By Kristy – Blissful Things

“Ethically sourced.”
These two words hit me like a tonne of rose quartz the day I reconnected with the crystal world and decided to build a website. It was March 2023, and I was knee-deep in tech issues (not my comfort zone) and wrestling with the usual dyslexia hurdles. A good friend was helping me pull things together, and one of the many things on my list was the dreaded privacy policy.

So off I emailed the solicitor—not just with that, but with Ts and Cs, return policies, postal info, and one little line I’d popped in without thinking too much:
“I ethically source all my crystals.”

What came back was unexpected.

“Why have you included ethical sourcing?” they asked.

I paused. Isn't that what everyone does? Suppliers had assured me their crystals were ethically sourced, and nearly every other crystal website seemed to say the same. But then came the follow-up punch:

“Kristy, are you going directly to the origin of your products? Are you overseeing every aspect of how they’re mined, worked, and handled?”

Well… no. I trust my suppliers. I’ve known some of them for years. But no, I’m not flying to Brazil every other month or sleeping at a mine site in the Congo.

Then came the warning:
“If you claim something is ethically sourced, and even one part of that chain proves otherwise, legally you are responsible.”

That hit hard. I mulled it over for days. After over 40 years of collecting, selling, and living a life steeped in minerals, metaphysics, and the mind-body-soul connection, I had to face a truth:
There is no such thing as 100% ethically sourced.

But here’s what I can offer:
Decades of experience.
Strong, trusted supplier relationships.
And a whole lot of honesty, heart, and practical understanding of how crystals move from the Earth to your hands.

What Does “Ethically Sourced” Even Mean?

What does ethical sourcing look like?
What does it feel like? Smell like? Where does it actually happen?

You ask 100 people from 100 different countries and backgrounds, and you’ll get 100 different answers. Including our very Western version of events.

Let’s be honest: most crystal sellers haven't stepped foot in an active mine. Some have. But many haven’t. And yet we all love to say “ethically sourced” like it’s a tick-box label.

Here’s a typical Western perception I’ve heard:

“These are ethically sourced because I bought them from a small supplier at a gem fair who said they don’t use child labour.”

And sure, that sounds good. But let’s break it down:

• It’s based on trust—someone’s word at a market.

• It skips over the very real complexities in the mining world—like poverty, informal mining setups, lack of proper safety gear, and environmental damage.

• It assumes good vibes = good practices. But they’re not always the same.

The Truth Behind the Glitter

I have been in working mines.
I do know the lapidary process.
I’ve seen how minerals are cleaned (sometimes with harsh acids), cut, polished, packed, and sold. I know how things should be handled safely—including wearing masks when cutting to avoid silicosis, or properly disposing of grit.

Even here in New Zealand, a home-based collector working local jasper still has ethical responsibilities. Did they wear a mask? Did they wash grits down the stormwater drain? It all matters.

So, What Can We Do?

This might sound overwhelming, but here’s the good news:

We can do our best. And we can do better.

I’ve built long-term relationships with my suppliers—people who often have travelled to the mines, seen the conditions, and developed real connections with the people working there. Many are family-run operations using methods passed down through generations.

Some mines now use water to suppress dust, helmets and harnesses, and even electricity rather than gas. Workshops may be small, local setups employing skilled cutters and polishers. It’s not always perfect, but there are efforts being made, especially when demand comes from people like us who care.

And there are deeper questions a good supplier should be asking:

• Are they using the whole stone or just the "pretty bits"?

• Is leftover material reused or wasted?

• Are the workers treated fairly? Paid fairly?

• Are these jobs staying in the local community, or being outsourced to the cheapest bidder?

So Where Does That Leave Us?

You, as a buyer, probably care. You want to make a conscious choice. And I honour that.

Here’s what I’ll promise you at Blissful Things:

• I won’t greenwash you.

• I won’t slap a shiny “ethically sourced” sticker on something unless I know what I’m talking about.

• I will be honest, open, and as transparent as I can be about where your crystals come from.

• I will continue to choose trusted suppliers who care and are doing the work to create better conditions.

• And I’ll keep learning, questioning, and doing better—because the Earth deserves it.

• No one can ever be 100% including me, and I don't know all the answers, but we can do our best! 

Thanks for trusting me on this journey. 🌍💎

With heart,
Kristy
Blissful Things – Crystals with Soul