News
Apr 23, 2025
Pippa Small Marks Earth Day with Her New Chocó Jungle Gold Line
Pippa Small’s eco-clean Chocó Jungle collection honors Colombia’s women miners, sustainable gold practices, and the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Emily S. Rosenberg
emily.s.rosenberg@fifthavemag.com
Pippa Small’s eco-conscious Chocó Jungle filigree earrings celebrate Colombia’s flora and zero-pollution gold sourcing.
Pippa Small chose Earth Day to unveil Chocó Jungle, her second “eco-clean” line that fuses sustainable craftsmanship with vibrant design. The new collection pays homage to Colombia’s Pacific-region flora and cultural heritage by partnering with a women’s mining cooperative in Chocó, where artisanal pan-gold methods produce zero-pollution gold.
Chocó Jungle pieces range from $840 to $19,010 and showcase clean-panned gold in intricate filigree leaves and heart motifs. Small emphasizes that ethical luxury must involve both material traceability and the well-being of mining communities, stating, “Supporting sustainable practices isn’t just about materials—it’s about people, the planet, and creating a more ethical future for the industry.”
During her 2022 visit, Small witnessed firsthand how Chocó’s Afro-Colombian pan-miners uphold traditions that preserve river ecosystems for future generations. By spotlighting their intergenerational knowledge, she underscores gold’s symbolic significance—linking past legacies of forced labor to a healthier tomorrow built on interdependence and respect.
Small contrasts these carbon-neutral methods with the devastation wrought by illegal operations in Uganda and Myanmar—where mercury poisoning and habitat loss are rampant—and calls on the jewelry industry to prioritize environmental accountability in every heirloom creation.
Ultimately, Chocó Jungle is more than a collection: it’s a statement that beauty and ethics can coexist. As Small puts it, “As makers of these earth-born talismans that accompany us on life’s journey, we have a responsibility to ensure they are created with as little harm as possible.”
Emily S. Rosenberg is the senior editor, news at 5th Ave. Magazine, covering sustainability and the cultural-heritage side of jewelry.
