Carbon Emissions
Mined Diamonds: Extracting diamonds from the earth is no small feat. It involves heavy machinery, explosives, and significant fossil fuel consumption. The result? Around 160 kg of CO₂ per carat mined. Not exactly low impact.
Lab-Grown Diamonds: The numbers vary depending on how they’re made. Traditional lab-grown diamonds using fossil-fuel energy can emit up to 40 kg of CO₂ per carat—already a fraction of mined diamonds. But here’s the exciting part: When produced with renewable energy, emissions can drop to as low as 6 kg per carat. Some new players in the industry have even achieved carbon-neutral certification.
Water Usage
Mined Diamonds: On average, mining one carat of diamond consumes 480 litres of water—a major issue in already water-stressed regions.
Lab-Grown Diamonds: Growing a diamond in a controlled environment uses around 70 litres of water per carat, significantly reducing overall consumption.
Land & Biodiversity
Mined Diamonds: Large-scale excavation, deforestation, and habitat destruction are all part of the process. Open-pit mining alone can leave behind gaping craters visible from space.
Lab-Grown Diamonds: Since they’re created in industrial facilities, lab diamonds don’t require mass land displacement. No topsoil removal, no disrupted ecosystems—just diamonds, minus the scars on the planet.
Ethical & Human Impact
Mined Diamonds: The ethical concerns surrounding mined diamonds are well-documented. Even with regulations like the Kimberley Process, issues such as exploitative labour practices and conflict financing (blood diamonds) persist.
Lab-Grown Diamonds: Because they are made in controlled environments, lab diamonds eliminate concerns about conflict funding and unethical labour conditions. A win for people as well as the planet.
Energy Sources
The sustainability of a lab-grown diamond hinges on its energy source.
Fossil Fuel-Powered Labs: Lower impact than mining, but still carbon-heavy.
Renewable Energy Labs: The gold standard. Solar, wind, or hydro-powered facilities cut emissions dramatically, making lab diamonds one of the most sustainable fine jewelry choices available.
Waste
Mined Diamonds: The process generates up to 1,000 tonnes of waste rock per carat mined. That’s not a typo.
Lab-Grown Diamonds: Waste is minimal, mainly limited to industrial byproducts that are easier to manage and far less environmentally destructive.
Let’s be real: No industry is perfect. But lab-grown diamonds, when done right, are a seismic shift in how we think about luxury and sustainability.
At Adamas, we champion every positive step forward—supporting renewable energy production, prioritizing water recycling, and ensuring the highest environmental standards. Sustainability isn’t just a trend for us; it’s a commitment.
Because true luxury should never come at the cost of people or the planet.