What is Sustainable Diamond?
A Changing Sector and Its Future
Today, in every field we can count, developments are published according to the goals of the United Nations until 2030. Automotive giants, city mayors, pharmaceutical companies, fast-moving consumer goods are just a few of them… And the jewelry industry is in this business now!
The dictionary meaning of Diamond, which is one of the first words that come to mind when it comes to jewelry, especially jewelry, is as follows: A precious stone consisting of a clear and colorless crystalline form of pure carbon, the hardest naturally occurring substance.
The expression “naturally formed” is of particular importance to me here, because it is now man-made, from tribal wars in Africa to extracting diamonds, carving, carving, etc. There is a technology that reduces carbon emissions in many areas: Sustainable Diamond.
There are many reasons to prefer this area, which is developing and growing day by day and whose name we have started to hear frequently. Reasons such as being environmentally friendly, causing fewer carbon emissions, ethically produced, and selling at a more affordable price are just a few but very valuable reasons for choosing sustainable diamonds/jewels.
Ryan Shearman is the founder and CEO of Aether Diamonds, which creates carbon-negative diamond jewelry explains “On average, up to 250 tons of earth are taken, 127 gallons of fresh water are used, billions of gallons of water are polluted with acid mine drainage, 143 pounds of air pollution are generated, and countless gallons of fossil fuels are spent for every one carat extracted from the ground.” Mining methods may have a wide range of negative consequences, including floods, drought, and deforestation.
Furthermore, diamond mining might be an immoral process at times. “Mines are frequently placed in areas where local populations’ needs are overlooked,” says the author. “Diamond mining has historically been done without respect for the social, environmental, and long-term ecological impact on local communities,” according to the report.
In daily life, we can see the “Blood Diamond” behind the colorful advertisements of many jewelry brands, once in the context of Ryan Sherman’s words. In this context, there are 3 different methods of using diamonds to make jewelry ethical, sustainable, or environmentally friendly. These are Recycled Diamonds, Lab-Grown Diamonds, Carbon-Negative Diamonds.
Recycled Diamonds
Diamonds that have been previously owned and reintroduced into the diamond supply chain are known as recycled diamonds. Recycled diamonds, sometimes known as reclaimed diamonds, are recut and repolished Old European cuts, contemporary cuts, or ancient diamonds.
A recycled diamond, for instance, may have been cut in the 1960s but has been recut to fit current criteria. In another sense, unless a diamond is clearly marked as recycled, there really is no way to determine. Reclaimed diamonds are both environmentally beneficial and ethical. They have been recycled rather than being mined for the first time. As a result, they have no negative influence on the environment or society.
Lab-Grown Diamonds
Lab-grown or synthesized diamonds are also considered environmentally friendly and are growing increasingly popular. Those gems are considered to be sustainable because they are not mined.
Laboratory-created diamonds are just approximately 2% of the jewelry industry, despite being a long-time staple of the industrial diamond business. However, the market is getting higher and consumers are having awareness of sustainable future and carbon footprint. So, sector leaders are aware of customer insights and they are trying to adapt to change because they know they have to adapt. Also, some sector leaders from Pandora to De Beers Group are investing in lab-grown diamonds, but the idea that they offer a sustainable alternative to mined stones could be misleading consumers.
Carbon-Negative Diamonds
As a great insight from the sector, the diamond business, as a component of the wider jewelry sector, is anticipated to emit at least 12 million metric tons of CO2 per year. So, the CO2 is then has been converted into a useful hydrocarbon that may be used to produce diamonds. The hydrocarbon raw ingredients are then put in strong reactors that generate the ideal growing habitat.
From start to end, 100 percent of the energy necessary comes from renewable and low-emission sources, ensuring that Aether Diamonds’ carbon-negative impact is maintained. This point of differentiation has not only resulted in the establishment of a completely new diamond segment, but it has also created a new voice as an immediate frontrunner in an industry where innovation is scarce.
Best,
Aleyna
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