It’s no secret that big players in the jewellery industry are embracing the term sustainable jewellery, however the consumer may have a different perception to the reality.
Diamond mining has long been associated with labour abuse and continuous lack of transparency, whilst lab grown diamonds are being promoted as the ethical option by providing a potentially lower carbon footprint.
Critics have pointed out that many lab grown diamonds, 50 – 60% according to the Bain & Company’s 2020-2021 global diamond report , are produced in China using high pressure and high temperature techniques, which require large amounts of energy. The origins and traceability of the factories and processes are still largely unknown.
Due to the scrutiny traditional miners have faced, many believe they have made huge strides in improving labour conditions and lessening the impact of their operations on the environment.
Regulation surrounding the production of lab grown diamonds is still in its infancy, so it may be too early to determine whether this nascent technolgy really is as ethical as the proponents would have us believe
Experts believe the best way forward for the industry is a blend of reforming diamond production whilst reaping the benefits of the innovation within the lab grown sector.