Silver and gold mining causes tons of toxic sludge and is often tied to human rights abuses, which is unacceptable to many consumers, said Marc Choyt, President of Reflective Images. Our aim is to creating ethical mine-to-market custody, worthy of jewelry'ss emotional and talismanic value.
Until now, the ethical jewelry space has targeted the luxury market. We want to make ethical manufactured, recycled precious metal jewelry the standard for the middle class, where it will have the greatest impact, said Choyt. Our latest launch, Carousel has an opening price point of under $25.
Reflective Images's eco-initiative involved an analysis of thousands of pieces of inventory, supply chain consolidation and the exporting recycled precious metal to Indonesia, where the company works with a manufacturer that adheres to fair trade practices (http://www.celticjewelry.com/fair-trade-manufacturing.php).
Reflective Images had already been using recycled precious metal in its Santa Fe, New Mexico facility where they employ several jewelers. We may be the first company in the jewelry sector that can claim to be fabricating internationally with fair trade and recycled precious metals, said Choyt.
For the company, this is just one more of several pioneering socially responsible efforts. Reflective Images already runs its Santa Fe studio on green energy, purchases carbon offsets, and uses compact fluorescent lighting and recycled products.
Because there is so much green wash and fair wash, Reflective Images markets their product with complete transparency, using their Fair, Responsible, Eco-Friendly (FRE) system. Customers can trace the origin of components that make up a piece of jewelry from mine to market on one of the company'ss websites.
Choyt authors the trade and consumer resource, Google'ss top rated fair trade jewelry website. He published the Ethical Jewelry Handbook. This a free resource e-book for jewelers; and chairs the Madison Dialogue'ss International Manufacturing Standards Committee which is developing standards for international fair trade jewelry manufacturing.
In June, 2008, the company was awarded top honors by Santa Fe New Mexico'ss Mayor and Chamber of Commerce, for their employment practices, vision and contribution to the community.
Inspired by artistic, elegant creation and firmly based upon 100% conflict-free, socially-responsible, Marc Choyt and Helen Chantler are the principals of:
ArtisanWeddingRings.com
CelticJewelry.com
FairTradeJewelry.org
CarouselBeads.com
Contact: Marc Choyt: 505-988-7393 Ex. 12
Reflective Images Says No To All Dirty Silver and Gold


