We sell lab-grown diamonds. That is already a less resource-intensive choice than mined diamonds. But it does not make us exempt from thinking carefully about our wider impact. Here is where we are, and where we are heading.
Lab-grown diamonds and the environment
Lab-grown diamonds require significantly less land disturbance and water than mined diamonds. There is no open-pit mining, no large-scale earth displacement, and no disruption to local ecosystems. On those measures, the environmental case is straightforward.
The fuller picture includes energy. Growing diamonds in a lab is energy-intensive, and the carbon footprint depends heavily on how that energy is generated. Some facilities run on renewable sources; others do not. We are asking our suppliers for detailed emissions data. We do not yet have enough to publish specific figures, and we would rather be honest about that than make claims we cannot back up.
Packaging
Our exterior packaging is fully recyclable: envelopes, outer boxes, inserts, letterhead, and business cards. Where possible, these materials are FSC® certified, meaning they come from responsibly managed forests.
The one exception is the metal diamond container. We are currently looking into sustainable alternatives. Once we find one that protects the diamond properly, we will make the switch.
One tree per diamond
For every diamond sold, we fund one tree planting through the National Trust. It is a small, tangible action rather than a grand claim. Trees take decades to mature, and we think that is a fitting parallel to what a diamond represents.
We are not claiming this offsets the energy used to grow your diamond. We are doing it because it is a good thing to do, and because we would rather take practical steps than make sweeping environmental promises.