We now have the opportunity to proactively address the shadow, or toxic side of the jewelry industry in a truthful way. The emotional trigger issues, such as mining, blood diamonds and a host of other concerns actually make our industry a very easy target.

Lourens discusses Vukani-Ubuntu, a Non-Profit Organization that trains people from rural townships into the commercial jewelry trade. Widely supported by government and private donors, this social entrepreneurial effort is one of the most concerted attempts to apply the fair trade principal of economic empowerment for the economically disadvantaged to the main stream jewelry world. Lourens

A few jewelry companies today differentiate themselves from the competition by branding themselves as producing green or fair trade jewelry. They’re taking advantage of a growing market that values socially responsible business practices.