Chocolate Couture
We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Chocolate Couture, the UK based Ethical Jewellery Company.
With all of our partners we ask alot of questions so that we can be assured that the brand is living up to its ethical credentials. So let us introduce you to Chocolate Couture…..
Chocolate Couture: Your Collection
Does your organisation adhere to following principles?
• Fair Trade: Yes
• Ethical Trading: Yes
• Recycling: Yes
• Use of Organic materials: Yes
Please give details as we would like to know how your products make a difference to lives of the producers:
• We want to ensure that our jewellery does not have any detrimental impact on individuals. This includes ensuring that we sign up to the ‘Clean Gold’ principles. Primarily we use recycled precious metals within our jewellery although some components eg; chains and findings are not recycled. The use of recycled precious metals avoids any detrimental impact on communities or the environment through traditional mining processes. Some of pieces are made using components from recycled old rings, bracelets and chains etc.
• We also use components from BAFTS purchased items within our collections which includes items handmade in India and other countries. Such products ensure that the individuals are being paid a fair wage for their work and enables money to be put back into those communities. We are looking are still looking at ways where we can directly impact on the lives of individuals in those countries.
Diamonds
• We only use certified diamonds and Canadian diamonds to ensure that they are ‘conflict free’ diamonds.
Gemstones
• We use ethical gemstone suppliers including a Fair Trade Gem company who can trace most of his gems back to the mine.
• Other non fair trade registered companies used agree to our ethical principles and standards
• Recycled gems extracted from old jewellery are also used.
• Manmade gemstones or zirconias are also used
Beads
• We use beads and components extracted from jewellery purchased from BAFTS suppliers who have sourced their products ethically.
• Non BAFTS/Fair Trade registered suppliers have agreed to our ethical principles in relation to ensuring that their staff have a fair wage and working environment.
• Our handcrafted precious metal jewellery is made by hand by ourselves here in the UK.
Your organisation’s membership:
Does your organisation hold Fair Trade certification, for example, BAFTs, IFAT, SA8000?
• No but we do use BAFTS/Fair Trade suppliers. As a relatively small company we are not in a financial position to apply for this certification but we do agree and aim to work within their standards and principles at all times and ask that our suppliers do too.
Please specify:
Does you organisation hold organic certification? For example, SKAL, Soil Association?
• No
Please specify:
Do you have any plans to grow further in this area or achieve accreditation?
• Yes
Use of materials within your organisation:
What materials does your organisation use to produce your collections?
• Recycled Precious metals
• Diamonds and other Gemstones
• Coloured man-made and zirconia stones
How are your materials sourced?
• Using precious metals from companies who use 100% recycled precious metals
• Gemstones sourced from environmentally friendly mines
• Diamonds- certified through the Kimberley process
• Fair Trade gemstone supplier
• Some of our gemstones are purchased from the UK
Does your organisation use environmentally friendly materials for example: recycled materials, organic or manmade biodegrable?
• Yes
Does your organisation use packaging that is made from recycled or sustainable materials that are recyclable?
• Yes
For how long have you worked with eco-friendly principles in mind?
• Since 2007
• Company started trading in November 2006
Has your organisation taken steps to look at its carbon footprint and/or become carbon neutral?
• We have signed up to COCO 2 for carbon offsetting
• We minimise car usage using public transport, cycles and walking where possible
• Minimise the unnecessary use of heating/lighting where possible
Production processes
Does your company use manufacturers that follow the guidelines set out by the International Labour Organisation and respect the basic human rights of workers?
• Yes, to the best of our knowledge, our suppliers confirms that they use products that do not harm communities or environments. Our precious metal supplier uses an environmentally friendly refinery process.Is every worker involved in creating, producing and marketing your label guaranteed a Fair salary?• Yes as we mainly do this ourselves here in the UK.
• We create most of our jewellery by hand ourselves
• Other products are sourced via registered BAFTS suppliers or those who unregistered have signed up to our Ethical principles
Do you know where your raw materials are sourced from?
Please give details:
Precious metals
• Our main precious metal supplier uses manly recycled precious metals so that they are using already available resources. This also includes precious metals received from other jewellers.
• We used gemstone suppliers who source their stones from socially responsible mines.
• We also use components from old jewellery items which are recycled into new products in the UK.
• Gemstones from suppliers who have signed up to our ethical standards or are registered fair trade
How the raw materials are prepared?
Please give details:
• Precious metals are prepared in an ethical refinery in the USA or recycled by us in the UK.
How your products are manufactured? Please give details:
• Our jewellery is made by ourselves in the UK
• Other items/beads etc are purchased from BAFTS suppliers which include items handmade in India
Has your organisation taken steps to source and produce locally?
Please give details:
• We do produce locally and we are currently in discussion with a UK company to make our logo tags from sustainable wood as opposed to precious metals.
Please include any further information about your organisation should you wish to:
• We are a small company working from our home workshop which focuses mainly on handcrafted wedding bands and engagement rings using recycled precious metals. We use components from BAFTs supplied items and our overseas suppliers confirm their agreement to our ethical standards. Making our products ourselves enables us to ensure that our jewellery is made ethically and using recycled precious metals/components means that we are using readily available resources.
Thank you for your time.
