THE PATH TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
To create sustainable jewellery with fairly produced and ethically sourced diamonds, we take a sustainable approach in every respect – environmental, economic and social.
At mandana, we firmly believe that luxury and sustainability do not have to be mutually exclusive. On the contrary. For us, ‘conscious luxury’ (or ‘neo-luxury’) means investing in a piece of jewellery because it embodies the most important values of our time: Sustainability. Durability. Fairness. Diversity. A mindful approach to our planet and its limited resources. And a mindful and respectful approach to ourselves. We aim to raise awareness of a sustainable lifestyle where you don’t have to do without luxury. To do this, we take into account various aspects for a greener and fairer future.
RECYCLED GOLD
Valuable is when value remains
We only use recycled 750 gold (18 carat) for our jewellery. By doing so, we reduce the need for new mines to extract gold, which has a positive impact on the environment. We firmly believe that ‘valuable’ in today’s zeitgeist means, above all, preserving things of value. By using recycled gold in all our jewellery, we are doing just that, reducing the demand for new gold and taking responsibility for the jewellery industry's environmental footprint.
LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS
A symbol of love for our planet
When the mined gemstone on the engagement ring sparkles in the sunlight, there’s nothing to suggest that diamonds grown in nature sometimes have a dark past. By contrast, lab-grown diamonds can avoid almost all of the many conflicts associated with mined diamonds – a real bright spot for the diamond industry! That is why we only use lab-grown diamonds for our mandana jewellery collections. We therefore only use lab-grown diamonds for our wide range of mandana jewellery. Their special feature: we not only source these from certified partners known to us – we also produce them in our own production facilities in Germany. Under the umbrella of our sister brand Nevermined in Essen, real diamonds of the highest quality are grown – taking a transparent, local and sustainable approach using renewable energies. We are also working on exclusively using Nevermined diamonds for our jewellery in the near future. We treat the gemstones in our jewellery with care – working by hand and under fair conditions in Germany and Spain.
OUR JEWELLERY CASES GROW BACK
Jewellery cases made from olive residues and degradable finishes
We focus on eco-friendly solutions in every step of our process, from diamond production to jewellery creation and packaging materials. Some pieces of mandana jewellery are connected using fabric ribbons. These are woven from a special yarn born from the concept of upcycling. The company NewLife produces the fine material from recycled PET bottles. It is in no way inferior to classic yarn in terms of quality and durability, yet significantly reduces the environmental impact: With our NewLife-based fabric ribbons, we are responsible for 32% fewer CO2 emissions, reduce water use by 94% and save 64% energy.
Our elegant and sustainable jewellery cases are made from Oleatex leather, a vegan olive-based leather alternative. Organic waste from the olive industry which would not be suitable as food for humans or animals is used to produce Oleatex leather. The raw material is 100% bio-based and biodegradable. Oleatex production also reduces carbon emissions by at least six times compared to petroleum-based products. This makes each piece an environmentally friendly and durable alternative to traditional plastics or animal materials.
We have even opted for a responsible hot embossing finish for our jewellery cases. We work with a coating specialist who has developed a sustainable version. Together, we were able to consciously equip all jewellery cases with a finish that is biodegradable and compostable.
EARTHCHILD PROJECT
Giving something back to society
Beyond our environmental footprint, we are especially keen for our social responsibility to make its mark. At mandana, we have had a close relationship with EarthChild e.V. from day one. Based in South Africa, the non-profit organisation aims to support disadvantaged children and youth in townships and rural communities by teaching them the importance of environmental action and sustainability through educational initiatives. Yoga, meditation, growing vegetables and recycling are part of the aid organisation’s offering, raising children’s awareness of what constitutes a holistic, balanced lifestyle. For this purpose, measures are being taken such as building dedicated classrooms, financed in cooperation with partners. One of those classrooms was recently built with the support of mandana to enable children to develop new skills and build a deeper, mindful connection with themselves and nature. Another important part of the EarthChild Project is working with schools to make environmental education part of the curriculum. The EarthChild Project currently mentors thousands of students and numerous teachers in Cape Town and surrounding areas, promoting community building and creating jobs and career opportunities for local skilled professionals. We at mandana see it as our duty to assist, support and promote these undertakings in order to give something worthwhile back to society.
