​​​​How are quality and sustainability put into practice at Milanka?

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I think thank also in the jewelry industry, materials are always a conscious choice made by the designer. Even though some materials are highly popular and financially profitable—such as natural stones, freshwater pearls, and polymer clay—In Milanka I want to use materials that reflect my values: ethics, durability, and responsibility. My choices are also influenced by my personal preferences as a jewelry maker, such as the feel of the material, plastic-free design, and vegan values.

 

I believe it is important to understand the background and properties of different materials. Perfectly sustainable materials are rarely available, but it is always possible to make better and more responsible choices.

 

Sustainability involves much more than just materials. Below, I explain Milanka’s approach to sustainability as comprehensively as possible—from design principles and the materials I use (and choose not to use), to social and economic responsibility, sustainability certifications, and extending product life cycles.

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I want to make my principles visible, raise awareness, and share what feels right to me as the creator behind Milanka jewelry—and why.

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1. Key Flag and Design from Finland labels

Milanka’s birch plywood jewelry has been awarded both the Key Flag Symbol and the Design from Finland label by Association for Finnish Work. The Key Flag Symbol indicates that the product is made in Finland and has a domestic content rate of at least 50%. The Design from Finland label is granted to products that strongly represent Finnish design expertise. These products are professionally designed, responsibly made, and created with the user in mind. Companies carrying the label also communicate openly about their production chains and country of manufacture.

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2. Design

The foundation of every piece of jewelry is timelessness, durability, usability, and carefully selected high-quality, recyclable materials.

Usability means long-lasting materials, suitable size, and lightweight comfort. Milanka’s birch plywood jewelry are designed to be produced as resource-efficiently as possible, minimizing material waste through careful shape design. Overproduction is avoided by maintaining small inventories and producing items to order whenever possible.

Customer-focused and flexible jewelry design is made possible through custom orders, color variations, and redesigning existing pieces. Jewelry can also be created using the customer’s own materials, such as previously used beads or jewelry parts. Existing designs can be customized by adding or removing elements or by changing components such as replacing hooks with clips.

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3. High-quality recyclable materials and transparency

Material choices prioritize Finnish and EU-made materials that withstand long-term use, maintenance, and repair, while also being easy to reuse and recycle. Milanka is as plastic-free as possible. Acrylic sheets are not used as materials in jewelry. The only plastic elements are the jewelry box cushion and the silicone earring stoppers. Since 2025, every jewelry box also includes the information required by the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), along with a summary of the materials’ countries of origin.

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Birch Plywood

Milanka’s birch plywood jewelry is produced locally using Finnish birch plywood manufactured by Koskisen Oy in Päijät-Häme.

The plywood is FSC and PEFC certified, meaning the wood comes from sustainably managed forests and its origin is traceable.

Milanka uses 2 mm birch plywood instead of 3 mm, saving approximately one-third of the material without compromising quality or durability. The wooden jewelry parts are printed and laser cut by Laser Cut Studio in Helsinki. Safe, solvent-free UV inks with Greenguard certification are used in printing, and the inks are cured with energy-efficient LED UV light.

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Stainless Steel

Almost all metal parts used in Milanka jewelry are high-quality stainless steel.

Stainless steel is highly durable, tarnish-resistant, easy to maintain, and safe for people with nickel allergies. Although steel naturally contains small amounts of nickel, it is bound within the metal and does not release onto the skin. At the end of the jewelry’s life cycle, almost all metal parts can be reused or recycled. Most steel components are sourced from the Finnish family business Steely Pop. Their components are tested by the Finnish laboratory Measurlab according to EU standards for harmful substances and durability.

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Beads

Almost all beads used in Milanka jewelry are high-quality Czech glass beads. In addition, especially in the BOHO collection, Japanese and German vintage glass beads are also used. Beads are sourced primarily from the Czech Republic, the United States, and other EU countries depending on availability. Milanka does not use beads manufactured in China or developing countries. At the end of the jewelry’s life cycle, beads can be reused or recycled.

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Ecological Packaging

Jewelry is delivered in a gift box made from FSC®-certified cardboard, manufactured in Denmark using water-based glue.

The jewelry is protected with FSC®-certified, chlorine-free, and acid-free tissue paper. The only plastic element in the packaging is the jewelry box cushion. Envelopes, backing cards, and business cards are made from FSC®-certified recycled materials. Reused cardboard boxes and paper packing tape are used for retailer shipments. Deliveries to post office are made as low-carbon as possible—primarily by walking or cycling.

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4. Why we don't use plastic-based materials?

Milanka does not use polymer clay (Fimo), acrylic, resin, or other plastic-based materials.

This is both a personal material choice and a sustainability decision. Plastic-based materials are made from non-renewable oil-based raw materials, whose production causes harmful chemical emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, and microplastic pollution.

They are also difficult to recycle and reuse. For example, epoxy resin is made from oil-based chemicals such as bisphenol A, and polymer clay like Fimo is PVC-based and contains large amounts of plasticizers.

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5. Why we don't use freshwater pearls?

Milanka does not use freshwater pearls or any other animal-based pearls. Pearl farming involves significant ethical and environmental concerns. A pearl is formed when tissue is inserted into a living mollusk, which then produces nacre around the irritant over several years. This procedure may weaken the animal or cause its death. Especially in China, where freshwater pearls are mass-produced, pearl farming is associated with water pollution, eutrophication, and social responsibility issues. There is currently no standardized ethical production system or reliable traceability for freshwater pearls. For Milanka, it is important that jewelry production does not exploit living organisms—not even through recycled marine or animal-based pearls.

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6. Challenges of mined stones and metals

Milanka no longer creates jewelry from mined crystal stones or gemstone beads, even when reused.

Mining is often ethically and environmentally problematic, and verifying responsible production is extremely difficult. The marketing of stones also often includes misleading claims, such as healing properties or spiritual energies.

Metal production also involves problematic mining practices. Unfortunately, high-quality steel jewelry components manufactured entirely in Europe are currently not widely available. Milanka’s goal is to find jewelry components made from 100% recycled steel and to explore the future use of recycled silver.

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8. Economic and Social Responsibility

Milanka follows a fair pricing policy. When sourcing materials, quality, manufacturer, and country of origin matter more than the lowest possible price. Jewelry prices are set to ensure fair compensation for craftsmanship and to support sustainable business operations.

Social responsibility also includes compliance with legislation, workplace safety, honest marketing, transparent communication, and charitable work.

Charity Donations 2026
Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Finnish National Gallery

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9. Vegan jewelry company

Milanka jewelry contains no animal-based materials such as leather, bone, silk, or freshwater pearls—not even recycled ones.

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Finally, a small but important request

Please take good care of your jewelry so it can stay with you for as long as possible. Especially wooden jewelry does not like moisture, so please store it in a dry place, preferably in its own box. Avoid exposing it to products such as hairspray, perfume, and skin oils. Jewelry can be cleaned gently with a slightly damp cloth. Wear your jewelry often and for a long time—it was made to be part of your everyday life.

If the time comes when you no longer use it: repair it, redesign it, donate it, sell it forward, reuse the parts, and only recycle it as the very last option.

Thank you ♡