Eco Conscious Jewelry


Our Approach to Sustainability

Sustainability isn't a single practice — it's a system. And ours is unlike any other in designer jewelry: third-party certified production, digital hand-sculpting, and circular design, working together by intention, not coincidence. Each pillar reinforces the next: responsible sourcing shapes what we design, digital sculpting shapes what we produce, and third-party certification holds all of it accountable.

Our Sustainability Pillars


Jewelry artisan at work in a SMETA-certified ethical production facility – Astor & Orion

Certified Ethical Production

Our casting partner holds four independent certifications — SMETA 4-Pillar, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 — audited on-site by Intertek, not self-reported. The 2025 SMETA audit confirmed that no worker exceeded 48 hours per week, 85% earn above the legal minimum wage, and wages meet the living wage benchmark. Verified outcomes, not commitments.

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Lyra U shaped ,sterling silver huggie hoop earrings cast from recycled metal

Sustainable Design

Every material is chosen for traceability — recycled metals, compostable bioplastics, and FSC-certified paper where available. This is circular design in practice: thinking about what happens at the end of a piece's life, not just the beginning. Our take-back program recycles old pieces by weight through local facilities in Seattle, keeping materials in circulation.

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Jewelry Designer Karen Hartman, hand sculpting a jewelry design in 3D sculpting software Zbrush

Hand-Sculpted

Every piece begins as a hand-sculpted prototype in our Seattle studio — each component imagined and shaped before a single gram of metal is cast. Working this way eliminates sampling waste and ensures our casting partner works from a production-ready model. Small batches only, no overproduction.

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Alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals

We align our business practices with six UN Sustainable Development Goals. Click each goal to see exactly how.


Sustainable jewelry brand aligning with UN SDG 5: Gender Equality—women-owned and women-led supply chain
Women-owned and women-led. When your jewelry is made, 62% of the workers making it are women — and 73% of supervisors are women.
Sustainable jewelry brand aligning with UN SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation—responsible water stewardship
When our jewelry is cast, process water is filtered, recycled, and tested annually by an independent laboratory — water management practices verified under ISO 14001, the international standard for environmental management systems.
Sustainable jewelry brand aligning with UN SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth—fair wages & safe conditions
When our jewelry is made, workers earn a verified living wage — enough to cover housing, food, healthcare and education for their families, confirmed through a formal SMETA audit analysis. 85% earn above the legal minimum wage, and 99% hold permanent employment.
Sustainable jewelry brand aligning with UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production—circular design & recycling
Recycled metals, compostable packaging, and a jewelry take-back program — circular design from first prototype to final piece. Small batch production only, because overproduction is waste we refuse to create.
Sustainable jewelry brand aligning with UN SDG 13: Climate Action—carbon offsetting & clean production
When our jewelry is cast, the facility runs on onsite solar and holds a Carbon Offset Certification — with a target to reduce CO₂ 10% year on year. Our ecommerce shipping is offset through EcoCart.
Sustainable jewelry brand aligning with UN SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals—collaborations driving progress
As a Fair Trade LA member, we collaborate with ethical fashion organizations to advance responsible sourcing across the industry.

Closing the Loop: Our Jewelry Take-Back Program

Eventually, even our most loved pieces reach their end. That's why we offer a jewelry take-back program. Thanks to our thoughtful design, we can simply recycle old pieces by weight through local recycling facilities in Seattle, avoiding international shipping and minimizing emissions. To encourage participation, customers receive a credit toward a future purchase when they send something back.


Ready to close the loop? Email us at Orders@astorandorion.com.