Is the Kimberley Process ruining Zimbabwe and can it ever work?

The Kimberley Process is now in its seventh year and is the most renowned certification method for identifying and monitoring the sales of non-conflict diamonds. It started as a joint venture between governments and diamond-trade members, with the backing of the United Nations and the aim of ensuring that the profits from diamond sales no longer fund rebel wars against legitimate governments.

According to their website: 

“The Kimberley Process (KP) is open to all countries that are willing and able to implement its requirements. As of November 2008, the KP has 49 members, representing 75 countries….KP members account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds.”

Map of Kimberley Process Member States

 And one of these 49 member states is none other than Zimbabwe, whose Marange Diamond Fields have been in and out of the news countless times over the past year. And never for the right reasons.

On Friday 29^th October 2010, Channel 4 broadcast a short episode of their Unreported World series. This particular episode centered on how Marange diamonds are being used to pay the Zimbabwean army to support Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF Party, a political party who are supposed to form part of Zimbabwe’s current coalition government. Unreported World uncovered how profit from the diamonds is ending up in the pockets of numerous army officials in return for them ensuring Zanu-PF support at the up and coming elections next year.

So how is it that this is being allowed to continue by the Kimberley Process? Is it because the narrow wording of the Kimberley Process stops the murder, rape and displacement of workers and communities near to the Marange fields from being considered as serious as “war” or because they consider the Zimbabwean government to be a “legitimate government” despite Mugabe managing to bankrupt his country leaving millions starving, homeless and at risk from disease?

On the 17^th July 2010 the Kimberley Process reached an agreement over the Marange diamonds. In their press release following this decision the Kimberley Process and World Diamond Council stated that:  The press release goes on to say:

“According to the agreement, by September Zimbabwe will be able to carry out two supervised

exports of rough diamond from the Marange production. During this period, the Kimberley Process will conduct a review mission to Zimbabwe, which will be held in conjunction with the first visit to the country by the Kimberley Process Monitor…The Kimberley Process Monitoring Committee will review the report issued by the review mission to formulate a position regarding future exports.”

“ “If this is a victory for anyone, it is a victory for the Kimberly Process,” said KP Chair Boaz Hirsch. “The past several months have been difficult, but they have clearly demonstrated that not only does the Kimberley Process have teeth, it also is able to achieve results.” ”

Zimbabwe is attempting to legitimize their diamonds by using foreign mining companies within the fields. However, research into these companies (Anjin, Mbada and Canadile) reveals that key figures within the companies include people who are on United Nations black lists for human rights violations and who have links to Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party.

It leaves us questioning why is the Kimberley Process happy to allow the trade in Zimbabwean diamonds when; 

• Influential members of the diamond industry such as the Rappaport Group warn against it?
• Or when on-going human rights violations are occurring despite the media glare?
• Or how there is no obvious improvement in Zimbabwean infrastructure despite a $30 million check for royalties being given to the country prior to the initial sale and the country is reputed to still have 4.5 million carats of diamonds left? (See Zimbabwe's Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development interview with Rough and Polished).  
• Or amongst the rumors of diamonds being sent to China in exchange for arms?

We are definitely left with more questions than answers but, overall, whilst we agree that, in theory, the Kimberley Process is a fantastic idea, the practice of it is doing more damage than good. Especially to the poor people of Zimbabwe.

That’s all for now….

That key word “TRANSPARENCY”

Transparency (tr ns-pâr n-s ) - the quality of being clear and transparent.

     An object which is see-through.

We often hear about the need for transparency in all walks of life. Businesses who state that they are transparent are implying that they are open in all their practices and accountable for all they produce.

So how does this fit within jewellery? Practices used in the production and manufacture of jewellery are amongst some of the most harmful and dirty in any industry. The sourcing of materials is probably the worst with mining causing mass destruction, pollution and illness. Further down the production track, jewellery techniques such as plating and pickling materials are also damaging.

Ethical jewellery is still an up and coming sector of the industry but transparency is integral to its successful development. And trust makes up a large part of this. Until there is sector-wide standardization and certification of practices jewelers must select their materials and manufacturers mainly on their word.

Luckily for us, things are starting to change. Attempted certification, like the Kimberley Process, does exist but are not totally trusted….yet. Very soon the Birmingham Assay Office will be producing and using a Fair Trade Gold Hallmark, finally a trustworthy symbol.

There are, of course, many companies who are happy to discuss and provide as much proof as they can about their claims and it has to be down to the individual to look in to and decide on each individual case whether or not to trust or reject these claims prior to working with them.

So how can you be transparent? We at Opulent Ethics think that the biggest part of being transparent is to be realistic. By knowing your own limits and ensuring that you practice what you say you cannot be accused of being anything but honest.

Opulent Ethics has felt guilty in the past for not being able to achieve their utopian dream of producing 100% ethical, green products throughout but we are proud to be able to say that we do as much as we can with what is currently available and we make a point of monitoring and adapting to on-going changes.

We currently use 100% recycled silver and recycled, UK endemic or fair trade stones and nothing else. We are looking forward to expanding to work with fair trade gold in the near future but for the time being we will continue to ensure we work within our limits. We also ensure that we continue to be as ethical as we can in other parts of our business; using recycled paper and packaging, printing less and keeping our carbon footprint as small as possible.

So transparency is and will continue to be key. That’s all for now….       

Green design and good design do not need to be mutually exclusive

This week at Opulent Ethics we have been working to a set customer brief. The basics of this are:

·               We are provided with a stone or stones to produce a pendant or earrings

·               Item should be produced using CAD software

·               Maximum weight is 25g of metal

·               Pieces to be produced in silver by JewelCast casters

·               No additional stones to be used

·               Design should be different to current items on the market, exciting and high quality.

As an ethical jeweller our main concerns were the stone and the casting. After speaking to the customer we were pleased to learn that the stone we would be given was either recycled or mined under fair trade conditions.

The casting company, JewelCast were more of a problem. Luckily Opulent Ethics met Vipa Designs at International Jewellery London in September. Vipa are a casting company based in Melton Mowbray who can cast in and provide recycled silver and Fair Trade gold in various alloys. They are also able to help their customers design, CAD, stone set and finish their pieces, providing an all round design service.

In this case Opulent Ethics were lucky enough to ensure that we could maintain our ethical credentials whilst still meeting our set brief. This got us thinking about whether good design and green design are mutually exclusive or whether there are things we can do to ensure our products are always produced in a way we are happy with.

We think that the most important thing to do is set your own boundaries; what are you happy, unhappy with doing. At Opulent Ethics our plan is:

·               All metals will be recycled or fair trade (including making master patterns for casting)

·               After heat processes metals will be cleaned using citric acid rather than standard harmful chemical pickle

·               Stones will be UK sourced, certified ethically mined or recycled

·               Use processes which can be ethically undertaken; casting, oxidising, polishing

·               Produce designs with as small amount of waste as possible

·               Recycle waste materials

·               Use recycled papers for printing and packaging and soya inks for printing

·               Use green- hosting companies for blogs and websites

·               Where possible, source findings and other extras from ethical producers

Things that Opulent Ethics will not do include:

·               Use processes which are less than ethical or which use harmful chemicals; plating

·               Work with companies who are against working ethically (they do not have to already be working ethically, just be willing to change)

·               Use metals or stones which do not fit with our material specifications

Working within such clear boundaries makes work decisions and choices simpler and ensures that you never compromise your beliefs or produce anything you are not satisfied with.

Great believers in the idea that green design and good design can be one and the same are Inhabitat, a weblog based on this entire principle which includes information and links to all sectors of the design market; architecture, fashion, gadgets, transport, graphics, products…the list goes on. Their main interest is in

“…design innovations that enhance sustainability, efficiency, and interactivity in the home, Inhabitat’s attention is focused on objects and spaces that are eco-friendly, multi-purpose, modular, and/or interactive. We believe that good design balances substance with style”.

They are interested in ensuring that the useful designs which will change the way we live are packaged in a sexy, attractive way to ensure consumer interest and success. We here at Opulent Ethics feel that, even though our designs or ethical jewellery in general are not going to change the world for the better, our designs still need to be top quality, desirable and striking in order to capture and win consumer votes.

So we here at Opulent Ethics will be following Inhabitat’s lead and ensuring that our future work and designs are

“…inherently “Green”. Good deign is not about colour, style or trends – but instead about thoughtfully considering the user, the experience, the social context and the impact of an object on the surrounding environment. No design can be considered good design unless it at least attempts to address some of these concerns”.

 Inhabitat Homeless Tent

 Inhabitat Chop-Flops made from recycled chopsticks

Inhabitat's 1 laptop per child programme 

We will keep you updated on how our latest green design is getting on….

Keeping ethics in the spotlight and increasing participation

The old adage that “All publicity is good publicity” is not always true especially with a subject as volatile and far reaching as Fair Trade, ethics and green issues. Everyone has an opinion ranging from the denial of global warming at one end of the scale to ethical fantasists at the other.

Within the fashion industry principles of sustainability and ethical standards are already rife and constantly growing, improving and becoming more accepted. So how do we bring the jewellery industry in line with our fashion counterparts? How do we keep pushing developments? And, for those of us who are already ethical in our work, how do we disclose this without sounding like we are patronising others for not being so?

Fashion and jewellery have developed side by side over many generations. The two have overlapped regularly never more so than when fashion jewellery emerged. This recent arm of the jewellery industry works in the same way as the fashion industry with styles, colours, shapes and designs changing on a seasonal basis. The Fine Jewellery sector of the market also follows this but at a less rapid speed.

The most necessary factor in shifting the jewellery industry towards being more ethical is a genuine interest in the issues concerned by those trying to change. Opulent Ethics believes that Companies who become ethical for the sole intention of attracting more customers are almost as bad as those who ignore the issues altogether.

There are always stories about the plight of the environment and the peoples involved in the jewellery industry supply chain. In recent years we have seen the spotlight focusing on the Blood Diamond film, the Marange Diamond Fields in Zimbabwe, Naomi Campbell’s involvement in the Blood Diamond trial of the ex-Liberian leader Charles Taylor, the campaign to save Alaska’s Bristol Bay from being mined…the list goes on and on.    

The story behind the Ethical Fashion Forum (EFF), a non-profit organisation, also rings true for the jewellery industry. The EFF started with a group of individuals and small companies who were concerned about the impact their business-actions had on others. From initial meetings came the idea to share and disseminate relevant information, to share supplier and manufacturer information and to help spread the word about what they were doing and why to the larger fashion community.

Today the EFF has over 3000 members in 73 countries all networking, sharing new developments and information and taking part in the numerous events and shows arranged by the forum. The EFF is also as successful as it is due to its collaborations with big names in the fashion world which attracts the attention of students and new designers as well as the world’s media.

There are already inklings of similar organisations within the ethical jewellery industry with the start of the Fair Jewellery Action website which has the on-going intention of combining the knowledge and experience of established ethical jewellers including Greg Valerio, Marc Choyt, Cred Jewellery and Ute Decker. Each of these founder members has far reaching contacts which should be encouraged to join the revolution and then, hopefully, an Ethical Jewellery Forum may begin.

Developments within jewellery are happening constantly but consistent consumer pressure may be what the industry needs to really make big steps toward change. A large percentage of the jewellery industry population don’t know or care about ethical issues but as bigger names are catching on and becoming involved this will change. There is so much family history within the industry with many companies set in their ways and following their heritage rather than forward thinking developments. This is going to be a challenge to change.

There are numerous companies which already produce jewellery in an ethical or sustainable way. Some choose to overtly publicise their ethical intentions (Oria, Leblas, Cred, Fifi Bijoux, Avasarah) whilst other make changes quietly without pushing their choices at their consumers (Ute Decker, Bario-Neal, Daisy Knights, Saretta).  

Opulent Ethics is unsure about which of these works best but knows that both are as important as the other and that we need more companies like this to keep making changes. And whichever way a designer decides to go, transparency has got to be the key. At this early stage of setting up ethics as a serious sector of the jewellery industry it is important for designers to be realistic in what they can achieve and practice what they say in order to ensure that ethics does not keep coming to the fore in a negative light.

Overall, the best thing that anyone can do is share their findings, suppliers and experiences either through their products and advertising or by becoming members of groups or wiki-sites such as the Fair Jewellery Action website. Also, be prepared to talk to those who ask about a piece of ethical jewellery being worn and the reasons for wearing it. You may find that you end up having the same conversation again and again but, yes another antonym is being used, baby steps are a good start point.

That’s it for now….

Mine with care as mine we must!

This is a quote from David Hargreaves the head of Fair Trade Gemstones, a family run business. As a mining engineer with over 25 years experience in mining development and consulting on diamonds and colored stones within the industry you might not be surprised to hear David Hargreaves say this. It is, however, truer than you might think.

David Hargreaves has helped develop mines in Africa which are now viewed as early examples of fair trade mining practice. As a miner himself, he understands and has developed mines which reflect and uphold his personal principles and, after hearing him take part in the Great Debate at IJL in September we can assure you his principles appear to be wholly Fair Trade and ethical.

No one denies that mining causes massive physical destruction not just from the masses of earth that is removed but also from the chemicals used in metal-mining processes. So, why then, would anyone who is ethically mined be happy with mining continuing?   

In today’s society metals are used in many parts of our lives; decoration, like jewellery, photography, medical uses, as part of the water purification process, in batteries and electrical equipment and as a catalyst to convert chemicals into the plastics we use in clothing, packaging, car parts and toys. So it is easy to see why David Hargreaves believes that society cannot function without mining. So does it all have to be that bad? 

We hear often about the negative impact of mining. The No Dirty Gold Campaign was started by Earthworks to draw attention to the negative impacts of gold mining on the environment and the people who work and live in the surrounding areas. But recently there has been the start of a very small light at the end of a very long tunnel…or mine shaft.

Tiffany, yes that’s right, Tiffany & Co the American design house and jewellery store chain which has been around since 1837 and has its flagship store on the corner of 5^th Avenue and 57^th Street in Manhattan, now sources all its yellow diamonds through its gem company, Laurelton Diamonds, from the Ellendale mine in north-western Australia.

Tiffany has become synonymous with yellow diamonds after Charles Tiffany acquired the most famous 128.54 carat yellow, or fancy, Tiffany diamond which is now on display in the Manhattan flagship store. Only 2 women have ever worn the jewel; Mrs Sheldon Whitehouse (wife of a member of the famous US political family) and Audrey Hepburn in the publicity photos for Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Tiffany Yellow Diamond set in Jean Schlumberger's Bird On A Rock Brooch

Ellendale diamond field currently produces approximately 50% of the world’s fancy and vivid yellow diamonds which are this colour due to the presence of nitrogen within the ground when the diamonds were being formed. So what makes the Ellendale mine preferable to other mines elsewhere? 

Most obviously, the mine is in Australia so all 257 employees receive fair pay and benefits including travel expenses, safety is taken very seriously so medical checks and drug and drink tests are regularly carried out and all machinery is regularly checked. 12% of the work force comes from indigenous groups and both men and women are employed.

No-one was displaced in order for the mine to be started and Kimberley Diamond Company, who own the mine, are putting money into retaining the surrounding wetlands and animal habitats. Environmental staff are consulted with and the only chemical used is sodium nitrate which is safely used in fertilisers and as a food additive.

But despite being good in many ways the mine is still displacing 14,740 tonnes of earth for every 600 carats of diamonds found. That equates to 14,740 tonnes for 120 grammes of diamonds; a massive amount. It is then more shocking to learn that up to 20% of these stones are then not considered good enough for use in the diamond industry. So we are then down to 14,740 tonnes of earth for 96 grammes of diamonds. Those stones which are considered good enough are then shipped to Antwerp for cutting, whereby some of the diamond is cleaved away to facet the stone into something useable before heading for the Tiffany design house.

   

So are the Ellendale and Tiffany collaborative mines and David Hargreaves’ ethically set up mines the best we have on offer? At the minute; yes. Opulent Ethics feel that mining will continue, beautiful stones will be sought after and if ethical jewellers are not to fall behind in the design stakes then sourcing our stones somewhere where we can verify their origin and passage through the supply chain to us is the best we can currently do. Alternatively we can continue to recycle stones from existing jewellery or try to buy from small family-run mines; another minefield in itself!

Bye for now….   

Made versus manufactured; which is better in today’s throwaway society?

This year Origin is part of the London Design Festival which includes fairs and shows incorporating product design, fashion, jewellery, furniture and much more all within the capital. There were 200+ makers in one showcase at the Old Spitalfields Market for Origin.

On the other end of the scale from Origin is Goldsmiths’ Fair which showcases fine jewellery and silver and goldsmiths’ from across the world all portraying their own version of Contemporary metal crafts.

Within the programme for Origin 2010 is the statement “Consumers are moving away from global luxury brands to more personal, individual and ethical choices, and to ownership of objects that have a more direct connection with the person who made them. Contemporary craft embodies all these values, and they are made manifest at fairs such as Origin, where meeting the maker face-to-face adds an extra dimension.”

So does the revival in craft come hand in hand with the recession or is hand-craft rather than mass-market manufacture finally being seen as the way forward in today’s throw-away society? Opulent Ethics visited Origin 2010 and the Goldsmiths’ Fair ’10 to find out.

It has been noted by many that there has been a resurgence in recent years of objects which portray hand skills being more attractive to consumers than mass-production items. At Origin 2010 it was refreshing to see so many hand-crafted items from numerous genres on sale all in one place.

The word craft can bring to mind a thought of less luxurious products which cannot match up to high end retailers. So which is worth more; workmanship or high-end materials?

Opulent Ethics visited Goldsmiths’ Fair first and were pleasantly surprised by the amount of hand-crafted pieces.

As one of the first people to use laser welding in jewellery within the UK Tom Rucker creates pieces of jewellery which stand apart from other contemporary jewellery. The “Godfather” of laser welded jewellery finds his inspiration in architecture, aeronautics and nature and has developed his own laser welding technique to convey this beauty and design.

 Tom Rucker Laser-Welded Earrings

Both Jenny Deans and Gerlinde Huth use movement or the suggestion of it within their jewellery. Huth repeats and combines units to create jewellery which appears complex and conveys natural shapes through intricately constructed pieces. Jenny Deans uses similar characteristics in her work whilst encouraging wearer interaction and movement of the pieces.  

Mark Nuell draws his inspiration from growing up around gemstones but his actual pieces speak more about nature. Stones used within the jewellery are beautiful and draw the eye but it is the asymmetrical shapes and flow of the pieces that really draw the viewer in.

Sadly Opulent Ethics was unable to visit the second week of Goldsmiths’ Fair but makers who caught our eye in the brochure included Kevin Grey whose silversmithing pieces express simplicity and calm whilst also conveying technical accuracy and decorative flair. 

Hannah Louise Lamb, who Opulent Ethics has seen on show at numerous galleries throughout London and is amazed by each time due to her dedication to hand skills including intricate saw-piercing. We here at Opulent Ethics also love her inclusion of alternative materials such as fabric and semi-precious stones.

Finally, Jacqueline Cullen is a master of working with Whitby Jet (one of our favourite alternatives to usual gemstones). Opulent Ethics saw her at Origin and in galleries in London and were impressed by her development of techniques to incorporate Jet, a fairly delicate and rare material, into beautiful jewellery. Cullen uses gold within her designs whilst allowing the natural breaks and cleaves of the material to speak for itself.

 Jacqueline Cullen Whitby Jet Earrings

At Origin Opulent Ethics loved Claire Brewster who managed to transform her stand into an area of peace and tranquillity amongst a bustling, crazy space. Brewster creates birds cut from colourful atlases and transforms them into a calming display. Opulent Ethics was also attracted by the shadow play of the cut outs on the wall behind. All in all, a beautiful, serene environment.

Having seen Jane Moore in numerous outlets we were pleased to see previously unseen patterns and shapes on Jane Moore’s fabulous button-like jewellery.

Maya Selway is a silversmith who uses fusing to create one-off shapes and patterns within her pieces. The effect which is created is awe-inspiring and so different to everything else that we saw at Origin. Not knowing how a piece will turn out is a scary but fascinating way of working.

Shan Annabelle Valla creates glass and ceramic objects for the home but we fell in love with the goldfinches. They are totally superfluous but such fun!

So, overall, Opulent Ethics found that hand-craft is important to the market at both ends. It is simply the marketing which sets the two shows apart; Goldsmiths’ sell hand techniques as luxury whereas Origin market hand techniques as the back-bone of their market and without which they would not exist.

Either way, Opulent Ethics believe that hand made jewellery (and other crafts) have their place in the market. We also believe that this is not a comeback but that hand skills have been there all along; it is simply a change in “fashion” which is allowing these types of products to come back to the fore. So, whether you have the wallet for the craft market or the top end market please keep buying!

Bye for now….

Has Michelle Obama made a mammoth error of judgement?

She’s considered one of the most stylish women in America, often spoken about in the same breath as Jackie Onassis. She is well educated, has a successful career, is a mother of 2, married to the most green-conscious President and wears ivory!

Yes that’s right Michelle Obama has been spotted recently wearing numerous pieces of jewellery by Monique Péan made from mammoth ivory. So how does this fit in with her style and beliefs? Does mammoth ivory deserve the negative reputation of elephant ivory? And are there any alternatives?

Michelle Obama wearing numerous Monique Péan pieces

In conclusion, Opulent Ethics are concerned over the growing popularity of mammoth ivory and feel that the mammoth fossils being found would be better served being used by scientists to understand the mammoth’s history, being exhibited in museums or being left in their resting place in Siberia.

We do not feel that mammoth ivory deserves the negative press implied by its association to elephant ivory but are concerned that over time the differences would become less and elephant poaching would increase once more. Finally, Opulent Ethics feel that as there are numerous alternatives to ivory including vegetable ivory and synthetic materials there is no need to be using anything else.     

For the full article on Michelle Obama wearing mammoth ivory see the Guardian website and for more information on the mammoth ivory trade see the Independent website.



That's all for now....

It is estimated that there are around 150 million mammoth remains held in the ice under Russia’s Siberian permafrost. The pieces are buried between 1 metre and 1.5 kilometres under the ice and are exhumed by local residents before being sent to Moscow for sale. Most of the ivory is sent to China for carving before being sold in Hong Kong, Asia, Europe and the United States.

Currently 60 tonnes of ivory is being transported from Russia to China per year and with a worth of approximately $350,000 per tonne the mammoth ivory trade is flourishing. Currently, only Russian nationals are able to hunt for and export the mammoth ivory but as the market for extinct animal parts is increasing and is estimated at being worth £12.6 million per year then at some point outsiders are going to try and get in on the action.

Mammoth ivory items are not for sale in African countries as it is feared that the trade in illegal elephant ivory would increase in response to legal ivory being on sale. Wild elephant populations were decreased by up to 50% prior to the 1989 ban on African elephant poaching. Whilst there is not yet any difference in Asian or African elephant numbers there is growing concern from animal rights and conversation groups that this will change as mammoth ivory becomes more commonplace.  

On Monique Péan’s website she says that her aim is “…creating sustainable fine jewellery inspired by indigenous cultures that is socially and environmentally conscious”. As Péan’s pieces are hand made they take time to produce and are, therefore, unlikely to cause the mammoth ivory stocks to run low anytime soon. However, mammoth ivory is as sustainable as coal…not at all. Seen as the mammoth have been extinct for at least 4500 years there is no on-going replacement of the material that is being dug up and as demand increases the impact on the Siberian environment will worsen. As the shallower buried mammoth ivory pieces lessen those hunting will have to go deeper thus churning up Siberia’s tundra.

Péan’s two collections are born out of a want to do good for underprivileged communities but we here at Opulent Ethics are not convinced that Péan can call herself a sustainable fine jeweller. Yes Péan uses recycled gold and certified conflict free diamonds from Australia and donates a percentage of her profits to charities aimed at improving the lives of the communities which inspire her designs but other pieces use walrus ivory, caribou horn and whale baleen. These animal bi-products are not in the normal toolkit of someone who considers themselves sustainable.

We here at Opulent Ethics are surprised that Michelle Obama, who comes under so much public scrutiny and who influences public style, has chosen to wear an item whose connotations are so negative. Whilst Monique Péan represents herself as a do-gooder in the jewellery industry we would not consider wearing or using the risqué materials that Péan does and we are surprised that Michelle Obama has decided to endorse her products.     

In answer to whether mammoth ivory deserves the reputation of elephant ivory, Opulent Ethics believes that it would be preferable to use mammoth ivory instead of elephant, walrus or hippo ivory but as there are other alternatives we would always choose not to.

Vegetable ivory is a new up and coming material. It comes from the seeds of an Amazonian palm tree and really is a sustainable material. Leju is one company which produce vegetable ivory products using natural dyes on the Tagua or palm nut and natural materials within their designs. Whilst the seeds are not comparable in size to any type of animal ivory the colour and hardness of the material is similar making it perfect to work with. Vegetable ivory also sustains local economies where it is found and supplies a valid alternative to cutting down rainforests or hunting elephants.

Tagua or Palm Nut