Exploring Sustainable Diamond Mining and Lab-Grown Alternatives
On October 28, 2022, Artemis GEO hosted an event featuring guest speaker Iris Van Der Veken. Iris shared insights into her start-up collaboration with Cartier & Kering, focusing on sustainability and gender equality. During the evening, an audience member asked, “Why do we still mine diamonds when laboratories can perfectly replicate them?”
This question struck me. The event’s theme, “Sustainability,” sparked an important debate: Which is more sustainable—mined diamonds or lab-grown diamonds? This debate continues in the jewellery trade, raising essential questions about the true meaning of sustainability.
What is Artisanal Small-Scale (ASM) Mining?
Diamonds form naturally deep within the Earth. Carbon under intense pressure creates diamonds, which rise closer to the surface over time. Today, around ten million people globally rely on diamond mining for their livelihoods, with ASM miners making up about 20% of this workforce.
ASM miners work independently, extracting minerals with basic tools, usually by hand, and without corporate employment. Many live in remote, rural areas and depend on mining as their primary income source.
The Lab-Grown Diamond Landscape
High-tech factories now produce lab-grown diamonds, which mimic natural diamonds. In 2019, China produced over half of the world’s lab-grown diamonds, sending 85% of its output to Europe. With high-quality lab-grown diamonds available, it’s fair to ask, “Why keep mining diamonds at all?”
This question is valid, yet I wonder: would ending natural diamond mining lead to true sustainability? Stopping ASM mining would remove livelihoods from millions, pushing vulnerable communities into deeper poverty. Can we really call that a sustainable move?
Sustainability in Diamonds versus Lab-grown Diamonds
If the world shifted solely to lab-grown diamonds, about two million ASM miners would lose their income, plunging rural communities into even more hardship. ASM mining is vital in developing countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, where many families rely on it for survival.
In contrast, lab-grown diamonds often come from factories in countries known for poor working conditions and environmental issues. Though lab-grown diamonds avoid direct extraction from nature, we still need to ask: do they offer a truly sustainable alternative?
Defining Sustainability Beyond the Surface
To me, sustainability means more than just protecting the Earth. It means securing a future where people and nature can coexist harmoniously. Real sustainability supports both environmental health and human welfare, providing safe work, fair wages, and equal opportunities.
By improving ASM diamond mining with fair policies, safety standards, and gender equality, we can strengthen communities. With these standards in place, miners can earn a fair living and send their children to school.
Can Diamond Mining Be Sustainable?
Although gold, diamonds, and gemstones will eventually run out, sustainable mining practices can protect both the planet and its people. True sustainability doesn’t rely on endless resource extraction; it prioritizes responsible practices.
Fairmined’s work shows that sustainable mining can succeed. This organization supports ASM gold miners in Colombia and Peru, ensuring fair wages, safe conditions, and sustainable practices. Fairmined gold is traceable from mine to market, with circular water use and land restoration in place.
We can adopt these standards in diamond mining. The problem isn’t the resource itself but how we extract it. By focusing on safety, gender equality, and environmental stewardship, we can support communities and conserve natural resources responsibly.
Sustainable mining balances human welfare with planetary health. By refining our methods rather than focusing solely on the products we extract, we can ensure a future where both people and the environment thrive.
Interested in finding out more about commissioning responsibly sources raw materials for your bespoke jewellery? Contact Saskia directly via email or book an appointment and visit her in the workshop to discuss your ideas.
