Every Sparkle Counts ✨

Why Reclaiming Precious Metal Waste Matters in Your Jewellery Workshop

 

The Reclamation Experts

Let me introduce myself to you, I am Gary Williams and these days I look after everything jewellery at Mastermelt and Presman. I was one of Mastermelt’s first customers, so I have many years first-hand experience of their integrity and transparency, which is why instead of retiring, I agreed to look after their jewellery business.

In what will soon be 50 years in the industry, I have been a wholesale company representative, a jewellery retailer, 

and for over 30 years, the director of a large award-winning, bridal company. In the day, we employed over 100 people, making and supplying in excess of 120,000 bespoke rings and jewellery, each year.

Reclamation is in my blood, but it isn’t just for the big companies. Obviously, the bigger the company, 

the more value reclaiming precious metals will deliver for your business. This financial injection will help support your business by paying some bills or possibly just go straight to the bottom line as extra profit. Small manufacturers and individual makers need to recognise how significant the value from reclaiming even small amounts of precious metals can be. Whether it’s high grade bench lemel with off cuts, or low grade workshop sweeps, make sure you collect everything and of course, dealing with a reputable processor is imperative

I tried Mastermelt nearly 40 years ago and was never disappointed, so I highly recommend that you do the same.

Gary Williams
General Manager
Mastermelt

 

Every Sparkle Counts

Why reclaiming the precious metal ‘waste’ in your jewellery workshop, matters.

Simply put, it will lead you to a more sustainable, responsible, and profitable future.

To be more sustainably responsible, we must minimise the environmental impact of our ongoing need for precious metals, conserve the planet’s resources, and conduct our business ethically.

Changing the way we look at precious metal reclamation can also be financially beneficial to our businesses, as the value of reclaimed metal becomes another revenue stream supporting either purchases or profits.

Creating a supply chain of truly recycled, secondary-source metals, will help protect the environment and reduce the depletion of natural resources.

As a jewellery maker, you can help by making sure that you reclaim and recycle as much of the precious metal waste created from your jewellery manufacturing processes, as you can.

Let’s explore why it matters in more detail…

 

The best motto to think about is not to waste things. Don’t waste electricity; don’t waste paper; don’t waste food. Live the way you want to live but just don’t waste.

– DAvid attenborough

 

Environmental Impact.
Mining precious metals can have a significant environmental impact, including deforestation, water pollution, and soil contamination. Reclaiming and recycling the metal waste reduces the need for further mining, protecting our planet’s delicate ecosystems and its valuable resources.

What constitutes recycled metals?

Recycled metals used in jewellery are defined as precious metals reclaimed from secondary sources such as manufacturing waste and jewellery scrap.

Ethical Sourcing.
Sourcing recycled metals ensures you’re not contributing to unethical mining practices that may exploit workers or harm the environment. By choosing reclaimed metals, you demonstrate your commitment to ethical and responsible sourcing..

Economic Benefits.
Precious metals have a market value, and reclaiming waste translates to financial savings. Capturing metal dust, filings, and scraps, and recycling them, means less money spent on new materials. Additionally, recycled metals can often carry a premium price tag, offering potential economic advantages.

Building Trust.
Openly communicating your commitment to responsible practices builds trust and loyalty with your customers, especially those who are environmentally conscious. By showcasing your efforts to reclaim waste, you position your brand as a leader in sustainable jewellery making.

 

Where to start?

Reclaiming precious metal waste might seem daunting, but it’s easier than you think.

Save everything: High grade metal bench dust (lemel) and offcuts, and low-grade materials (Sweep), such as buff sticks, wet wipes, carpets, filters and polishing mops .

Partner with a trusted refiner: Find a reputable refiner who specialises in handling small quantities of jewellery waste and which adheres to ethical and environmentally responsible practices. Ask them for receptacles to collect your material in.

Educate yourself: Research best practices for safely handling and storing waste and stay informed about responsible sourcing initiatives.

 

 

 

 

Workshop Reclamation Materials

Here are just a few of the materials in a jewellery workshop which can be very lucrative to reclaim.

From old polishing mops, extraction unit filters to worn out carpet tiles, all of these items can be reclaimed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want more reclamation advice, visit our
jewellery workshop reclamation page