Sustainable Jewellery, from mine to door.
We remove more CO₂ from the atmosphere than we produce, eliminating our environmental impact while crafting exquisite pieces that stand the test of time.
Our Sustainability Mission
At Hester Clarke, we have always been passionate about crafting beautiful jewellery pieces for our customers, and have been heavily involved in sourcing, design and manufacture for over 130 years. However, we also recognise that the jewellery industry can have a significant environmental footprint, from mining precious metals and gems to the energy-intensive processes involved in creating our stunning designs. There is no denying this, and we want to face this issue head on.
We are committed to creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly business, one that we can be proud of, and one that will ensure our future and continued success. We are a fifth generation family business, and we want to make sure we are part of an industry that will help future generations of our family to thrive.
Understanding our Impact
To address this issue, we embarked on a comprehensive assessment of our carbon footprint, meticulously tracing every step from mine to door. This included evaluating the energy consumption and environmental impact of mining raw materials from the ground, refining them, transporting them, the sourcing of materials, the energy used in our manufacturing, in our offices, and finally the transportation of our products to your door. We worked hard to make sure every facet of our business was accounted for.
Measuring Our Emissions
Through this assessment, we calculated our average carbon emissions for our products and understood the need for change. We were determined to not only minimise our carbon footprint but also contribute positively to the environment. Seeing the numbers in front of you can be quite shocking, and it became clear to us that we needed to do better.
Our Carbon-Positive Strategy
Sourcing Materials Responsibly
One of the first steps we took was to examine our supply chain. By carefully selecting suppliers and manufacturers who share our commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing, we can work towards reducing our environmental impact. This is a complicated process, raw materials change through many hands as they move from the mines to our workshops, but the industry as a whole is working towards more transparent and sustainable supply chains.
Shipping and Packaging
We've also taken steps to ensure that our shipping and packaging practices are as eco-friendly as possible. From using recyclable materials for our packaging to using couriers with the same commitment to sustainability as us, we've made significant progress in reducing our carbon footprint.
Offsetting Carbon Emissions
One of the key steps we've taken is to offset our carbon emissions through various initiatives. Here's how we're doing it:
1. Carbon Credits
We invest in carbon credits, supporting projects worldwide that reduce or capture carbon emissions. These projects include renewable energy development, methane capture from landfills, and reforestation efforts. We only put our money towards projects that are verified through the Gold Standard and Verified Carbon Standard schemes.
2. Tree Planting Schemes
In partnership with organizations in the UK and internationally, we have initiated tree planting schemes. These efforts help us offset our carbon emissions while contributing to the restoration and preservation of natural ecosystems, both here and abroad. The number of trees we plant varies depending on available projects and how we split our carbon-offsetting, but we still pledge to plant at least one tree on UK Soil for every piece of Jewellery sold. Every item you purchase from us, will have a tree planted here in Britain.
3. Carbon Removal
We also invest in Carbon Removal, a slightly different way of reducing our carbon footprint. Rather than investing in projects aimed at Carbon reduction or environmental schemes to reduce our footprint, Carbon Removal uses technology like 'direct air capture' to remove historic and unavoidable CO₂ from the air, so it can no longer contribute to climate change. This is an emerging technology, but one that could prove vital to combatting climate change if it can be scaled in the future. As a forward-looking company, we wanted to invest some of our efforts towards new technologies.
Our Carbon Positive Status
We are thrilled to announce that, through our dedication to sustainability and carbon offset initiatives, Hester Clarke has achieved carbon positivity. This means that we not only neutralise our carbon emissions but go a step further by removing more carbon from the atmosphere than we produce.
Join Us on the Journey
We believe that every step counts when it comes to environmental responsibility. We invite you, our valued customers, to join us on this journey towards sustainability. By choosing our carbon-positive jewellery, you are making a statement for a greener, cleaner future.
Thank you for your support, and together, we can make a positive impact on our planet.
Get in Touch
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our sustainability efforts, please don't hesitate to Contact Us. We'd love to hear from you!