Pandora adds carbon footprint labelling to lab-grown diamonds

Pandora has officially added carbon footprint data to its product information to allow customers to compare the environmental impact of its lab-grown diamond jewellery. 

The retailer will display the emissions data on its website next to the traditional 4Cs of diamond grading: cut, colour, clarity and carat.

The carbon footprint covers emissions from the initial raw material production through to the final cutting and polishing stages at the diamond facility.

A one carat lab-grown diamond from the retailer produces 12.58kg of CO2e, which is approximately 90% lower than a mined stone of the same size.

Pandora ceased using mined diamonds in 2021 and now produces its stones using 100% renewable electricity and recycled precious metals.

The emissions for a 14k gold Infinite ring featuring a one carat stone are now comparable to the carbon footprint of a pair of jeans.

External life-cycle assessment experts calculated the data, which was subsequently verified by the auditing firm EY in a publicly available study.

The company intends to share its methodology with other jewellery manufacturers to encourage transparency regarding sustainability within the global diamond sector.

Pandora lab-grown diamonds are currently available in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Denmark, with further international expansion planned for the collection.

Berta de Pablos-Barbier, chief executive of Pandora, said: “We believe the future is about making diamonds more accessible while giving customers clarity on what they’re buying. We craft our jewellery with sustainability in mind and by introducing the 5th C, we’re empowering consumers to make informed choices.

“As consumers demand greater knowledge of how their products are made, transparency is becoming a defining force for brands. We are happy to share our learnings with others.”