WeMind

Sustainability is a core guiding principle at Maren Jewellery. Since our founding, we have therefore been exploring how we can create timeless jewelry while taking responsibility for people, materials, and resources.

This commitment gave rise to We Mind . The initiative forms our own framework for ecological, social, and business-related aspects of our actions. Under the three pillars Sustainable, Responsible and Mindful , we look at different areas – from design and the selection of our materials to supply chains and manufacturing, all the way to resource use, packaging, repair, and recycling.

We do not see sustainability as a finished state, but as an ongoing process. That is why we regularly review our measures and processes, continue to develop them, and report transparently on specific actions, progress, and challenges.

Our WeMind initiative is listed on the United Nations platform as an SDG Action and is assigned to the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network. This makes our commitment and ongoing development visible within the network. WeMind is our own entrepreneurial approach and not a certification or award from the United Nations.

We mind – because for us, responsibility means considering every step consciously and continually asking what we can do better.

Our initiative

For us, sustainable means considering the environmental impact of our jewelry throughout its entire life cycle – from design and material selection to production and use, all the way to repair, take-back, and recycling.

Among other things, we rely on recycled precious metals, predominantly demand-driven production, and durable design. We collect precious metal remnants from our production process and send them for reprocessing. At the same time, we are working to keep materials in circulation for as long as possible and, wherever technically feasible, to incorporate repair, refurbishment, reuse, and recycling into the design from the outset.

We do not see sustainability as a finished state, but as an ongoing process that we review regularly and continue to develop.

To us, Responsible means considering responsibility not only for the finished piece of jewelry, but also for the people, companies, and processes involved in its creation.

That is why we work with selected partners and suppliers and define requirements for materials, the environment, human rights, and sourcing. We review our supply chains and the associated risks as part of our due diligence processes and continuously develop our requirements and collaboration further.

At the same time, for us this also includes supporting social engagement and sharing knowledge, experience, and responsibility with others.

To us, mindful describes the attitude behind our design and our decisions: approaching materials, shapes, and resources consciously while remaining open to questioning our own processes.

For our jewelry pieces, this means a clear, pared-down design, a commitment to durability, and the conscious selection of the materials used. At the same time, we want to show transparently how and with whom our jewelry is made, what we are already putting into practice, and which topics we are continuing to work on.

For us, mindfulness therefore does not mean perfection, but attentiveness, transparency, and continuous development.

Sustainable

For our jewelry pieces, we use recycled precious metals. These include recycled gold and recycled 925 sterling silver. By reprocessing existing precious metals, they can be used again for jewelry making and kept in the material cycle for longer.

We also collect the precious metal scraps generated during our own jewelry production and pass them on to specialized companies for reprocessing.

Urban mining is therefore an important part of our circular approach: existing valuable materials should be used for as long as possible before new resources are used.

We use lab-grown diamonds for our jewelry pieces. Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical and physical properties as natural diamonds, but are created under controlled laboratory conditions instead of through geological processes in the earth.

What matters to us is making the origin and production conditions of the diamonds we use as traceable as possible. That is why we source our lab-grown diamonds from selected suppliers and take their origin and production into account as part of our supply chain and due diligence processes.

We provide further information on origin, suppliers, and the materials used in each case transparently in our sustainability reporting and material information.

We also take resource use and the later reuse or recycling of the materials used into account in our packaging.

Among other things, we rely on paper-based solutions and reusable packaging elements, and avoid plastic wherever possible and within our sphere of influence. When selecting our packaging components, we also pay attention to properties such as reusability and recyclability.

Our goal is to keep packaging to what is necessary and to use the materials employed as sensibly and for as long as possible.

For us, circularity begins at the design stage. That is why, when developing our jewelry pieces, we also consider repair, refurbishment, reuse, and the later return of valuable materials to the cycle—where technically possible.

Precious metals can be professionally refurbished and melted down again. At the same time, we collect precious metal residues from our own production and send them on for reprocessing.

For us, design for deconstruction therefore describes a design approach: creating jewelry not just for the moment, but considering its materials and possible next life stages right from the start.

Many of our jewelry pieces are only made to order. This allows us to align our production more closely with actual demand and avoid overproduction.

For us, Made for you therefore not only means crafting jewelry individually for its future wearer. Demand-driven production is also part of how we handle materials and resources: we want to produce only what is actually needed whenever possible.

Responsible

Every piece of jewelry from Maren Jewellery begins with a design by Helge Maren and is then created through close collaboration between our own Maren Studio on Lake Chiemsee and selected specialized partners in Germany.

A significant part of the craftsmanship takes place directly in our studio. This is where pieces of jewelry are sawn, filed, soldered, and further refined, among other steps. The final finishing is also done by us: each piece is polished by hand, inspected, and carefully perfected.

For specialized production steps, we work with experienced manufacturers and expert businesses in Germany—for example for casting, setting our lab-grown diamonds, producing chains, or refining precious metals.

Manufacturing in Germany and the work carried out in our own studio allow us short coordination paths, personal exchange with our partners, and close oversight of each individual production step.

For us, Made in Germany therefore means more than just a production location. It describes the combination of our own goldsmith craftsmanship, specialized partnerships, and traceable manufacturing processes behind our jewelry.

For us, acting responsibly also means working together. That is why we collaborate with specialized manufacturers, refineries, material suppliers, and other partners whose knowledge and diverse perspectives contribute to the creation of our jewelry pieces.

At the same time, we define requirements for our supply chain, including with regard to human rights, working conditions, the environment, and the traceable origin of materials. As part of our due diligence processes, we assess risks and further develop our collaboration wherever we identify opportunities for improvement.

For us, Working Together also means: listening, questioning, learning from one another, and developing better solutions together.

Wherever possible and within our sphere of influence, we avoid plastic. This is especially true for our packaging, for which we have developed our own solutions based on paper, natural, and reusable materials.

Our Paper Cases have been designed so that the insert is also made of paper, allowing us to avoid the foam inserts that are otherwise commonly used. Alternatively, we offer our reusable Linen Cases made from 100% organic linen in accordance with GOTS guidelines. We also use shipping packaging such as boxes made from 100% recycled waste paper and paper adhesive tape. Even in small details like labels and ribbons, we specifically look for plastic-free solutions.

For us, No Plastic means avoiding plastic wherever we have direct influence over materials and design, and seeking suitable alternatives as early as the packaging development stage. Where eliminating it is not currently possible, we continuously review options for reduction and alternative materials.

An essential part of the goldsmithing work on our jewelry pieces is done directly at the Maren Studio on Lake Chiemsee. Here, Helge Maren works on the jewelry pieces herself: she saws, files, and solders, shapes each individual piece, and also carries out the final polishing and quality control by hand.

For certain specialized production steps, we work with selected manufacturers and specialist workshops—for example for casting, setting our lab diamonds, or engravings. The jewelry pieces then return to the Maren Studio, where they are further refined and completed.

For us, handmade therefore means true goldsmith craftsmanship and the personal involvement in every jewelry piece. From the original design and many of the artisanal production steps to the final inspection, an essential part of its creation is directly in our hands.

In this way, we combine traditional goldsmith craftsmanship with the specialized expertise of our partners and create jewelry pieces made with care and a personal touch.

For us, responsibility does not end with our own jewelry pieces and processes. With Give Back, we also want to support projects that address the social and environmental challenges associated with the extraction and use of valuable resources.

That is why we donate 3% of our annual profit to the Earthbeat Foundation. The foundation works with people in gold mining regions and supports, among other things, the development of alternative income opportunities and new prospects beyond gold mining. In doing so, we aim to promote an initiative that starts where the social and environmental impacts of raw material extraction are felt most directly.

When it comes to climate protection, we also deliberately distinguish between our own emissions and additional engagement: we record the emissions relevant to our greenhouse gas balance and work to identify and reduce emission sources. In addition, we support certified climate protection projects for calculated residual emissions.

We report support for external climate protection projects separately from our own emissions and reduction measures. We publish information on our calculation method, our emissions, and the projects we support transparently in our sustainability report.

For us, Give Back therefore means thinking about responsibility beyond our own company—through long-term social commitment and support for specific projects.

Mindful

We do not use materials of animal origin in our jewelry pieces. We also take animal-derived ingredients into account in other materials and packaging components we use and, wherever this is traceable and within our sphere of influence, choose animal-free solutions.

At WeMind, vegan therefore describes a specific aspect of our material selection—not a blanket statement about the ecological impact of a piece of jewelry.

For us, minimalism is more than an aesthetic – it is an essential part of our design language. With every design, we focus on the question of what a piece of jewelry truly needs in order to express its idea and meaning. Clear shapes, refined proportions, and the deliberate omission of anything superfluous therefore define our designs.

This approach also influences how we work with materials. Even during the design process, we consciously consider how much gold, silver, or how many lab-grown diamonds a piece of jewelry requires, without compromising on design, function, or quality. Our goal is to use materials according to actual need, placing them where they are necessary for the respective design.

For us, minimal therefore does not mean making a blanket promise of ecological benefit. Rather, it describes our approach to design: making the essential visible, using materials consciously, and creating jewelry that may be quiet yet still carries meaning.

We create jewelry with clear shapes and a pared-back design language intended to work as independently as possible from short-lived trends.

At the same time, when developing our jewelry pieces, we take durability into account as well as—where technically possible—repair and refurbishment. Because the longer a piece of jewelry can be worn, cared for, and preserved, the longer the materials used in it remain in use.

Timeless therefore describes our design philosophy: creating jewelry that is meant to be worn for a long time and passed on.

Sustainability is not a state we can reach once and then check off. Materials, supply chains, technologies, and requirements change — and with them, so do the opportunities to further develop our processes.

That is why we want to be open about progress as well as challenges, regularly question our decisions, and make improvements where we identify concrete opportunities for improvement.

For us, No Perfection does not mean lower standards, but rather the willingness to keep learning continuously and to take responsibility for the next steps.

To us, transparency means making it clear how we work, which materials we use, and which partners are involved in the creation of our jewelry.

That is why we provide information about the origin and properties of our materials, our production and supply chains, as well as key measures, developments, and challenges within our sustainability approach. This also includes the methods and principles on which relevant environmental and emissions data are based.

In doing so, we do not only want to show what we have already achieved. It is just as important to us to disclose where limitations exist, where data are not yet fully available, or where we are continuing to develop our processes.

Because to us, credible transparency means making both progress and challenges equally visible.

Our commitment

For us, responsibility does not end with the completion of a piece of jewelry. We also want to support positive change beyond that and continuously improve our own actions. In our journal, we share projects, partnerships, and perspectives that guide us along the way.

Our Sustainability Report

Unser Ansatz für verantwortungsvollen Schmuck

Our Approach to Responsible Jewelry

Fashion Revolution Week: I made your jewellery

Fashion revolution week:i made your jewelry

Circular economy

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FAQ

Does Maren Jewelery have sustainability certificates?

Yes. Maren Jewellery is both B Corp™ and Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) certified.

These independent certifications assess different aspects of responsible business practices, including corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental aspects, and supply chain requirements.

You can find an overview of our certifications and information about their respective scope on our certifications page.

In addition, we work with selected suppliers, some of whom are also certified according to the standards of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC).

Which sustainable initiatives does Maren Jewelery support?

Maren Jewellery supports selected social and environmental initiatives that align with our sustainability approach.

Earthbeat Foundation: We donate 3% of our annual profit to the Earthbeat Foundation. The organization supports people whose livelihoods depend on small-scale mining in building alternative sources of income, for example through beekeeping or sustainable agriculture.

Chooose: For our calculated residual emissions, we support certified climate protection projects through Chooose. For every piece of jewelry sold, we make a contribution to financing these projects. We publish information on our emissions calculation, the amount of the contribution, and the supported projects transparently in our sustainability report.

Further information about our giving-back approach and the supported projects can be found in our Sustainability Report

Which awards has Maren Jewelery already received?

Maren Jewellery has already received multiple awards for design and responsible product development.

At the German Design Award 2022 our Wilderness Collection was honored in the "Excellent Product Design – Eco Design" category.

In addition, Maren Jewellery was named the winner in the Fashion category at the Green Product Award 2022 for the Wilderness Collection.

The respective awards refer to the honored products and the evaluation criteria of the respective awards and do not constitute general certification of Maren Jewellery's sustainability.

Does Maren Jewelery have a sustainability report?

Yes. Since 2021, Maren Jewellery has published an annual sustainability report – even though, as a small company, we are not currently legally required to do so.

With our sustainability report, we want to provide transparent information about our environmental and social responsibility. That is why we publish information on our materials, supply chains, certifications, CO₂ emissions, climate protection measures, as well as our goals and progress.

For us, sustainability is not a fixed state, but a continuous process. The sustainability report helps us regularly review our measures, make progress measurable, and identify potential for improvement. This allows us to continuously incorporate new insights, innovative materials, and more sustainable solutions into our work and further develop our sustainability approach year after year.

At the same time, we want to give our customers the opportunity to transparently follow our development and form their own impression of our measures and their impact.

Go to the sustainability report

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