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….