How To Know if Gems Are Ethically Sourced
Nature has given us endless wonders, and some of the most glittering spectacular examples are gemstones.
Each is a one-of-a-kind beauty forged deep in the earth under enormous pressure and heat. Extracting them is no small feat, and there are still exploited workers and other abuses in the industry—it’s just not adequately regulated.
That’s why where you buy a gemstone is just as crucial as what you buy. For instance, we only work with mines that are officially authorized by the source countries environmental agencies. We try to educate consumers so they can be confident they’re making a responsible purchase. Here’s how to know if gems are ethically sourced and if it’s a business you want to support.
What does ethically sourced mean to me?
Most of the miners/carvers I know through my travels. I know every pair of hands the crystal has been through from its birthing to my table. I know it's been treated well by good people - ethics means a stones entire journey is traceable and nobody has been harmed in it getting to me - the crystal included.
Many of my crystals are simply found on beaches by locals - the ones gifted by Mother Nature are my favourite.
Healing or Harming?
Many people believe that crystals and gems have inherent healing properties. At the very least, these incredible stones are symbolic of certain qualities. Giving them to others is a time-honored good-luck gesture. You probably buy them yourself because you feel an affinity for one gem or another. Maybe it’s your birthstone, or maybe you just find it to be particularly gorgeous.
The process of mining gems has an often-shameful history, especially where the rarest gems are concerned. 2006’s “Blood Diamond” opened many filmgoers’ eyes to the dangers of stones mined in war zones and sold to finance fighting, support warlords, and enrich companies. The stakes aren’t quite as high for semi-precious gems that aren’t destined for expensive jewelry, but the industry has a long way to go. If you’re reading this, it means that you’re part of the solution.
Indeed I've written a great deal about the dark crystal industry and the price of love and light.
Dark crystals don't work!
That's right you heard me. Imagine adopting a dog that had been taken from its mum to early and passed around lots of different homes. It would be terrified. Crystals are similar. They are energy beings that pick up on vibration so a badly treated crystal will never vibrate highly - not with all the cleansing in the world. Charging it is like trying to jump start a corpse!
The Definition of “Ethical”If you want to make sure that you’re looking at a “guilt-free” gem, there’s a lot to consider. There’s still no globally accepted way to certify that a stone has been ethically mined, so it’s up to each business and consumer to define it for themselves. Ideally, an ethically sourced gem has been:Mined with the least possible environmental impact.Extracted by fairly treated and paid adult workers.Conflict-free, meaning it hasn’t funded or fueled violence.
Human Rights Violations
Unfortunately, that definition is a lot to ask of an industry built on greed and corruption. It takes every one of us to investigate how gems are sourced, and to insist on buying only stones that don’t have a harmful background. If we don’t do our part, these conditions will continue:
Violence
Many mines are located in poorer countries, so the money to be raised is highly coveted. Sometimes different factions clash in their pursuit of resources.
Child Labor
Children are still considered a part of the workforce in some countries, with some estimates putting the number at more than 100 million workers under 17.
Dangerous Conditions
Both children and adults can be subject to hazardous working conditions that could lead to respiratory diseases, physical injuries, brain damage, and more.
Low Pay
You’ve probably guessed that many of these workers don’t earn anything approaching a living wage. The problem is complicated by the fact that if the mines are put out of business, families will be unable to feed themselves.
Environmental Concerns
All of us have a carbon footprint, and there are very few products that don’t have someadverse impact on the earth. But unethical mining practices can have a profound effect on the environment. Let us count the ways: they release toxic chemicals into the soil and pollute waterways, lead to deforestation and erosion, emit dangerous gases, devastate wildlife, and so on.
Untraceable Supply Chains
Once gemstones are mined, they can pass through a lot of hands. They might be sent to another country for processing, and then make their way through various middle-men and traders who eventually negotiate with retailers. All along the way, these gems might be navigating tricky economic and political situations. Without documentation, buyers have to rely on a supplier’s word to find out where the gems came from.
What Businesses Can Do
Ask Questions
We can promote responsible sourcing by taking a hard line against unethical mining. As conditions improve, it will become easier to find better alternatives to the “bad guys.” Businesses need to be unafraid to ask tough questions and be ready to walk away if the answers aren’t acceptable.
There are so many TikTok's about knowing of crystals are fake or not but so few on ethics.
Verify Answers
Even the right answers aren’t enough if we don’t keep the industry honest. It’s vital to develop a network of proven, trusted sources for gemstones and help them take care of their workers. Reputations matter when it comes to mining, and if sources can’t back up their claims, then we can’t just take their word for it.
Follow Regulations
There might not be adequate regulations overseeing the mining industry, but there are a few—particularly when it comes to environmental impact. Businesses can inspect worksites themselves to ensure that best practices are followed.
Simplify the Supply Chain
The fewer people involved in sourcing gemstones, the less chance for obfuscation. There are a number of ways to cut down on the links in the chain. At Brazil Gems, for instance, we make it a priority to work with smaller mines, support artisanal workers, and partner directly with our sources.
What You Can Do
If you’re wondering how to know if gems are ethically sourced, you’ve already taken the first step. Educate yourself on what the repercussions are if mining corporations aren’t held accountable for their abuses. Ask questions when you’re shopping for gems at any price point. Refuse to buy from anyone who can’t tell you specifically where they’re getting their gems. Spread the word about what you’ve learned. Get involved in pressuring governments to enforce mining regulations and stop abuse do we’ll be able to rely on official oversight and third-party auditors to keep the industry ethical. Until then, we can only do our best to encourage responsible sourcing and put guilty companies out of business. It will take due diligence, investigation, transparency—and finally, trust.
For our part, Elemental Apothecary takes its responsibility seriously and only offers top-quality gems with known origins. We’re based in the UK and run by me alone who hand picks every supplier and crystal. We work directly with our partners who supply from their own mines and process our products in their own facilities by hand. Every product we offer is different and hand carved often using my direction and intuition.
