Circular economy

There is good news and bad news. The bad first: every European uses an average of 14 tons of resources and produces an average of 5 tons of waste per year. All people together even create 100 billion tons. The good news: That doesn't mean that these raw materials will inevitably be used up, nor that the waste has to be in recycling depots, in the sea or even in space forever. Because that's what the circular economy is for.

This is not a new invention. Let's just say: In the course of history it has been forgotten at times that raw materials are finite and that we should not only take care of ourselves but also of the environment. Actually, it's the only logical thing: if there is little of a raw material, then of course you don't want to waste any of it, so you try to use it as sparingly as possible; and if possible, of course, you also make sure that you recycle the raw material as soon as you need it. Repair, recycle, reuse. So far the basics. But slowly.

Since the industrial revolution, i.e. since the time when people were still incredibly happy when masses of pitch-black smoke came out somewhere, the linear economy has been en vogue. You make something, then you use it, when it's broken you throw it away. A straight line: From the workshop to the recycling center. This type of consumption is a dangerous one-way street towards unchecked climate change.

If we don't rethink our consumption, but stick with the linear economy, then the temperature of the earth will increase by 4-6 degrees Celsius over the next 20 years, according to calculations by the Circle Economy Circularity Gap Report. Emissions will increase to 65 billion tons of Co2 by 2030. And even if all countries stick to the agreements of the Paris climate agreement, the earth will warm up by 3.2 degrees by 2030.

Circular economy means: using renewable energies, extending the useful life of products and recycling waste. If solutions from the circular economy are applied to these scenarios, it becomes clear that global warming can remain below 2 degrees Celsius until 2030! But: The Circulatity Report 2020 showed that only 8.6% of the economy is circular. So something must be done!

Probably the easiest way to rethink consumption is second-hand shopping. There are countless platforms that can help you either give your unused clothes a new life or buy new, used clothes.

We at Maren Jewellery collaborate with Unown. This is a company where you can rent fashion, jewelry, and all sorts of treasures. This way, you enjoy the benefits of a constantly changing wardrobe without the downside of linear consumption. Win Win!

Before you throw something away, you can consider whether there is more to it than that. The classic: mustard glasses as water glasses or yoghurt pots as flower pots. But I'm sure you can think of many more creative ways to make more of your waste than garbage.l.

At Maren Jewellery, we exclusively use recycled precious metals for our sustainable jewelry: 18-carat recycled gold, white and yellow gold, as well as recycled 925 sterling silver. (Check it out, here is our Urban Mining Journal).

Our diamonds come from the lab. This not only ensures that the origin of the gemstones is always clear, but we also know that they are just as pure as their natural counterparts. (You can read more about this in the journal article on lab-grown diamonds ).

Our packaging is eco-friendly and 100% recyclable. (Check out oursPacking Journal over.

Our jewelry should belong to you, always be a part of you and be able to accompany you throughout your life. But what if your taste changes and you suddenly don't like your favorite piece anymore? No problem. Because we only use pure precious metal, all Maren Jewelery pieces can be melted down and reassembled..

Your jewelry should only belong to you. That's why it's only produced when you order it. This saves valuable resources and each piece of jewelery is unique. Just like you.