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FAQ

 

How do I care for polymer clay jewelry?

Polymer clay is fade resistant and waterproof so they should last for a long time when proper care is taken.

However, due to prolong wearing, make-up may stain the earrings and dust may be found on its surface.

To clean the polymer clay earrings, simply use a piece of moist soft fabric and wipe it gently. You may also use a tooth brush with a soft bristle to remove dirt and dust on the earrings.

We also recommend:

  • avoid wearing the earrings when applying perfume, deodorant and hairspray
  • remove your earrings when showering or going into the pool/water
  • avoid dropping your earrings as the small and intricate parts on the earrings may come off due to the impact
  • when not in use, store it in a container to avoid scratches from sharp objects

 

Is Resin Eco-Friendly?

I use Art Resin. Here is the answer I found from their website. I pasted it below..

 

ArtResin is made from Petroleum. 

Period end of story.

"The word petroleum comes from the Latin petra, meaning “rock,” andoleum, meaning “oil.”  

Let's not fool ourselves.  There are all sorts of problems with petroleum extraction.  Petroleum spills and seeps into our oceans and water supplies while contaminating our soils and polluting our air.  It is at the root of many wars and keeps developed countries depending on foreign supplies.  It is essential to the production of Epoxy Resin.

Unfortunately the chemical industry is rampant with 'greenwashing' (using environmental claims as a marketing tool when they are having a net-negative impact on the planets well-being).

What can we do as a company to act responsibly?

ArtResin epoxy resin is fully reactive.   Meaning, that there is no non-reactive material in our product. 

Why is this important?  Well, if we were to go cheap, and buy materials that have fillers or diluents to stretch our materials further and make more money, there would be 'non-reactive' material in our product that evaporates into the air.

Why is non reactive material a bad thing?

Well, because when you mix the two parts together, all the non reactive stuff is either released as VOCs during the chemical reaction, or they would leech out over time.  If you put cheap epoxy resin in water, chemicals would leech out into the water.  This is not only bad for your health, but also for the air.

Once cured, ArtResin is totally inert and nothing leeches out into our environment.   When mixed, no non reactive material is expelled into the air!

Yes once ArtResin is cured it complies with FDA 21CFR175.300.

So that's a good thing that we pay extra for in our manufacturing process.

Here are a few other things we do to act responsibly in our business:

We clean and recycle our totes and drums.  Which is not huge cost savings and extra work.

We buy our raw materials locally as much as possible.  It is sourced in Texas, where it is mixed packaged and distributed from.  This cuts down in shipping from Taiwan where most companies get their raw materials from in this industry.    We like to support local businesses and have built a great community of hard working local suppliers.   Our packaging and shipping boxes are made just down the road.  Same with our labels and printing materials.

To be clear, epoxy resin companies that say they are environmentally friendly or use post industrial or consumer waste in their resin, really should be examined.  I urge you to call them and ask them if they are actually environmentally friendly.  If you get an honest person on the phone, you will get the truth.   The percentage of down cycled material used is very small and it is probably worse than just sourcing a local fresh supply for many reasons, including clarity and actual impact on the planet.

As a business, we have avoided saying that we are environmentally friendly, because it has never felt right.

ArtResin is made up of amazing people who love the planet and other people (especially artists!).  We are honest and this is a hard conversation to have for us because we wish we had a better answer.

The reality is that epoxy resin is made from petroleum, but we got to extra efforts at higher costs to live responsibly and set an example for our kids and customers. 

This stuff matters

Now, what they do with it sounds terribly, but on further research, its not as bad as it sounds.    These paint and chemical depots will often incinerate any chemicals that cant be reused in some other product or manufacturing process ( some companies take paint and re mix it for resale ).   The incinerating of chemicals is quite sophisticated and there are many filters that capture impurities so that they are not released into the air.  I am going to take a trip with my local dump to learn more about this process and I will report back!

They are very open to sharing their efforts to be environmentally friendly, so call your local dump if you want to learn more!


That's it!


ArtResin is not marketed as good for the planet because of the obvious negative effects of petroleum extraction and refining.  It would be irresponsible and dare I say 'evil' of us to nit-pick the truth and market this way.


We do our best, and will keep asking 'how can we do better?' Because we actually really do care.


If you have any concerns about anything I said here, or suggestions on ways we can do better, please contact dave@artresin.com


Go make art!