Sustainability & Environment

At Clare Quinlan Jewellery we are committed to continually improving our environmental and sustainability efforts.

Slow fashion ethos

Slow fashion is the antithesis to the fast fashion movement. It is estimated that for every 5 items bought by the average American, 3 items are discarded, and a new item of clothing bought every 5 days! (Forbes, 2021).

Slow fashion is about buying less… about buying quality pieces that will last a lifetime (or longer). There is nothing trend based about a slow ethos. When you invest in slow fashion, you are taking a stand to choose quality over quantity, understanding that less is more and you consider the environmental and social impact the pieces your choose to purchase and wear.

The slow fashion movement is pushing back and focusing on trendless designs and premium, long lasting products. While the slow fashion movement is primarily focused on clothing and garments, I feel that there is a lot of cheap, mass produced costume jewellery that is worn and enjoyed for a season and then either finds its way to bottom of the jewellery box or ends up in landfill.

Clare Quinlan Jewellery has been designed and created by hand and heart in Clare’s Melbourne based studio. Her designs are created to last a lifetime (or longer) and to be worn with every adventure – whether that is to the shops, school pick up or the office, or on your next date night, girls night out or the highly anticipated holiday.

Precious Metals

We use recycled precious metals for our designs, including sterling silver, reusing waste and offcuts for embellishments and smaller designs.

Our precious metals are sourced from certified responsible refiners that are compliant with standards set by organisations such as the London Bullion Market Association LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance and the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. This accreditation certifies that the precious metal used in Clare Quinlan Jewellery is sourced in a way that does not cause, support, or benefit unlawful conflict, or contribute to serious human rights abuses or breaches of international law. Our supplier of precious metals is the only Australian organisation certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) as a jewellery manufacturer and wholesaler

We continue to work with our suppliers and source new suppliers to increase the recycled materials in our designs. Current disruptions in the supply chain due to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the availability of recycled precious metals.

Clare Quinlan Jewellery remains committed to sourcing recycled materials when possible.

One Tree Planted

Clare Quinlan Jewellery have partnered with One Tree Planted, a non-profit group dedicated to global reforestation – to plant one tree for every piece of Clare Quinlan Jewellery sold.

Trees help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and provide habitat to over 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. Forests provide jobs to over 1.6 billion people, absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere, and are key ingredients in 25% of all medicines. 

There are six key pillars to why trees are so vital: AIR, WATER, BIODIVERSITY, SOCIAL IMPACT, HEALTH & CLIMATE. One Tree Planted also raise awareness about the importance of trees, offer businesses like ours a simple sustainability solution, and motivate younger generations to do something positive for the environment.

With the new trees made available by your purchase, we will work with One Tree Planted to focus reforestation primarily in Australia, where projects are restoring forests following the destruction of the Black Summer bushfires; are rejuvenating critical habitat for wildlife like koalas and cockatoos; and safeguarding community watersheds through restoration of indigenous tree species.