Pandora, the world’s biggest jeweler, has recently taken a stand on mined diamonds and declared that they would only be using lab-grown diamonds from now on.
Mined diamonds have been an ethical and environmental concern for years, due to poor labor practices and immense damage to the environment. Â
Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, are identically the same to the naturally occurring gems found in the earth; they are significantly less harmful to the environment as they are created within the constraints of a lab, cutting out the need for labor and mining.
The Danish brand announced earlier this week that they would heed to consumers’ calls for more sustainable alternatives and no longer sell products made with mined diamonds.
In an interview with the BBC, Pandora’s chief executive, Alexander Lacik, noted that the change was “the right thing to do” and that it was a more economically wise decision.
“We can essentially create the same outcome as nature has created, but at a very, very different price,” Lacik said, noting that the lab-grown diamonds can be made for a third of what it takes to source those from the ground.
Pandora has been already been recognized as a sustainability leader in the jewelry industry, with their pledge to forgo newly mined metals and use recycled silver and gold, as well as their commitment to utilize renewable energy in the manufacturing of lab diamonds.
Notably, international organization Human Rights Watch ranked Pandora as “strong” in taking serious steps towards responsible sourcing.
The company’s initiatives resonate well with the younger generation, who now lean more towards transparent, conflict-free, and sustainable products. In fact, the lab-grown diamond market is now progressing at a faster rate than the overall diamond market.
Their new collection, Pandora Brilliance, is the first lab-grown diamond collection. While consumers in the UK can now check out the company’s ethically made gems, others will have to wait until next year for their global launch.
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