India is one of the lab-grown diamond industry’s biggest exporters, and many producers are racing to make the best product at the cheapest price. Unfortunately, this often means cutting costs when it comes to energy sources. Many opt to use the most inexpensive options, which are often the most detrimental to the environment.

Recent reports have revealed that India’s capital city, New Delhi, has air pollution levels so bad it’s taking 12 years off the city’s inhabitants. While this pollution has traditionally been attributed to farmers who prepare their fields by burning them, many experts say it comes from the construction sector, the transport sector and coal-burning power plants – which power many of the lab-diamond producers.

But how can lab-grown diamonds contribute to the environmental downfall of a whole country? National Jeweller reported that lab diamond production in India has increased by 10 times in the past five to seven years – producing millions of lab diamonds annually. While India, much like China, is at the forefront of technical developments, it also benefits from the knowledge and infrastructure to support the processing, cutting and polishing of gemstones. So, it’s no surprise they have been quick to jump on the lab diamond bandwagon. A major problem in the industry is that it’s incorrectly assumed that lab-grown diamonds are always eco-friendly. Unless a brand can explicitly give you details on the stone's journey from production to the final product – there could be a reason they don’t want you to know.

While lab-grown diamonds don’t disrupt the environment in the way mined diamonds do, if the energy used is detrimental, like the grid electricity from coal-fed power plants, the level of production in India means it’s more than likely that this is causing a significant impact on the environment. 

The solution here isn’t to stop buying lab-grown diamonds from India, as they are already one of the leaders in terms of volume production and technical advancement. The answer is to invest in solutions that provide better options to those in this sector in India. Brands looking to make a real impact and lead the market must work with partners in their supply chain. Making changes like these may cost more in the short term, but they also increase the value of products while creating a beautiful story.

Making significant changes like this, however, requires a lot of admin. However, assuming that your supply partner also supplies to other brands can help make significant changes not only in the fine jewellery industry but also in the environment. 

At Clear Neutral, we take the headache out of ensuring the transparency of your supply chain. We support projects like the development of renewable energy plants in India, bearing in mind that these energy plants will benefit many industries – not just lab-grown diamond production. As we act impartially, we only partner with companies that can legitimately show sound environmental practices. Working with us means stepping towards a cleaner world for generations to come.

Photo by Abhay Singh