Ethical diamond sourcing refers to ensuring that a diamond, such as a 1 carat diamond earrings, has been mined and traded in ways that support human rights, fair labor practices, and avoid contributing to conflict. This requires transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain, and innovative technologies like blockchain are helping to augment this process. This approach to sourcing will be increasingly important for consumers looking to make ethical choices when shopping for jewelry, especially engagement rings and other pieces like diamond earrings.
As the world has become more conscious of the impact that their consumer habits have on the planet, people have started to look for certifications on products to ensure that they are truly ethically sourced. This trend has naturally made its way into the diamond industry, with many consumers wanting to ensure that the gems they buy have not only been mined without funding violence, but that those who worked to mine them were paid a fair wage and were working in safe conditions.
The problem is that while the Kimberley Process has helped to stop blood diamonds from making their way into the glistening jewellery boxes of shoppers around the world, it does not do nearly enough. While the label “conflict free” does help to differentiate a product from a conflict diamond, it only applies to diamonds that were funded by rebel movements, and not to all conflict situations in the mining community. In addition, the label does not address other issues that are extremely detrimental to society, including governmental abuses of workers, child labour, habitat destruction, and illegal mining activities.
For this reason, pioneer ethical jewelers have moved beyond the Kimberley Process in their efforts to offer responsible and sustainable sourcing for natural diamonds. In some cases, this has meant avoiding certain countries where there are known conflicts. In others, it has involved partnering with companies who work in a more holistic manner to offer fully transparent, traceable diamonds that have been vetted by third-party sustainability verification systems.
In addition to working to ensure that workers are being paid fair wages and that their working conditions are safe, many ethical diamond and sustainable engagement ring companies also work to reduce the environmental footprint of their operations. This often involves using alternative energy sources to power mining operations, and implementing pollution control measures to keep water clean for local ecosystems.
The good news is that it is becoming much easier to find ethically sourced diamonds online, with many retailers offering a wide variety of beautiful and meaningful pieces. For example, Clean Origin is the largest direct-to-consumer retailer of purely lab-grown diamonds, meaning that customers can shop with confidence knowing they are buying an environmentally responsible and ethically sourced product. In addition, their lab-grown diamonds are vetted by independent and internationally recognized laboratories, so they can be guaranteed to have been created without any societal or environmental harm. For more information, check out their full range of ethically sourced and sustainable diamonds here.