How Tintin Hallding works with sustainability

Expensive materials are worth recycling

In many ways goldsmiths have worked sustainably by recycling material, throughout history, and that is primarily because we work with expensive, precious materials. Our workplace is designed to trap as much material, gold and silver, as possible. All filings and scraps are collected and sent to be refined. Refining is a purification process for separating precious metals from base metals. It is a commonly used purification process for the extraction of silver, gold, platinum and palladium.

Citric acid and water to remove metal oxides

Very strong chemicals are traditionally used to remove metal oxides, and make surfaces as fine as possible. Both during the making of the jewellery, but also when maintaining it. We chose another strategy very early on. This is first and foremost because our workshop is so close to home, and so for safety reasons we didn’t want to have dangerous chemicals easily accessible. We’ve used a citric acid solution for many years to remove oxides. We also refrain from using a process which involves dissolving the outer layer of gold on a finished item of jewellery, giving it the same gold colour even in places where polishers can’t reach, such as between the stones in a setting, for example. Both hydrogen peroxide and cyanide are used in that process. We also think it is important to ensure (as far as we are able) that we don’t use material in our jewellery that has caused suffering to others as a result of, for instance, the extraction and refinement of precious gems. Ours is a small business with a very small voice, but we do as much as we can.

Interior design accessories created from waste material

In many cases the interior design accessories in our web shop have come about thanks to us using up waste material, which we still do. Our best seller, Buttellyktan, is an early recycled product created out of empty bottles and waste wood. Even the chopping boards and wooden parts in our candlesticks are made from so called ‘offcuts’. Last but not least, don’t be surprised if your purchases from us arrive wrapped in used packaging. We have made a conscious decision to re-use packaging material we have received ourselves, that is still in good condition, as much as we can