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Welcome to William May's Journey to Sustainability
At William May, we believe that jewellery should be as timeless as the values it represents. We're committed to crafting beautiful, lasting pieces while reducing our impact on the planet. From sourcing ethically mined materials to promoting pre-owned and recycled jewellery, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Join us in making thoughtful, responsible choices that preserve both style and the world around us.
At William May, we focus on four key areas to ensure sustainability:
Ethical Sourcing of Materials
Promoting Circular Fashion through Pre-Owned Jewellery
Sustainable Packaging
Reducing the Company’s Carbon Footprint
Ethical Sourcing of Materials
Highlight responsible sourcing practices, such as ensuring diamonds and gemstones are conflict-free and working with suppliers that follow fair labour standards. The use of recycled precious metals (gold, silver, etc.) can also be a key part of this topic.
At William May, we strive to only provide you with:
- Conflict-free diamonds or lab-grown diamonds
- Recycled gold and silver
- Fair-trade gemstones
- We follow the code of ethics set by The National Association of Jewellers
- W&Z – use recycled silver & gold, conflict-free gemstones, all ethically sourced
Promoting Circular Fashion through Pre-Owned Jewellery
At William May, we champion sustainability through the buying and selling of pre-owned jewellery, offering a meaningful alternative to the environmental challenges posed by mining and producing new pieces. By extending the lifecycle of exquisite jewellery, we aim to reduce the demand for newly extracted metals and gemstones, thus helping to preserve natural resources and minimise the carbon footprint of the jewellery industry. Each pre-loved item tells a story, combining timeless beauty with eco-consciousness, making it an attractive choice for customers who value sustainability. This approach not only supports a circular economy but also allows individuals to invest in unique, high-quality pieces while contributing to a greener future. Through our commitment to reusing and repurposing, William May showcases how luxury and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
Ways we try to do this:
- We highlight the benefits of pre-owned jewellery
- We offer our buy-in sevice for you to sell the jewellery you no longer want
- Reducing environmental impact through resale
Sustainable Packaging
At William May, we've made the switch to eco-friendly packaging as part of our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment. We’re dedicated to finding sustainable solutions that don’t compromise on quality, providing you with a luxurious box designed to be cherished, reused, and enjoyed time and time again.
Some logo’s you might see on our packaging are:
Our boxes are eco-friendly and crafted from organic, recycled, FSC®-certified, and Fairtrade® materials, carrying the ECO label to ensure they meet our supplier's strict standards against toxic chemicals and environmentally harmful practices.
By choosing William May, you support responsible forestry - our boxes are made from materials sourced from well-managed, FSC®-certified forests and other controlled sources, ensuring no more trees are cut than the forest can regenerate, wildlife is protected, and forest workers are treated fairly with proper training, decent conditions, and fair wages.
Reducing the Company’s Carbon Footprint
At William May, we are committed to minimising our carbon footprint through eco-friendly business practices, including the use of renewable energy, reducing waste in our workshops, and offsetting emissions from online shipping. We recognise that, as an online company, delivering your order creates unavoidable carbon emissions, but we carefully select couriers who share our values and prioritise sustainability, ensuring that every step of the journey reflects our commitment to protecting the planet.
How we’re addressing this:
- Energy-efficient business practices
- Waste reduction in production and packaging
- We use Royal Mail for deliveries as they claim to be the greenest option for parcels. They operate the UK’s largest electric van fleet with around 5,000 electric vehicles, use 10 million litres of biofuels in their heavier trucks, purchase 100% renewable electricity for their entire estate, and are actively reducing domestic air transport in favour of lower-emission alternatives.
- We use DPD for deliveries as they are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. To reach this goal, they plan to reduce emissions by 90% compared to 2020 levels, with the remaining 10% offset through targeted projects that bind and store CO2.
"At William May, we are committed to driving positive change and striving to improve sustainability in the jewellery sector, ensuring that beauty and responsibility go hand in hand." - Nicholas Withington
At William May, sustainability is at the heart of our business, and we’re proud of the steps we’ve already taken on this journey. While we may not be perfect yet, we are constantly seeking ways to improve and make a positive impact on the environment. Whether it’s through eco-friendly packaging, reducing waste, or carefully selecting partners who share our values, we are committed to ensuring that sustainability remains a key focus. We understand that there’s always more to be done, and we are dedicated to continuously evolving our practices for a greener future. Our sustainability journey is ongoing, and we will keep striving to create a better, more responsible jewellery sector for generations to come. Thank you for supporting us as we work towards these goals – together, we can make a meaningful difference.
