Maren Jewellery in the ZDF documentary "Gold Done Right"

You may remember that a few months ago, the ZDF documentary "Gold Richtig" on the topic of "New Paths in Jewelry Manufacturing" was broadcast. We had already shared a post or two about it with you on our social media channels. But today, we’d like to let you in on a few more behind-the-scenes details and share how thrilled we are to have been part of this exciting project.

We were absolutely delighted that our brand was featured in a national TV program on ZDF. For us, it was a unique opportunity to reach a completely new audience beyond our usual online reach. We hope our message made its way onto screens across the country and helped raise awareness of the challenges facing the jewelry industry.

One of Maren Jewellery’s core missions is to keep highlighting the issues within the jewelry industry and to show, time and again, that there are alternative ways to create jewelry. In "Gold Richtig", we had the opportunity to share our passion for responsibly made jewelry and our firm belief that change is possible.

Sustainable jewelry making is an approach in the jewelry industry that aims to minimize environmental impact, promote ethical practices, and embrace social responsibility. Sustainable jewelry making should be considered holistically and includes the following key aspects:

> Use of sustainable raw materials: This includes the use of recycled materials, fair-traded precious metals and gemstones as well as synthetically produced diamonds

> Ethics and fairness: Jewelry making should be carried out in compliance with ethical standards that ensure workers are paid fairly, have safe working conditions, and are free from exploitation. This naturally also includes avoiding the use of "blood diamonds".

> Environmental protection: Sustainable jewelry making takes environmental protection into account by promoting more resource-efficient production methods, waste reduction, and the responsible use of resources. Feel free to take a look at our WeMind Initiative to learn exactly what we are implementing in this area.

> Transparency and certifications: Manufacturers and brands that use sustainable practices should provide transparent information about the origin of their raw materials and the production processes. Independent certifications can support this. Maren Jewellery, for example, is a certified B Corp and RJC certified.

> Durability and quality: Sustainable jewelry is often designed to be durable and of high quality, ensuring that it can be worn for generations and does not wear out quickly.

> Raising awareness: Sustainable jewelry manufacturers and retailers help raise awareness of more resource-efficient and responsibly made jewelry options and educate consumers about the benefits of these products.

Overall, sustainable jewelry making aims to create pieces that are not only aesthetically appealing but also aligned with the values of environmental protection and social responsibility.

The documentary presents various approaches to more responsible jewelry production:

> Sustainable raw materials: Using gold from old mobile phones, pearls cultivated under strict environmental standards, and lab-grown diamonds can help reduce the need for newly mined gold and contributes to reducing problematic working conditions and environmental pollution

> Sustainable pearl farming: Jörg Gellner does not source his pearls from environmentally harmful mass farming, but completely transparently from pearl farmer Justin Hunter in the Fiji Islands. In doing so, he follows strict environmental regulations, the "Environmental Code", to protect the underwater world.

> Recycled gold and social commitment: Guya Merkle uses recycled gold from old mobile phones and advocates for the closure of small-scale mining operations worldwide. In Uganda, through her foundation, she supports former mine workers in transitioning their income to beekeeping.

> Synthetic diamonds: This is where we come in. Our founder, jewelry designer Helge Maren Hauptmann, relies on synthetic diamonds produced in the laboratory. Manufacturing them in Swiss laboratories helps reduce the negative effects of diamond mining, such as the exploitation of nature or of people.

The conclusion: The sustainable jewelry production options presented in the documentary are not only considered alternatives to traditional raw material extraction, but are often also more cost-effective. Jewelry with a clear conscience is therefore becoming affordable for more and more people and is an ethical alternative.

Once again, thank you so much for being part of our journey! It is only through our customers and the people who accompany us on our path that we can do what we do, and only because of that do opportunities like this arise. We look forward to working with you to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable jewelry production among more and more people and to contribute to more conscious consumer behavior in the long term. We are absolutely certain: together, we can create positive change. Thank you for being part of it!