KING

Some engaged couples are looking for environmentally-friendly rings.

SEATTLE - The day after Thanksgiving marks a big shopping day and jewelry is a hot item.

But some wonder if it's an environmentally friendly choice.

Now shoppers like Carla and Ryan Lents can ease their environmental concerns by buying "green gold."

Carla and Ryan are getting married and they want to leave a light carbon footprint for their wedding.

"We tried to do as many things as possible to make our wedding a little easier on the environment," Carla said.

Their invitations are on recycled paper. They're using only organic flowers. And the rings were important too, since they're concerned about the impact of gold mining on the environment.

"I think it's something we need to consider," Ryan Lents said.

Gold mining, like all mining, changes the landscape and chemicals are often used in the extraction process.

"Twenty tons of waste are generated by the production of one gold ring," said Scott Cardiff, of the No Dirty Gold Campaign.

Cardiff says not enough is being done to clean up mining waste. He wants the industry to adopt a uniform set of standards.

"We have jewelry retailers who said they would support more responsible sourcing of their gold, from more responsible mining, which represents over 20 percent of U.S. jewelry sales at this time," he said.

The World Gold Council, which is made up of some of the largest mines, says it's already working hard to address concerns.

"Most members of the World Gold Council, for example, already have in place very well documented codes of practices and principles that they adhere to," said George Milling-Stanley, a spokesperson.

Cardiff wants to see a certification process.

"So that when you go to a jewelry store and want more ethical jewelry, they can actually say here's our certification that we are actually sourcing from a more responsible mine," Cardiff said.

If you are concerned - ask your jeweler if they are part of the campaign. Or you can buy estate jewelry or "recycle" your old gold.

With gold hovering near $800 a troy ounce right now it might save you some money too.

A company called Greenkarat.com will melt down any gold you send in and make new pieces for you. It doesn't even matter what color gold you recycle.

"We take out all the alloys, which is what lends color to gold. Depending on whether you want white gold, or yellow gold, we will add fresh alloys and make brand new pieces," said Matthew White, a company spokesperson.

That's what the Lents did. They had old family rings made into new ones.

"I think that the symbology that we have family gold incorporated into the rings and that they're created in an environmentally friendly way makes them more special," Carla said.

Most custom jewelers will also recast old gold into new pieces.

The World Gold Council disagreed with Cardiff's claim that 20 tons of waste is generated to make one ring, but they did not have figures of their own.