What Sets Natural Diamonds Apart in Sustainability

Natural and laboratory-grown diamonds vary in their impact on sustainability, shaped by how they are recovered or produced. Natural diamond recovery uses energy and land, with responsible producers investing in land rehabilitation, biodiversity protection, and local communities. Lab-grown diamond production requires significant energy, with its impact linked partly to the energy source. Understanding provenance and production practices is therefore key to assessing a diamond’s sustainability credentials.

How natural and lab-grown diamonds compare on sustainability

Sustainability consideration	Natural diamonds	Lab-grown diamonds
How they are produced	Formed naturally in the earth and recovered through mining operations	Manufactured using energy-intensive HPHT or CVD processes
Energy and resources	Recovery requires energy, with responsible producers working to reduce environmental impact	Production requires significant energy and uses natural resources, including some mined materials
Land and biodiversity	Responsible producers invest in land rehabilitation, rewilding and biodiversity protection	Factory production has its own environmental footprint, shaped partly by energy and resource use
Local communities	Recovery can support jobs, local businesses, healthcare, education and infrastructure in producing countries	Production is not tied to natural diamond deposits or diamond-producing communities
Traceability	Tracr has registered more than three million natural diamonds at source, creating records of provenance and journey	Buyers should research where and how a diamond was produced

Whether you’re in the market for a new piece of jewelry or just curious about the sustainability credentials of natural diamonds versus laboratory-grown diamonds (opens in a new window) (LGDs), there’s plenty of conflicting information to navigate.

LGDs, for example, are often marketed as a more sustainable choice, but the reality is a little more complex. Sustainability can encompass energy use, emissions, land management, biodiversity, and traceability, so the differences between lab-grown and natural diamonds aren’t always straightforward.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that sustainability overlaps with, but differs from, ethically sourced diamonds (opens in a new window). Ethical sourcing considers issues such as human rights and working conditions, while environmental sustainability considers factors including emissions, energy use and the protection of ecosystems.

What does sustainability mean when it comes to diamonds?

For diamonds, sustainability comes down to understanding their environmental impact, from the energy and resources used to the way surrounding land and ecosystems are managed.

That can involve cutting down on carbon emissions, embracing renewable energy and supporting rewilding programs and biodiversity.

One of the most exciting recent shifts in diamond sustainability initiatives is traceability. Traceability means being able to trace a diamond’s provenance and journey from its source right to your jewelry box; knowing which country it originated from, which mine it was recovered from and where it was cut or polished.

Tracr is one example of how this is working in practice. The blockchain-based platform records a diamond’s journey from mine to market and now has more than three million diamonds registered at source. Each is assigned a unique digital identity, creating a record of its provenance and journey.

How lab-grown and natural diamonds impact our planet

The impact of lab-grown diamonds

As we mentioned earlier, LGDs (man-made diamonds produced in factories or labs) are often marketed as the more sustainable choice because they aren’t recovered from the earth. However, growing diamonds in a laboratory requires significant amounts of energy.

LGDs are produced using Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT), processes that require electricity to create the conditions in which diamonds grow. Their production also relies on natural resources, with some materials used in the process derived from mined minerals. Their environmental impact is therefore linked, in part, to the source of that energy.

In 2019, the US Federal Trade Commission raised concerns about environmental claims used to market laboratory-grown diamonds, including terms such as “eco-friendly” and “sustainable,” when they could not be substantiated.

It’s worth researching the provenance and environmental credentials of an LGD, just as you would with a natural diamond.

The impact of natural diamonds

Natural diamond recovery requires energy, but its environmental impact also extends to how mining companies manage and restore the land where they operate. In recent years, diamond producers have invested in wildlife conservation, land rehabilitation, and initiatives designed to protect biodiversity.

The impact can extend to local communities, too. A large proportion of the rough diamond value can remain in producing countries through employment, local businesses and investment in schools, healthcare and infrastructure.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) adds another layer to the natural diamond supply chain. Established in 2003, it regulates the international trade in rough diamonds to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade. Participating countries must meet minimum requirements and use a certification system for shipments of rough diamonds.

Why sustainability matters when choosing a diamond

While natural diamond recovery isn’t completely impact-free, responsible practices and greater accountability can help address its environmental impact. For buyers, that makes it worth looking beyond the diamond itself to understand where it comes from and the practices behind its recovery.

Natural diamond recovery can also support local communities through employment and investment, while environmental initiatives can include protecting ecosystems and rehabilitating land.

LGDs can also vary in their environmental credentials, making transparency around how and where they were produced important. Whether you choose a natural diamond or an LGD, researching its provenance and supplier can help you make a more informed choice.

FAQs

How do natural diamonds compare when it comes to sustainability?

Natural diamonds have environmental impacts associated with recovery, but responsible producers are investing in ways to reduce them. This can include renewable energy, land rehabilitation, biodiversity protection, and more efficient operations. These are some of the ways diamonds become more sustainable (opens in a new window).

What does diamond traceability mean?

Diamond traceability means following a diamond’s provenance and journey through the supply chain. For natural diamonds (opens in a new window), platforms such as Tracr (opens in a new window)can provide a digital record from the mine onwards.

How sustainable is natural diamond mining?

<H3> How sustainable is natural diamond mining?

Sustainable diamond (opens in a new window) initiatives can include land rehabilitation, biodiversity protection and renewable energy, while natural diamond recovery can also support employment, local businesses and infrastructure in producing countries.

Is sustainability in lab-grown diamonds measurable or estimated?

Some impacts, including energy use, can be measured, but sustainability also depends on energy sources, production methods, and raw materials. Understanding the true cost of lab-grown diamonds (opens in a new window) means considering these factors alongside environmental claims.