All That Glitters

Gold mining has received a lot of justifiably bad press as an eco-scourge in recent years, but that shouldn't let silver off the hook. "The focus of mining reform campaigns has been on gold, because it has such significant environmental effects," says Christina Miller, co-founder of the mining reform group Ethical Metalsmiths. "Silver has been left out of a lot of conversations." The environmental ills of mined silver haven't generated enough concern from environmental groups to call for global boycotts, as they did with the "No Dirty Gold" campaign, but silver, highly demanded by industries as diverse as medicine, construction and jewelry, is not without problems. Extracting it generates acidic mine drainage, toxic waste and the aesthetic blight of open-pit mines. Plus, silver ore found in conjunction with gold, as it frequently is, is separated from the gold via cyanide heap leaching, which can devastate waterways, lakes and ponds if improperly managed. (Read more in our Jewelry Product Report at thegreenguide.com/reports).

Worldwide production of mined silver is rising, so consumers can help reduce the need for raw material by purchasing recycled, especially in decorative accessories like jewelry.

Made by Mexican artisans, the Taxco necklace from Moonrise Jewelry's Premier Eco Jewelry Collection features a 100-percent-recycled silver pendant on a faux suede lace ($62; www.moonrisejewelry.com, 866-338-9109). Sumiche Jewelry Company uses only recycled sterling silver, recovered from silver scraps and old jewelry, in its Vine Inlay ring ($185; www.sumiche.com, 541-896- 9841). Maize Hutton buys recycled silver from a Japanese company that extracts it from used film. Her jewelry includes the Rock Star Pendant ($50; www.maizehutton.com). She also employs other work-at-home moms to make recycled silver Mommy and Daddy Tags, necklaces or bracelets with pendants bearing each child's name and date of birth (starting at $55; www.mommytags. com). The sterling silver in Tarma Designs' Active collection with its outdoorsy shapes is entirely recycled; the Flower Women's Earrings bear a colorful, engraved chrysanthemum ($25; www.tarmadesigns.com, 800-824-8201). [Editor's Correction: Tarma Designs uses recycled stainless steel, not recycled sterling silver, in the Active collection.]