SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

With only a few exceptions, Mark Davis jewelry is made from an average of 80 percent post-consumer recycled materials; in some pieces, that figure exceeds 95 percent. Materials once found in old dominoes, jukebox panels, lamp parts, and other reclaimed objects are transformed through design, workmanship, and finishing into fine jewelry of unmistakable character.

MY EARRINGS ARE MADE OF WHAT?!

The vintage bakelite used in our work is recycling in its purest form. Our woods come from sustainably managed sources, architectural salvage, naturally fallen trees, or sunken logs. We use ethically sourced gemstones and diamonds, and the gold in our products is 100 percent reclaimed.

WE DO NOT RECYCLE. WE UPCYCLE.

Our products are made in a purpose-built facility in Beaufort, South Carolina. The building is highly energy efficient and was constructed on fallow agricultural land. Through local employment, we create opportunities to learn marketable skills; every Mark Davis piece is handmade in Beaufort by American workers.

We maintain corporate policies to reduce disposable consumables in both administrative and production operations each year. We also support environmental organizations working to prevent and remediate damage to the world we share.

The precious metals used in our products, as in almost all jewelry produced today, are recycled. We purchase our gold, platinum and silver from suppliers who have received independent, third-party certification confirming that the metals are indeed recycled. Additionally, our suppliers have received independent, third-party certification of their refining processes and systems. If not properly and responsibly executed, the reclamation and refining of precious metals can be almost as harmful to the environment as the production of newly mined ore. By working with suppliers who are regularly subjected to rigorous auditing and testing, of both their products and processes, we can confidently assure our customers that the precious metals in our products are eco-friendly. More detailed information about the materials used in our products is available in the Materials area of our website.

 

An Important Note About Precious Metals and Gemstones

The keystone to "green" and ethically sourced precious metals is transparency of the supply chain. The same holds true for gemstones and diamonds deemed to be "devastation free" or "ethical". No manufacturer of finished jewelry is able to fully audit the supply chain of its raw materials. By working only with reputable suppliers, who in turn pledge to do the same, we can assure consumers that the materials used are from sources deemed "safe." Unfortunately, it is practically impossible to guarantee without question the source of elemental materials and gemstones. While the geographic provenance of many gemstones can be conclusively determined in a laboratory, facts about the mining conditions and chain of custody are much more elusive. Antique and vintage diamonds and gemstones may have been mined with forced or slave labor. The conditions in which these older stones were mined will be impossible to ever know with certainty. The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme itself is fallible, and there have been documented violations and breaches of the system by Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.