Citation: Tenuta, L.; Testa, S.; Antinarelli Freitas, F.; Cappellieri, A. Sustainable Materials for Jewelry: Scenarios from a Design Perspective. Sustainability 2024, 16, 1309. https:// doi.org/10.3390/su16031309 Academic Editor: Barbara Motyl Received: 26 October 2023 Revised: 30 January 2024 Accepted: 31 January 2024 Published: 4 February 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). sustainability Article Sustainable Materials for Jewelry: Scenarios from a Design Perspective Livia Tenuta * , Susanna Testa, Francesca Antinarelli Freitas and Alba Cappellieri Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milan, Italy; susanna.testa@polimi.it (S.T.); francesca.antinarelli@polimi.it (F.A.F.); alba.cappellieri@polimi.it (A.C.) * Correspondence: livia.tenuta@polimi.it Abstract: The complex nature of materiality describes the modern era and raises several questions, especially regarding sustainability. With the significant expansion of science and industry, the variety of materials available for designers is unlimited, and they are no longer forced to use materials that are provided directly by nature. Therefore, artificial materials are becoming more popular, offering new possibilities from a creative and innovative perspective. This introduces a new, challenging context for the jewelry design practice that should provide a positive and more sustainable approach. The paper aims to define future scenarios for sustainable materials for jewelry merging science and design. Cutting-edge movements are experimentally operating at the intersections of varied fields, occasionally deviating from conventional methods. Primarily, this article is intended to provide an overview of the current advancements in sustainable materials, emphasizing the strengths and potential benefits they could offer. Then, the paper investigates four scenarios as results of the intersection between science and design, highlighting the impact on the jewelry field. Four scenarios will analyze the materials currently employed in different fields and their possible application in future innovative tracks: designing sensibly; reshaping waste; modeling nature; making in lab. Lastly, this paper shows how crucial it is for designers and companies to take a proactive role and become agents to extend access to sustainable solutions. Keywords: sustainable materials; design; materials; recycling 1. Introduction Historically, the need for a transition toward a more sustainable society emerged from several environmental and social issues. In particular, the matter concerning the environment, namely the effects of production and consumption processes on the balance of natural habitats, began to be recognized in the latter part of the 1960s due to the rapid expansion and spread of industrialization [1]. In the field of jewelry design, this era also marked the beginning of a more conscious consideration of material sourcing and production processes, laying the groundwork for today’s sustainability challenges in the industry. In this context, the role of design as a discipline is considered, and it is gaining more attention, especially regarding the materials used in the design and manufacturing process. “Design is the process by which abstract ideas assume concrete form and thus become active agents in human affairs. One of the critical parameters in any discussion of designed artifacts is material: what something is made of and how the material employed affects the form, function, and perception of the final design [2]”. The jewelry industry, which has evolved since the Sixties, now faces the task of balancing traditional craftsmanship with the urgent need for sustainable practices. Today, design plays an essential role in providing sustainable solutions. Sustainable solutions aim for environmental, social, and economic well-being with the perspective of leaving future generations with a quality of life that is not inferior to the current one. The focus of designers, companies, and researchers is to transform unsustainable systems Sustainability 2024, 16, 1309. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031309 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability