Editor’s Note
This article presents the perspective of the Natural Diamond Council on the sustainability of lab-grown diamonds. It highlights a key argument regarding their energy consumption. Readers should note this represents one viewpoint in an ongoing industry debate.
Synthetic Diamonds
Are synthetic diamonds truly more sustainable than natural diamonds? For the Natural Diamond Council (NDC), the answer is clearly no!
“Reproducing the natural diamond formation process in a short time, the manufacturing of synthetic diamonds consumes a significant amount of electricity, primarily dependent on the national grid.”
Relying on information provided by NASA/GIA, the organization specifies:
“Over 60% of synthetic diamonds are produced in China and India, where respectively 63% and 74% of grid electricity comes from coal. Their manufacturing requires temperatures similar to 20% of the sun’s surface temperature.”
However, the professional organization cautions against making hasty and simplistic comparisons. Whether natural or synthetic, both types of diamonds present
“a range of production processes, geographical locations, energy sources, productivity capacities, and sustainability practices.”
Does the Diamond Industry Endanger Biodiversity?
For the NDC, of course not!
“The natural diamond world protects biodiversity in an area nearly four times larger than the one it uses, equivalent to New York, Chicago, Washington, and Las Vegas combined. 99% of the waste from diamond recovery is rock, and 84% of the water used for diamond recovery is recycled. The natural diamond industry adheres to strict global environmental standards and national laws.”
The organization further specifies (as an example) that
“the Diamond Route is a network established by the De Beers Group, a leading diamond company, to protect critical wildlife and flora habitats in South Africa and Botswana.”
Is the Industry Truly Working to Reduce Its Carbon Footprint?
Yes, in line with global climate goals.
“Members of the Natural Diamond Council are developing renewable energy projects in partnership (often in developing countries where such energy is harder to find), and carbon emission offset projects. Companies such as the De Beers Group have committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and Rio Tinto to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. (…) NDC members also participate in unique carbon sequestration programs, for example by using kimberlite, the rock where diamonds are found, or by employing various nature-based solutions.”
Good to know: For a polished 1-carat natural diamond, the CO2 emissions are equivalent to driving 426 kilometers in a medium-sized gasoline car, slightly less than a Paris-Lyon trip.
Is the Sector Truly Ethical?
For the professional organization, it is yes, a thousand times yes!
“Under the Kimberley Process, mandated by the UN and the World Trade Organization (WTO), the trade of rough diamonds is strictly regulated to ensure they are conflict-free. Other initiatives, such as the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the leading global standards organization for sustainability in the jewelry and watch industry, help confirm, through third-party verified certifications, that natural diamonds come from a responsible supply source.”
But Do They Benefit the Countries They Come From?
According to the NDC report, the natural diamond industry supports the livelihoods of 10 million people worldwide. Furthermore, up to 80% of the value of rough diamonds remains
“within local communities in the form of local purchases, jobs, social programs, infrastructure investments, as well as taxes, royalties, and dividends paid by the industry to respective governments.”
In Canada, it contributes to 24% of the total GDP in the Northwest Territories (NWT). In Botswana, it was 33% of GDP in 2021.
