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"Earth Day is on Sunday, and if you still need convincing that it&amp;#x27;s not just a holiday for Birkenstock-wearing, granola-eating neo-hippies, allow us to introduce you to very chic jewelry designer Melissa Joy Manning... Her recently-launched line for Anthropologie makes the same commitment to eco-consciousness as the rest of her business: She handmakes each piece using only sustainable, recycled materials and responsibly-sourced stones. We chatted with her via email about how she keeps green and what inspires her inside the studio and out: STF: Lets talk about how your jewelry is composed--how important is sustainability and environmental consciousness to you? What are some of your favorite materials to work with? MJM: Social and environmental sustainability are not only corporate credos but also personal mottos. I&amp;amp;#8217;m blessed to have a platform to create positive change through my art. From using only recycled metals to hand selecting over 80% of our stones, I endeavor to be responsible when creating my work. Each one of our pieces is hand made in our own NY &amp;amp; CA studios and is shipped in recycled packaging. Additionally, we carbon offset each box that goes out the door. As the first certified green retail store in Northern California, we are currently striving to find new ways to lessen our impact on the world. Some of my current favorites: Always, always, recycled gold; Lodalites (they are like little, wondrous worlds encapsulated in crystal); ethically farmed pearls (I always choose the rejects- the odder the shape the better I like them); Kimberly Process diamond octahedrons; opals (from family owned mines); and domestic agates (they are so 70&amp;amp;#8217;s I love them!). STF: Are there any materials you&amp;amp;#8217;ll never work with because of their environmental impact? MJM: As both a diver and an avid supporter of the &amp;amp;#8220;Too Precious To Wear&amp;amp;#8221; campaign, I refuse to use pink or red corals in my designs. By not incorporating endangered corals into my work I can help reduce the stress on the species, allowing it time to recover from over fishing, pollution and consumer demand. STF: What does a typical sourcing trip look like for you? What are some of your favorite place to seek inspiration? MJM: I travel a lot for my business- and for pleasure. Travel really inspires me so I am constantly looking for trinkets wherever I go. I have visited mines in Argentina, beaders in Africa and crystal fields in Iceland. In addition, I spend over a week each year at the Tucson Gem Show where I spend hours digging through boxes and visiting vendors from places as far flung as Brazil, Russia, Afghanistan and India. STF: How would you define your design aesthetic? Does it trump eco-friendliness, or do you aim to make them co-exist? MJM: My aesthetic is definitely defined by my ethos. My house is filled with natural objects and I adorn myself similarly. I honestly think my design and eco-consciousness go hand in hand. I&amp;amp;#8217;m not sure one would exist without the other. STF: Are you equally committed to the environment outside of your business? Would you call yourself a tree-hugger? What are some steps you&amp;amp;#8217;ve taken to reduce your own carbon footprint? MJM: I&amp;amp;#8217;m absolutely committed to the environment outside of my business! We were just laughing today at lunch because I will re-use my environmentally friendly paper sandwich bags until they literally fall apart- even though they are recycled and recyclable! I endeavor to create balance in my life by making smart choices about my consumerism. I carbon offset when I fly, I don&amp;amp;#8217;t own a car, I carry cloth bags in my purse to replace plastic bags, I buy local and seasonal whenever possible and I always select the eco friendly model- from cleaning solutions to packaging when I shop. I don&amp;amp;#8217;t believe you have to sacrifice anything to be sustainable. It sometimes takes more time to reuse things than dispose of them, but in our hectic, mass consumer culture I think it&amp;amp;#8217;s wise to slow down and think about how our decisions impact the world we inhabit. Head over to anthropologie.com to check out Melissa&amp;#x27;s collection as one of their featured artists, then find out more about her at melissajoymanning.com. Don&amp;#x27;t you dig her earth-friendly (but un-frumpy!) vibe? Which piece is your favorite? Do you pay attention to sustainability when you shop for accessories? Share! PLUS! - 4 easy ways to go green--without spending a penny! - 5 stress-free ways to make your style more eco-friendly - Meet your eco-heroes"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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