In our way of working at MIMÍKOKÓ we believe that being sustainable is not a label, but a continuous effort of constant improvement. Working towards sustainability consists of making improvements in our sector that affect the environmental, social, and economic orders that impact humanity and our planet.
Our commitment to the planet has remained intact since we started in 2020, always trying to evolve towards a more sustainable production model. We continue to adopt a thoughtful and holistic approach to the many points of consideration that help a company become more sustainable, even if it is difficult.
We believe in sustainability, but we are really not yet a sustainable brand. Being 100% sustainable is practically impossible. There are many factors, variations, and continuous advances that connect and make the brand have to keep modifying many of its parameters to stay up to date. What we do believe in and are convinced of is the path. A path where we all have to go hand in hand and assume an ethical, environmental, and social responsibility to make the world fairer, or rather, with fewer injustices.
Sustainability must be defined to have weight, and you, our customers, deserve to know exactly what we mean when we use this word. It is a practice and, as such, a continuous effort, something we always actively strive for and for that we use the following measures:
Locality
We try to keep all our production local, working mainly with workshops in Málaga and other Andalusian cities. Our sector, like others, is immersed in environmental and ethical concerns, so we carefully select the manufacturers, suppliers, and workshops we want to work with, trying to ensure they are local, family-run businesses that meet a series of factors so that the labor/creative collaboration is as fair as possible and is reflected afterwards in handcrafted pieces that become elements of self-expression and personal meaning.
Recycled Gold
All our jewelry is made from 18 and 9 karat gold, and of all these, about 60% are handcrafted with post-consumer recycled gold, which means this gold is recovered from old jewelry and gold scrap. The alloys used to mix with 18 karat gold (750 thousandths fine gold and 250 thousandths alloy and silver) and 9 karat gold (375 thousandths fine gold and 625 thousandths alloy and silver) are reused from electronic components, catalytic converters, and other industrial by-products, trying to avoid negative environmental consequences. This material recycling process always helps us avoid using new raw materials, thus reducing all risks associated with mining.
All the water used in the refining process is reused, and all the metals or waste (a manufacturing process of a piece in which small metal losses always occur due to handling) that remain are refined and recycled. Even the wax used in the molding and casting process to create the piece is reused, which is the property of the artisans we work with. These processes make each piece of jewelry as ethical and environmentally friendly as possible.
Ethical Stones
All our gemstones are ethically sourced. We work exclusively with suppliers, mines, and lapidaries where everyone receives fair compensation and works in safe conditions. Regarding the diamonds we work with, you can choose between natural diamonds that come from suppliers and countries that are part of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, thus preventing conflict diamonds, also known as "blood diamonds," from entering the market and being traded. The other option we work with is so-called "Lab Grown Diamonds," which are diamonds created in a controlled laboratory environment and have the same chemical components as natural diamonds. Below, we explain this in more detail.
Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds have made a strong impact in the jewelry world recently and have become an affordable alternative to natural diamonds due to their similarity and quality. Known as lab-created diamonds or eco-friendly diamonds, these diamonds are made of carbon (just like their natural counterpart) and are physically, chemically, and optically identical to natural diamonds.
At MIMÍKOKÓ, both Alejandro and Alberto are certified gemologists and we have embraced this new market trend to adapt to this new demand. Here you can find more information about lab-created diamonds (Lab-Grown).
Traceability
Traceability is the process that determines and identifies the composition of the product, as well as its origin and the different processes it has undergone, as well as the place where it is marketed, thus being able to recognize the possible factors in that process that may harm a company in terms of environmental impact. We have not yet been able to trace the path from where all the components of our jewelry come, since, to be honest, for us and the place where the brand currently is, it does not allow us to know 100% (especially the exact origin of the stones we work with) where all the materials have passed from the beginning until the jewelry reaches your home.
Transparency
We are a small brand, very small. Currently, we don't have a large volume of monthly orders, but we know the results will come soon after all the work done and the way we try to do it. Because we are passionate about our work and are continuously motivated to improve and offer you the best service. We love what we do. The prices of our products are very tight. We are straightforward; we don't want to inflate the prices of our jewelry only to later have the website with false and flashy 50% off offers. Our margin is fair both for us and for you. We believe in sincere and transparent marketing.
Packaging
At MIMÍKOKÓ we are committed to our packaging being almost 100% plastic free. Only the envelope where the shipping box is inserted is made of plastic, although 70% of this is recycled as specified on the envelope. Our shipping boxes, as well as our cases, are sustainably made with recycled cardboard. We avoid using plastics that could fill the shipping box and use wheat straw paper, which requires less energy and water to manufacture, and with which the shipping box will be more than secure, protecting it from possible impacts. On the other hand, the boxes that are shipped are made with the appropriate dimensions, using two sizes, in order to optimize the space in the means of transport in which they go, making transportation more efficient and thus reducing waste.
