Our Sourcing & Sustainability Practices

Introduction

Every crystal in our collection is chosen with intention—not just for its beauty, but for the journey it took to reach you. We believe healing stones should come from healing practices, which means prioritizing fair labor, environmental responsibility, and honest transparency.

The crystal industry operates in complex global supply chains extending 8-9 layers deep. Complete traceability is genuinely difficult, and anyone promising perfect verification isn't being honest. What we can promise: direct relationships with vetted suppliers, ongoing due diligence, and transparent communication about both our commitments and our challenges.

How We Source

We work directly with suppliers who share our values around fair labor and environmental stewardship. This means family-owned operations over industrial conglomerates whenever possible. It means asking difficult questions about working conditions and environmental impact. It means building long-term relationships based on respect rather than chasing the lowest price.

Our vetting process includes researching supplier reputations, requesting information about mining sources and labor practices, and maintaining open communication. When we discover issues, we address them directly rather than simply switching vendors. Real change requires commitment.

Small-scale and artisanal mining often provides better working conditions than large industrial operations. These family-owned miners typically involve local communities who have mined responsibly for generations. Supporting them means supporting local economies rather than extractive corporations.

We actively avoid sources from conflict regions and those known for child labor. Madagascar's mines employ an estimated 85,000 children. Myanmar's jade industry has funded armed conflict. Afghanistan's lapis mining reportedly provided $20 million annually to Taliban operations. But supply chains are deliberately opaque—we're committed to ongoing research and adjustment as we learn more.

Environmental Responsibility

Mining impacts the earth—there's no way around that. Responsible sourcing means minimizing impact and supporting operations that restore land after extraction. We prioritize suppliers who use hand tools over dynamite when possible, fill excavated areas, and operate in designated mining zones rather than protected lands.

We work with suppliers who implement water management systems and avoid polluting local water sources. Some crystals are more environmentally intensive to extract than others—we consider this when deciding which stones to carry, sometimes choosing not to stock certain crystals despite market demand.

Our Packaging Commitment

This is one area where we have complete control. Every order ships 100% plastic-free with recyclable and compostable materials.

Our boxes are recycled cardboard. We use compostable tissue paper instead of bubble wrap. Crystal pouches are natural cotton or hemp, not synthetic materials. Packing peanuts are cornstarch-based and dissolve in water. Even our tape is paper-based. Printed materials use soy-based inks on recycled paper.

This commitment costs more than standard packaging, but receiving an order with zero plastic aligns with your values and ours. That matters more than saving a few cents per shipment.

Carbon Consciousness

Shipping heavy crystals long distances generates emissions. We address this through local sourcing whenever possible, consolidating international orders to use sea freight over air transport, and partnering with carbon offset programs that fund reforestation and renewable energy projects.

While offsets aren't perfect—nothing replaces not producing emissions—they represent our commitment to addressing unavoidable shipping impact. We calculate our carbon footprint quarterly and purchase verified offsets to balance it.

What We're Still Working On

Transparency means acknowledging what we haven't yet solved.

Complete supply chain visibility remains our biggest challenge. Even with direct supplier relationships, those suppliers source from operations we can't always verify. We're working to develop deeper transparency, but this is a multi-year process.

Third-party certifications for ethical mining don't exist in the crystal industry like they do for fair trade coffee or responsibly sourced diamonds. We're exploring independent verification options while advocating for industry-wide certification systems.

Some popular stones only come from regions with known labor or environmental issues. We're transparent when a stone's origin presents concerns we're still navigating.

Pricing creates tension between fair compensation for miners and customer affordability. We pay above-market prices to ethical suppliers, which means our crystals sometimes cost more than competitors'. We address this by offering various sizes and forms, but we won't compromise on fair wages.

Common Questions

How do you verify suppliers are ethical?
We research industry reputation, request documentation, maintain regular communication, and occasionally visit operations. But we acknowledge perfect verification isn't possible. We're honest about verification limits.

Why no certifications?
Industry-wide certification for crystals doesn't exist yet. We support developing such systems and would participate enthusiastically, but currently no recognized third-party certification is available.

Are your crystals more expensive?
Sometimes. Fair wages and environmental responsibility cost more than exploitative practices. We believe honest pricing reflects true costs. We offer various price points so ethical sourcing doesn't mean only wealthy customers can access crystals.

What if I have concerns about a specific stone?
Ask us. We welcome questions and will share what we know. If we don't have complete information, we'll say so.

Moving Forward Together

Creating a fully ethical crystal business is an ongoing journey, not a destination. We're committed to continuous improvement, transparent communication, and honest acknowledgment of both progress and challenges.

Your support allows us to maintain these standards and advocate for better practices throughout the industry. Thank you for choosing to support ethical sourcing with your purchases. Together, we're proving that beautiful crystals and beautiful practices can go hand in hand.