What's the truth about lab-grown diamonds?
People often wonder if lab-grown diamonds are better for the environment. It's a good question and in essence, the answer is, "It depends." It depends on what processes and principles are used when manufacturing these diamonds. So how is a person supposed to make an informed decision? Currently, demand for lab-grown diamonds continues to grow, especially among younger consumers who are increasingly concerned about environmental, social, and corporate responsibility (ESG). Now there is help for consumers to sort out the sustainability of their diamond choice whether natural or lab-grown.
Consumers are increasingly demanding that the diamonds they purchase meet the highest standards of ethical and environmental responsibility, protecting people and the planet.
That clarity is here and now, in the transparent form of a new, scientifically rigorous, multi-layered certified sustainability-rated diamond standard, called SCS-007. Offering independently verified proof of a diamond’s origin and journey through the chain of custody using evidence-based information,SCS-007 Jewelry Sustainability Standard – Sustainability Rated Diamonds, the first comprehensive, multi-stakeholder sustainability standard developed for the diamond sector, satisfies this demand.
This groundbreaking certification standard applies to both natural and laboratory-grown diamonds, including any entity that handles the diamonds on their way to market. The standard establishes unprecedented benchmarks of performance and transparency, featuring: 1) stringent environmental, social and governance (ESG) achievement; 2) climate neutrality; 3) sustainable production practices with net zero impact; 4) comprehensive origin traceability for the highest possible source-to-market certainty; and 5) sustainability investments that support vulnerable communities, reduce net impacts further, and contribute to a safer world.
All of this is backed by independent, third-party certification. No other standard provides this level of assurance to jewellery manufacturers, retailers or their customers.
In late June 2021, Latitude a lab-grown diamond company that’s a division of the Washington D.C.-based WD Lab Grown Diamonds opened a new chapter in jewelry history by announcing that it is the world’s first and only diamond company to produce lab-grown diamonds that are carbon neutral, and what’s more, climate neutral. While diamonds have long been evaluated based on their cut, color, clarity and carat weight (collectively known as the 4 Cs), Latitude embodies the 5th C, or climate neutrality.
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