The Environmental Impact of Diamonds: Mined vs Lab-Grown
The Environmental Impacts And Sustainable Pathways Of The Global Diamond Industry analyzes the environmental impacts of lab-grown diamonds compared to mined diamonds.
Researchers have developed a Diamond Environmental Impacts Estimation (DEIE) model to assess the greenhouse gas emissions, mineral waste, and water usage in the diamond mining industry. The study focused on the top five diamond-producing countries: Australia, Russia, Botswana, DR Congo, and South Africa, which accounted for 73% of global diamond output in 2020.
The Findings
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Diamond mining produces significantly higher GHG emissions compared to other metal industries. Producing one ton of diamonds generates twice the emissions of gold mining and 30,000 times that of iron ore mining.
- Mineral Waste: The diamond industry generates an astonishing amount of mineral waste - up to 2 million tons per ton of diamonds produced. This is 105 million times more waste than nickel mining.
- Water Usage: Diamond mining operations consume 1.92 times more water than gold mining and 52,345 times more water than bauxite and alumina production.
Future Projections
The study presents two scenarios for the future of the diamond industry: SSP1-1.9 (a more sustainable path) and SSP2-2.6 (a moderate challenges scenario). Under these scenarios, by 2100:
- Annual GHG emissions could reach 9.65 to 13.26 million tons
- Mineral waste could amount to 422.80 to 582.84 million tons
- Water usage could range from 78.68 to 107.95 million cubic meters
The Environmental Promise of Lab-Grown Diamonds
As an alternative to mined diamonds, lab-grown diamonds offer significant environmental benefits:
- Reduced Emissions: By 2100, lab-grown diamonds could reduce GHG emissions by up to 9.58 million tons annually under the most optimistic scenario.
- Waste Reduction: Lab-grown diamonds could decrease mineral waste by 305.45 to 421.06 million tons by 2100, equivalent to twice the total municipal waste of China. This reduction in waste could save 714 million cubic meters of landfill space.
- Water Conservation: Water savings could reach over 10 million cubic meters annually by 2100.
Practical Implications
The environmental benefits of lab-grown diamonds extend beyond mere numbers:
- The reduced mineral waste could free up land equivalent to growing 255 million kilograms of rice.
- This amount of rice could potentially feed 436 million people and liberate 1.19 million households from hunger within one year.
The environmental impacts of diamond mining are substantial and far-reaching. As we move towards a more sustainable future, the shift towards lab-grown diamonds presents a promising solution. Not only do they offer a more sustainable alternative, but they also help conserve valuable resources and reduce the industry's carbon footprint.