How Natural Diamonds are Becoming More Sustainable

Answer

Natural diamond producers are becoming more sustainable by moving beyond carbon-neutral pledges into measurable, audited action across climate, land, water and traceability. De Beers and Rio Tinto have both set concrete emissions targets, mining operations that now protect several times more land than they actively use, and blockchain platforms such as Tracr that verify a diamond’s origin from source to setting. Progress varies by producer and country, but the shift from pledges to proof is happening industry wide.

Key takeaways

84% of the water used in diamond recovery is recycled, and producers strive to protect more land than they use.

99.8% of natural diamonds are certified conflict-free, backed by blockchain traceability platforms such as Tracr.

Diamond mining supports 10 million livelihoods, with up to 80% of a rough diamond’s value staying in local communities.

Sustainability now runs through the whole supply chain, from recycled metals and packaging to repair programs that keep jewelry in circulation.

Progress is tracked through ESG audits and independent certification schemes like SCS-007.

In 2026, natural diamond producers are reconsidering what the term ‘responsibility’ means, moving from single-focus targets to a more holistic approach that spans carbon reduction, biodiversity, community investment and complete transparency.

Here, we explore how the natural diamond industry is stepping beyond its old benchmarks, the innovations shaping its future and how sustainable diamonds symbolize responsibility as much as everlasting love and beauty.

Reimagining sustainability in the diamond industry

Where ‘going carbon neutral’ once felt ambitious, it’s now at the heart of the natural diamond industry’s sustainability goals. Companies such as De Beers Group have pledged carbon neutrality by 2030, while Rio Tinto is aiming for net zero by 2050, signaling how major players are taking their environmental footprint seriously.

Lower emissions and more sustainable production practices are already protecting the landscapes that support diamond-producing communities. More than 84% of the water used in diamond recovery is recycled and more than 99% of the material moved is inert rock (rock that doesn’t affect the environment around it) that’s reclaimed as recovery sites close. The natural diamond industry also strives to protect more land than it uses. Together, industry leaders have protected land equivalent in size to New York City, Washington, Chicago and Las Vegas combined.

Crucially, this isn’t work happening in isolation. Partnerships between diamond companies, governments, NGOs and local communities are becoming the workforce of long-term change. From renewable energy projects in diamond-producing countries to conservation corridors that safeguard endangered species, these collaborations show the natural diamond industry is making a long-term commitment to sustainability.

Building trust through ethical sourcing and transparency

Natural diamonds are unique, beautiful and a symbol of love but it is the history and provenance behind each diamond that confirms its authenticity. That story is told through traceability, certification and technology, leaving little room for doubt.

Today, more than 99.8% of the world’s natural diamonds are certified conflict-free through the Kimberley Process, a certification scheme backed by a United Nations General Assembly resolution and run jointly by governments, industry and civil society . In addition, members of the Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC) commit to responsible ethical, social, and environmental practices, respecting human rights and promoting responsible practices throughout the jewelry supply chain. Compliance is independently audited every three years.

Technology is also helping the natural diamond industry be more transparent. Platforms such as Tracr by De Beers Group use blockchain and AI to accurately trace the journey of a natural diamond from its source to the showroom. It is able to verify not only a diamond’s origin (the site it was recovered from and exactly where it was cut or polished) but also the environmental and labor standards along the way.

This combination of certification, audited standards and blockchain traceability gives natural diamonds a documented chain of custody and provenance. Lab-grown origin wasn’t always clearly disclosed to buyers, which is why the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) introduced jewelry advertising guidelines requiring it. This guidance states that the terms “laboratory-grown,” “laboratory-created,” “[manufacturer name]-created,” “imitation” or “simulated” would be appropriate to describe the product and to disclose the fact that it’s not a natural diamond.

Man looking at a cut diamond with a loupe — TRANSPARENCY TODAY GOES BEYOND PROMISES, WITH NATURAL DIAMONDS INCREASINGLY TRACKED, CERTIFIED AND VERIFIED FROM SOURCE TO SETTING.

Protecting the planet through nature-based solutions

For natural diamonds, sustainability doesn’t stop at reducing impact; it’s about leaving ecosystems stronger than before. This shift toward regeneration is visible in the environments where diamonds are recovered, with considerations around land, water and wildlife woven into the industry’s long-term commitments.

‘Buffer zones’ around diamond recovery sites, which were originally created to reduce direct noise or disruption to communities and infrastructure nearby, have been transformed into sanctuaries for endangered species including elephants, zebras and rare birds.

Along De Beers Group’s Diamond Route in South Africa for example, the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve spans 80,000 acres of fertile land and is home to more than 400 species of birds, plants and animals, all thriving under active protection.

Collectively, the natural diamond industry now protects three times the amount of land it uses, more than 1,000 square miles across Australia, Botswana, Canada, Russia, South Africa and Tanzania. That’s equivalent in size to Yosemite National Park.

Just as natural diamonds are precious, so too is water. Today, around 84% of the water used in diamond recovery is recycled, with ongoing projects focused on conservation, replenishment and ensuring long-term water security for communities and ecosystems in diamond-producing countries as well.

This mindset also applies to land. In major producing countries, mining companies are required to fund a closure and rehabilitation plan before recovery begins, though the specific legal requirement varies by country. Up to 99% of recovery waste is made up of inert rock that is reclaimed at closure, ensuring the land can one day return to wider community use.

Beyond conservation, natural diamond producers are also investing in renewable energy such as solar-powered infrastructure in the sub-Arctic and community projects that expand access to clean, reliable power.

B1 How Natural Diamonds Are Becoming More Sustainable Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve De Beers — Nature-based conservation is becoming part of how diamond-producing landscapes are protected, restored and shared with wildlife and local communities.

B1 How Natural Diamonds Are Becoming More Sustainable Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve De Beers 1 — Nature-based conservation is becoming part of how diamond-producing landscapes are protected, restored and shared with wildlife and local communities.

Uplifting communities through long-term investment

Sustainability isn’t just about the planet; it’s about people. Natural diamonds support the livelihoods of more than 10 million people worldwide, with up to 80% of a rough diamond’s value staying in local communities through wages, infrastructure and public services.

This ethical impact is transformative. In Botswana, for example, when diamonds were discovered in 1967, just months after its independence in 1966, the country was one of the poorest in the world. Diamond revenue transformed the country over the decades that followed, funding an extraordinary expansion in education alone. Secondary school enrollment grew from just 100 students in 1966 to nearly 90,000 by 2023.In 2023 diamonds also accounted for around a quarter of national GDP.

In Namibia, where diamonds contribute more than 5% of GDP and over a quarter of export earnings, Namdeb paid $136 million in taxes in 2024 alone, on top of a total economic contribution of $545 million, with roughly 80 cents of every diamond dollar ultimately reaching state coffers (the financial reserves, public funds, or treasury of a government)^vii. In South Africa, the industry generated $4.7 billion in diamond exports in 2023, supporting close to 9,000 jobs and close to $100 million in annual taxes and royalties.

From education and healthcare to housing and clean water, ethically sourced diamonds help build futures.

B1 How Natural Diamonds Are Becoming More Sustainable Botswana Education De Beers — Free education is one of the lasting outcomes of long-term investment in natural diamond communities.

Designing circularity into the supply chain

Sustainable and ethical practices don’t start and end at recovery sites, though. Many natural diamond companies are conscious of the whole supply chain try to ensure that every element, from packaging to the precious metals their gemstones will be set in – is as future-facing as possible.

In support, jewelry brands are increasingly embracing recycled and responsibly sourced metals. While definitions of ‘recycled gold’ remain contested, leading names including Tiffany & Co. and Chopard have pioneered its use in their collections.

When it comes to sourcing precious metals, strict standards apply. For De Beers Group, this responsibility sits with its manufacturing partners, who must comply with either the De Beers Best Practice Principles or the Responsible Jewelry Council’s Chain of Custody Standard. Both frameworks are designed to ensure metals are responsibly sourced, supporting wider efforts to cut impact and strengthen accountability across the value chain.

Beyond metals, recyclable packaging has become standard for many natural diamond companies. For example, De Beers Group’s London jewelry division has adopted fully recyclable packaging across all its collections.

Circularity can also be woven into jewelry design. Fine jewelry is not disposable; it is created to last lifetimes and be passed from one generation to the next. Contemporary design favors versatility and timelessness, while repair services and resizing programs ensure pieces are kept in circulation for longer.

B1 How Natural Diamonds Are Becoming More Sustainable Generations De Beers — Circularity in fine jewelry is built through responsible materials, thoughtful design and pieces made to be worn across generations.

Measuring progress and accountability

In a world of bold climate goals and increasingly conscious consumers, sustainability claims only matter if they’re actioned. For the natural diamond industry, accountability doesn’t mean perfection; it’s about transparency, verification and positive intent.

This starts with transparent reporting and third-party validation. ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) disclosures, climate audits and independent certification schemes such as SCS-007 Sustainability Rated Diamonds are now central to tracking progress, while collaborations with NGOs, environmental scientists and community leaders provide on-the-ground checks of social and ecological impact.

From sustainability to regeneration

From ecosystem restoration to climate-positive targets and renewable energy, focus is shifting from limiting harm to actively creating long-term good. The natural diamond industry’s investment in education, healthcare and social enterprise is making strides to help communities thrive alongside the environments they protect.

This vision of sustainability isn’t static. It’s evolving into a model where circular design, traceability and innovation merge, ensuring that the value of a natural diamond lies not just in its brilliance, but in the good embedded in its journey.

Choosing a natural diamond from a brand that prioritizes accountability, transparency and long-term investment means choosing a gem whose journey did more good than harm, one already visible in the schools it built, the land it restored and the water it recycled.

FAQs

What safeguards exist in natural diamond mining?

Four safeguards recur across the industry, though the exact mechanism varies by country. Companies must complete an environmental impact assessment before mining begins. They must set aside funds (which are calculated upfront) to cover the cost of cleanup. Regulators require ongoing environmental reporting throughout a mine’s active life. Lastly, a formal government clearance, confirming rehabilitation has happened, is required before a company is released from its obligations. Together, these are the standards that define ethical diamonds (opens in a new window) in practice.

Is diamond mining well regulated?

The natural diamond industry is closely regulated by governments and independent organizations around the world. These organizations and laws safeguard ethical working conditions for employees and contractors, ensure that the natural environment is protected, and that natural diamond producers are contributing to the sustainable growth of local communities. The Responsible Jewellery Council, The Kimberley Process, The World Diamond Council and The United Nations Global Impact are among these organizations. Their combined standards are what make diamond labelling regulations (opens in a new window) meaningful, since a label is only trustworthy if the system behind it actually verifies what it claims.

Are natural diamonds less aligned with sustainability trends?

No, the case for sustainable diamonds (opens in a new window) is already backed by measurable results that the natural diamond industry continues to build on.

De Beers Group’s 2025 Sustainability Report shows a 14% cut in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions (emissions from its own operations as well as emissions from the electricity purchased to run these operations) since 2021, with a further cut to a third by 2030 already underway. They also manage 375,000 acres of land for conservation across Southern Africa and help protect the source of 95% of the water flowing into the Okavango Delta, alongside continued investment in nature-positive initiatives and biodiversity conservation.

Rio Tinto, whose Diavik mine in Canada completed its final production run in March 2026, built the largest off-grid solar installation in the Canadian Arctic to cut diesel use during operations, and has already signed its closure agreement with the Tłı̨chǫ Government (the Indigenous community whose land the mine sits on). Across the company, Rio Tinto’s own emissions sit 14% below 2018 levels, on the way to a 50% cut by 2030, with around 78% of its electricity now from renewable sources. These are proven results with real momentum behind them from two of the industry’s largest producers.