Why Is Recycled Silver Better?

At Impressums Jewellery, every piece I make is designed to be worn, loved, and kept - not discarded or replaced. That philosophy naturally extends to the materials I choose. Recycled silver jewellery has become the cornerstone of my work, not because it’s trendy, but because it simply makes sense - for me, for my customers, and for the planet.

Each piece of my handmade jewellery is crafted in the UK using carefully sourced, sustainable materials - because beautiful jewellery should never come at the planet’s expense.

What is recycled silver?

Recycled silver comes from existing sources — old jewellery, electronics, manufacturing scrap, and even discarded X-ray films, where silver particles are extracted and refined back to pure form.

It’s still real silver - just silver that’s been reclaimed instead of mined.

And it doesn’t stop there. In my own UK workshop, every offcut, test piece, and even the tiniest bit of silver dust is collected. Some of it gets melted down and reused in new designs, and the rest is sent to be refined and turned back into pure silver again. Nothing goes to waste — that’s the heart of eco silver jewellery.

Why mine new silver when we already have plenty?

Mining silver is messy. It damages landscapes, pollutes waterways, and uses toxic chemicals like cyanide. It’s an industry that leaves a deep environmental scar - all for a metal we already have in abundance.

Recycling silver avoids all that - it keeps valuable materials in use instead of in landfill and reduces the pressure to dig up more.

It’s the sensible option - use what’s already here. As a sustainable UK jeweller, I’d much rather work with what we already have than take more from the earth.

Is recycled silver actually better for the environment?

Yes. Recycled silver dramatically cuts energy use and carbon emissions compared to mining. It requires far less water and avoids the destructive impact of large-scale extraction.

By choosing recycled silver, both makers and buyers support a cleaner, more sustainable way of creating jewellery.

It’s the same stunning result, just without the environmental cost - a small change that makes a big difference.

Does recycled silver look or perform any differently?

No - and that’s what’s so brilliant about it. Once refined, recycled silver is chemically identical to newly mined silver. It looks the same, feels the same, and wears the same.

You’re not compromising on quality - you’re just choosing a smarter, more responsible version of it.

Whether it’s a pendant, ring, or pair of earrings, ethical jewellery can be just as luxurious as anything made from newly mined metal.

Can small, independent jewellers really make a difference?

Absolutely. When artisan silversmiths like me commit to recycled materials, it helps shift demand - slowly but surely - away from destructive mining.

Each piece may be small, but it represents a conscious choice.

Every pendant, ring, bangle, or pair of earrings crafted from recycled silver shows that sustainability and beauty can (and should) go hand in hand. Handmade jewellery can have a big impact - not just in how it looks, but in how it’s made.

So why do I use recycled silver?

Because I want every piece of Impressums Jewellery to reflect care — for the person wearing it and for the world it came from.

Recycled silver allows me to create high-quality, handcrafted pieces that carry meaning, not waste.

It’s jewellery that’s good for you and kinder to the planet. And really, that’s the best kind of jewellery there is.

Explore the Collection

If you’d like to see what recycled silver jewellery looks like when it’s brought to life, explore my collection here - every piece made with care in my UK workshop.