What is the environmental impact of diamond jewelry? As consumers become more conscious of their purchasing decisions, accurate information is needed. Whether you’re looking for an engagement ring or a gift for a special occasion, choosing a diamond is important. Below, we’ve analyzed the environmental impact of diamond jewelry. Whether recycled diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, or mined diamonds, here’s how the diamond industry affects Mother Earth.
The most ecological diamonds
What is the environmental impact of diamond jewelry? As consumers become more conscious of their purchasing decisions, accurate information is needed. Whether you’re looking for an engagement ring or a gift for a special occasion, choosing a diamond is important. Below, we’ve analyzed the environmental impact of diamond jewelry. Whether recycled diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, or mined diamonds, here’s how the diamond industry affects Mother Earth.
The environmental impact of industrial diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are also known as synthetic diamonds. They are chemically and physically identical to mined diamonds but can be manufactured within a few weeks. They are not associated with conflict, but they do have an environmental impact. The energy required to provide the heat and pressure needed to manufacture a diamond in a lab is no small feat. According to a 2025 Trucost report commissioned by the Diamond Producers Association, lab-grown diamond production generates, on average, three times more carbon emissions than ground-grown diamond mining. While this report doesn’t provide an accurate picture of the environmental costs associated with lab-grown and mined diamond production (as the sample data only covers 52% of global ground-mined diamond production), there’s no doubt that each of these processes uses a significant amount of energy, which it certainly uses. In 2025, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission also warned against deceptive marketing of lab-grown diamonds as “environmentally friendly” and “sustainable,” saying diamond companies should avoid such claims unless they can provide proof.
Mined diamonds have a serious environmental impact.
To obtain natural diamonds, they must be mined . Diamond mining takes place in countries such as Angola, Australia, Botswana, Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Russia, South Africa, and Sierra Leone. The mining process has a significant impact on the environment, including the use of valuable natural resources, negative ecological impacts, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Some of the negative environmental impacts that diamond jewelry can have as a result of mining are
- Ground disturbance. More than 150 million carats of diamonds are extracted from the earth each year, which means large amounts of earth are moved for processing. A 1.0-carat rough diamond requires the removal of approximately 1,750 tons of earth.
- Energy consumption and emissions. Diamond mining involves the use of electricity and hydrocarbons such as diesel, marine gas, oil, and gasoline. One of the byproducts of electricity and hydrocarbons is carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) emissions, which significantly contribute to global warming and climate change.
- Waste. Waste from diamond mining includes oil, paper, scrap metal, batteries, plastic, and glass.
- Water depletion: Mining requires water, which depletes an already dwindling natural resource. Furthermore, each carat of diamond mined requires approximately 126 gallons of fresh water, which means the release of wastewater and pollutants into surface waters.
- Loss of biodiversity. When land is cleared for diamond mining, surrounding ecosystems are destroyed, and native plants and animals are displaced. Habitat destruction can lead to the extinction of species that survive on the destroyed land.
Some positive opinions about the social impact of diamond mining are that it provides employment opportunities for local communities. However, others argue that diamond mining has negative social impacts, such as poor working conditions.
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