Recycled Jewelry Makes Beautiful, Unique Gifts

For the truly high-tech beauty -- this circuit board necklace is made from recycled electronic circuit boards.

$150 from Etsy shop Upcycled Jewelry.

Photo: Upcycled Jewelry

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Recycling is becoming second nature for people who are making an effort to sustain resources, express their creativity and save money at the same time. Lately, even more people have become inspired from seeing just how lovely a repurposed piece of recycled jewelry can be. It is quite fashionable to show love for the planet by proudly wearing eco friendly earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry.

The stories that are told about the background of the jewelry pieces are inspiring as well as educational. Every day more people are opening up to supporting the environment by purchasing green jewelry.

A quick search turns up thousands of amazing materials used to design and craft green jewelry. For instance, most people would not think to use food as a source material, but many artisans are using it to fabricate recycled jewelry. A group in El Salvador offers a line of lovely earrings from recycled coconut shells. Aside from being beautiful, the recycled earrings benefit the planet. In addition, the proceeds provide assistance to local people in El Salvador. This is an example of the true meaning behind the worldwide recycling effort.

Other examples include recycled jewelry made from cereal, corn, pasta and even breast milk. Yep, a collective in France, Duende, actually fabricates human breast milk into plastic and makes jewelry out of it. Perhaps not surprisingly, this jewelry has been received with mixed reaction, even in the recycling community.

But there is virtually no end to the number of recycled materials that can be used to make jewelry and other items. Jewelry made from old bicycle tires, discarded soup cans and even the shavings from an old pair of snow skis is being offered online and at stores, boutiques and craft shows all over the world. People who appreciate the benefits of green jewelry are leaving no stone unturned in the search to find the most creative, unique and earth friendly objects to wear, sell and give away as gifts. Some of the more common objects that are used include recycled glass, stones, vinyl records and CD's. Yet even with these materials, new pieces are created in exciting, unique ways. More unusual recycled jewelry is made from human teeth, hair, money and prosthetics.

When all is said and done, just what is recycled jewelry? And does the use of unconventional materials in making recycled jewelry distract from its purpose? Jewelry made from things already in existence decreases the need to further endanger the planet through the overuse and manufacturing of its resources. In the past few decades recycling has become not only a way to save money but a deliberate act to help ensure the Earth's future existence. This is the essence of recycled jewelry, to conserve, preserve and help others. What materials are used to make it is a matter of taste. By most accounts, the material used to make recycled jewelry is far less important than the spirit behind the effort.

This article was written by the staff of www.GreatGreenIdea.com, a site dedicated to teaching about great green ideas and healthy green living. The goal of the site is to help the public on the quest for "Guilt Free Green Living."

Also from Great Green Idea:

• Healthy Living in 3 Easy Steps
• Five Leading Green Carpet Makers
• See the Hottest Green Furnishings
• Greening the Dining Room Table
• Green Cleaning for Your Family

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