The Sustainability of Lab-Created Diamonds: 5 Reasons To Go Lab

Diamonds Can Be Everyone’s Best Friend

Diamonds are a symbol of love and luxury often coveted for use in engagement rings. While their rise in popularity only emerged in the 1940’s, their beauty and strength allowed them to stand the test of time. Diamonds are uniquely durable and along with their sparkle, this makes them the perfect gemstone for everyday wear. However, the traditional diamond industry has faced criticism due to its environmental and ethical impacts. So what do you do when you want the lasting appeal of a diamond with none of the environmental downsides?

Enter lab-created diamonds, a more sustainable alternative to the traditional mined diamonds previous generations once coveted, and all at a lower price point.

However, lab-created diamonds are more than just a cost-effective alternative. They represent a major leap forward in terms of sustainability in an industry that is no stranger to both environmental and human rights violations, but don’t just take our word for it; here are five reasons why lab diamonds are the more sustainable choice.

1: Reduced Environmental Impact

Diamonds can form naturally under the earth. In a process that can span billions of years, carbon atoms take advantage of high temperatures and intense pressure deep within the ground to transform themselves into the beautiful stones we see in stores. Traditional diamond mining involves massive soil and rock removal to reach the depths these stones are buried, often leading to severe environmental consequences. When topsoil is removed, the land that is left is more vulnerable. Elements, like wind and water, can damage an ecosystem beyond repair leading to landslides, soil erosion, deforestation, and ecosystem disruption. 

Lab-created diamonds, on the other hand, require a controlled environment with little impact on the land. This results in significantly less disruption to natural ecosystems and a drastic reduction on environmental impact. A great step in the right direction as we see the importance of sustainability rise around the world. 

2: Lower Water Usage

One of the significant environmental advantages of lab-created diamonds is their considerably lower water usage. A report from the Diamond Producers Association revealed that lab-created diamonds result in three times less water usage compared to natural diamonds. This is a significant advantage, especially in water-scarce regions.

Not only do mined diamonds use considerably more water, but mining’s effects on the natural environment create routes for water pollution to reach the surrounding environment. Once the topsoil is removed and erosion sets in, new paths for murky, chemical ridden water take place reaching the main water supplies. When erosion slips into the waterways, what’s left is a devastating toll on not only the environment but the people who rely on these water supplies for daily use. 

3: Reduced Carbon Emissions

When it comes to carbon emissions, lab-created diamonds are far superior to natural diamonds. Lab-created diamonds have a seven times lower carbon footprint than natural diamonds, according to the same report from the Diamond Producers Association. This reduction in carbon emissions contributes to the fight against climate change, making lab-created diamonds a more sustainable choice.

While the creation of lab diamonds are not yet totally carbon neutral, we do see advancement in many lab’s efforts to reduce their uses. Solar power has been introduced in many labs to offset the carbon footprint in hopes of a truly sustainable choice when it comes to natural diamond alternatives. 

4: Ethical Considerations

Lab-created diamonds also offer significant ethical advantages. They eradicate the risk of so-called "blood diamonds" or conflict diamonds, which are stones mined in war zones and sold to finance armed conflicts against governments. This has been a major concern in the diamond industry for decades, but with lab-created diamonds, this issue becomes obsolete.

Even with processes in place to help increase the ethical impact of mined diamonds, they often pass through many hands, making their origins murky. The Kimberley Process was developed in 2003 to stop the flow of conflict diamonds. It is set to safeguard the transportation and trade of rough diamonds to ensure the stones are originating from a place that are “conflict free,” but with the convoluted supply chain — a mined diamond can pass hands nearly 2 dozen times during production — you really can’t be 100% sure that a mined diamond is conflict-free.

5: Future Sustainability

Lab-created diamonds represent the future of sustainable gemstones. As technology continues to advance, we can expect this trend towards lab-created diamonds to grow. Consumers now have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and brilliance of diamonds without the guilt associated with environmental harm or ethical concerns.

With steps in place to ensure their processes are as eco-friendly as possible, many diamond labs are gearing up to be carbon neutral within the next few years. As technology advances and its environmental impact diminish, there is hope for a truly sustainable alternative, but lab diamonds are just the beginning in a growing effort to create jewelry and gemstones that are not only beautiful to wear but ethically sourced. 

Final Thoughts

Lab-created diamonds offer a compelling, more sustainable, and ethical alternative to natural diamonds. They provide a viable solution to the environmental and ethical issues associated with the traditional diamond industry. As we move towards a more sustainable future, lab-created diamonds are undoubtedly the gemstone of choice.