With recycled precious metals, RJC certification, and a repair service to keep our jewelry pieces in use for as long as possible. fejn founder Dagmar shares what sustainability actually means at fejn.

Sustainable jewelry—what does that actually mean in concrete terms? Precisely because terms like "sustainable," "fair," or "eco-friendly" are so frequently used, we want to be fully transparent about what we mean by them at fejn. In this interview, founder and CEO Dagmar explains the role that materials, sourcing channels, and production partners play—and what you can look out for when evaluating sustainability claims from jewelry labels.

Dear Dagmar, "sustainability" feels like a bit of a buzzword these days. What does it actually mean when we talk about sustainable jewelry?

Yes, suddenly everything claims to be sustainable. Even with fast-fashion jewelry chains, I keep seeing more and more "fair" and "sustainable" labels. It sometimes makes me wonder how that's even supposed to work. But that's a whole different story (laughs). For us at fejn, sustainability starts with material selection and sourcing. We rely on recycled precious metals—meaning metals that have already been processed or used before and are returned to the material cycle. Additionally, we work with lab-grown gemstones. They are created under controlled conditions in a lab and share the exact same essential chemical, physical, and optical properties as their natural counterparts. We can trace their origin through documented sourcing channels. At the same time, we audit our suppliers and sourcing channels as part of our risk-based due diligence processes. For me, this exact traceability is fundamental to a responsible approach to jewelry and its materials.

»Taking a closer look at materials, sourcing, and manufacturing—that's what matters to me as an entrepreneur.«

Jewelry label founder Dagmar Kraemer in an interview about responsible jewelry

Okay, so then production begins with these sustainable materials. Can manufacturing actually be sustainable as well?

Absolutely. For us, selecting materials goes hand in hand with asking under what conditions our jewelry is made. We design in Cologne and partner long-term with selected workshops in Thailand for manufacturing. Selected pieces are also produced in Germany. We regularly audit our direct production partners as part of our risk-based due diligence processes, evaluating criteria such as human rights, working conditions, and responsible business practices. On a personal level, direct contact is extremely important to me as well—I visit our partners in Thailand regularly on site. This allows us to maintain an open dialogue, better understand processes, and work together to continuously refine our standards for materials and production. Therefore, the fact that a piece of jewelry is manufactured abroad doesn't inherently say anything about how responsible the production is. What truly matters is who you collaborate with, under what conditions, and how closely you examine the process.

And how do things continue back in Germany?

Naturally, with the exact same standard. At the same time, we want to give our customers a choice. That is why we offer options like our zero-waste initiative: when ordering multiple pieces of jewelry, you can indicate whether you would like to forego additional individual packaging wherever possible. Beyond that, we support selected projects and initiatives. You can find more details on our current measures and commitment documented in our sustainability report.

What about plastic? Are you able to avoid using it?

Not completely. It is important to us to be transparent here. For shipping, we use plastic-free packaging made from recycled cardboard. Our jewelry boxes are made from FSC-certified cardboard, although the foam inlays contain a small amount of plastic. Our jewelry pouches are made from organic cotton.

Additionally, with our zero-waste option, customers ordering multiple pieces of jewelry can choose to skip additional individual packaging wherever possible.

How does your environmental awareness actually translate into how you interact with customers—and do they share a similar perspective or attitude?

Most of our customers share a similar mindset, yes. Many choose jewelry from fejn for precisely that reason. That always makes me particularly happy! I also try to pass on a bit of knowledge here and there along the way. In addition, we highlight our repair service both online and in person at our store. If something ever breaks, we take care of it.

Because I really dislike the throwaway mentality many people have. Even if something is genuinely broken beyond repair, the raw material can be melted down and a new cycle can begin. That's what I love about my materials, and many of our customers see it the exact same way.

Why is the term "sustainability" used so ubiquitously these days? Is there actually an official label or certification seal for consumers in the jewelry industry?

When it comes to jewelry, sustainability can’t be pinned down to a single term. That's why I always recommend taking a closer look: What materials does a brand use? Where do they come from? How are production partners and sourcing channels audited? And how transparently does the company communicate about these aspects? At fejn, we are certified according to the Responsible Jewellery Council Code of Practices (RJC CoP). This standard covers requirements for human rights, working conditions, responsible supply chains, and environmental management, among other areas. At the same time, I think it's important not to rely solely on a seal. That's why we document in our sustainability report which materials we use and how we work with our production partners and sourcing channels.

And yes, even in our Cologne store, we try to make conscious choices—for example, by using vintage furniture and electricity from renewable energy sources. To me, small details like that are just as much a part of fejn. And thanks to this interview, hopefully our customers know a little more about it now (laughs).

Thank you so much for the interview! There’s certainly a lot to take away from this!

You're very welcome!