fine detail is made to an exceptionally high
standard. A Laibach piece should always look and feel as fresh
as the day it was bought for generations to come.
- The chains, links, clasps and
other fixings (called "findings") on Laibach jewellery are
not sourced from factories, but hand crafted by Laibach. This
is to ensure that these parts are ethically suitable. The
elaborate detail, even in these minor parts, is also of an
exceptional quality.
- All Sea Glass pieces are made
using personally collected sea glass direct from the beach.
It is not bought in and is never polished, cut or treated
in any way.
- In Kerstin Laibach's workshop
in Germany, locally produced renewable energy provides the
power for all processes requiring electricity.
- Nothing ever goes to waste
if it can possibly be avoided. Quality tools of the trade
are sourced second-hand whenever possible and the workshop
is full of working-aids innovatively made from reclaimed materials.
- Kerstin Laibach hand makes
her own jewellery presentation pouch using carefully sourced,
environmentally friendly materials. On delivery, if the postage
wrapping looks previously used ... it probably has been.
- Earth to Earth ... Laibach
jewellery is "thrucycled" (including any packaging)
This means it is made with recycled materials and elements
naturally derived from the earth. No plastics, hazardous materials
or non-biodegradable parts. At at the end of its long life,
a Laibach piece could end up back in the earth without any
detriment to the environment. (The precious metals of course
would again be recycled)
What
is the difference between recycled gold and new-mined gold?
- Atelier Laibach uses the most
environmentally friendly delivery options whenever possible.
- On the rare occasion that a
Laibach piece requires "diamonds" or other gems, only laboratory-created
gems* are used, or else antique gems sourced from unusable
jewellery ***.
- As a soldering and melting
source. Atelier Laibach uses propane (one of the cleanest
burning of all alternative fuels).**
- Only your jewellery older than
ten years will be bought or credited for recycling.***
- The "Reclaimed" Collection
only includes used precious stones from discarded / recycled
jewellery which is to the best of our knowledge over ten years
old or pre-millenium. ***
- We periodically monitor our
materials suppliers and subsequently their trade links for
any "traceability" irregularities. We are dedicated to ensuring
our customers that, to the very best of our knowledge, we
avoid suppliers who leave us room for doubt about their "eco"
credentials - or whose trade threads may potentially be connected
with environmentally damaging work practices and human rights
abuse.
- The "Laibach Business
Re-naturing Principle" means rewarding more to nature
than taking from it. For example, selected wildlife, conservation
and re-naturing projects receive a donation from the sale
of each Laibach piece (15% of the profit). Our locally gathered
principle is constantly evolving as we endeavor to seek solutions
and permissions to help nature recover through a "returning-more-than-taking"
process. Please see our Locally
Gathered page
for updated information.
*
Laboratory-made diamonds are created either by HPHT (High Pressure
High Temperature) or CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) These new
technologies signify a breakthrough in growing "real" diamonds,
which are comparable and can proportionally be considered "purer"
than their mined counterparts; being of the same crystalline structure
and optically "almost" identical. Kerstin Laibach never uses new-mined
stones, but on rare occasions she may use their lab-created counterparts
(usually on customer request only). There is a very small carbon
footprint created during "growing", cutting and subsequent
transportation of lab-created stones. Although this is a tiny
percentage in comparison to the huge environmental damage caused
by the extraction, processing and distribution of mined gems,
we take any amount of environmental impact into consideration.
Therefore, relative carbon offsetting is automatically included
in the final cost of your lab-created diamond. Our Co2 offset
contributions are distributed to environmental restoration projects.
** Our on-going
research suggests that propane may in the long-term prove to be
less polluting than micro-flame soldering systems, which use hazardous
chemicals.
***
Ten
Year and Millennium Threshold Principle.
If you are interested in using
the Laibach Redesign and Recycle service please read the Laibach
principle concerning the reuse and reworking of used jewellery
at Repair,
Restoration, Redesign and Recycle, Reclaim.
****
Based on the global standard definition of veganism, no Laibach
jewellery contains any animal-derivatives. However, we endeavour
to create a work environment which goes a step further. To the
very best of our knowledge and thorough research, our workshop
tools used to construct our pieces do not contain any animal derivatives.
However, after construction, polishing your piece might raise
a moral issue for a small number of vegan customers. Although
all our other polishing and buffing wheels are made of sisal or
cotton - and we use specially obtained animal fat free polishing
paste - there is an essential goldsmith's preparatory polishing
wheel which contains felt. This specifically prepares the foundation
for a traditional glass finish to larger areas of a completed
gold or silver piece (i.e. ring interiors). There is no direct
non-felt alternative available for this process; however we are
currently experimenting with our own non-felt alternatives. With
adaptations to a finished Laibach piece we are able to cater for
the exact ethical polishing needs of ultra-strict vegans by offering
alternative finishes, thus avoiding the use of a felt buff. Therefore,
if you require an alternative finish appropriate to your needs
please contact us - or for more information
see
our Vegan Information Page
*****
Since Laibach hand-forges each individual
piece to guarantee a genuinely handmade approach, there is normally
no reason for casting to make identical repeatable pieces. If
for any reason Kerstin Laibach was to cast a piece of jewellery
(possibly for experimental or creative reasons) she uses own-sourced
reusable surface sand (not quarried) with organic plant oils and
infinitely reusable non-animal based wax for experimental sculpturing.
After repeated use the sand and wax can always be returned to
the earth without any detriment to the environment.
You may come across jewellery makers using "bioresin"
for casting duties. Although the resin itself is sourced from
plant materials, the hardener contains highly hazardous isocyanates.
The effects of this irritant may be blocked when working with
the resin, but the causative agent remains in the non-reusable
material, subsequently becoming an environmental hazard upon disposal.
Very often, even with jewellery making, the best environmental
solution can be to stick to a natural / traditional path with
a few environmental tweaks instead of contrivances misleadingly
marketed as a greener choice.
Likewise, environmentally friendly
pickling solutions for treating and cleaning precious metals and
are not something new. Such solutions, with citric acid and vinegar
as their main ingredients, are recipes that have been traditionally
used long before harsh chemical alternatives appeared. With experienced
handling, far better results can anyway
be achieved with naturally eco-friendly recipies than the commercially
available harsh chemical alternatives.
Note for jewellery students: You should however always refer to
your local waste collection authority when disposing of any
spent pickle solutions containing heavy metal residue.
MORE
INFORMATION ...
To read more about
our ethics see our Ethical
Information Menu Page.
Defining
Laibach's "Real" Slow / Holistic Jewellery Ethic
Quantifying
green ethics of the jewellery trade
Precious
metals and our environmental ethics
Atelier
Laibach's commitment to wildlife and the environment
Information
about Laibach precious metals, your choices and pricing
MORE
INFORMATION FROM OUR REPAIR AND RESTORE PAGES ...
Repair
and Restore - Extending a Respect for what our Planet has Provided
in the Past
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Only
recycled precious metals and not directly mined and therefore
no further displacement of fragile eco-systems.
