Beyond the sparkle and shine of our rings and watches, very few of us ever think about the origins of our jewellery or whether our favourite pieces are sustainable.  

While the industry produces over 180 million tonnes of waste yearly, the good news is that jewellery designers, metal suppliers and retailers are now turning to tech to make pieces without massive environmental effects. Think dazzling lab-grown diamonds, without the waste.  

Here’s how you can be more sustainable when purchasing your next piece of jewellery. 

 

How sustainable is the jewellery industry? 

 

 

As we become more environmentally conscious, consumers and investors increasingly question the sustainability of the companies they purchase from. Most people are now willing to pay a little extra for products that produce less environmental damage. 

Recent data reveals 88% of people are willing to pay more for fashion products with a lower environmental impact. Meanwhile, 67% of consumers are happy to purchase products made from recycled materials and environmentally friendly packaging. As a result, experts predict that in the upcoming years, people will be three times more likely to buy fine jewellery products if they know a company’s sustainability policy. 

So why not get ahead of the fashion game, lead the way for sustainable jewellery and check out Abbott Lyon’s exclusive range of jewellery made from over 90% recycled materials?

The jewellery industry is expected to reach 382-billion-pound sterling by 2025 as consumer demand for fine jewellery and more precious metals and gemstones are being used. 

 

 

Even though ‘diamonds are forever’, the earth is not, especially if we continue the mining and manufacturing practices that harm the environment, such as soil erosion and contamination from toxic chemicals like cyanide and mercury. Metal mining is the most significant contributor to toxic pollution, in which mining companies generate approximately 20 tonnes of toxic waste for every 0.333-ounce gold ring. 

As consumer demands and technology evolve, jewellery developers are becoming more creative in discovering ways to imitate gemstones and precious metals. For example, blockchains and lab-grown diamonds offer more sustainable alternatives. 

 

The Most Sustainable Gemstones: Ranked

 

When it comes to sustainability, some gemstones rank better than others when you take into account where they come from and the environmental impact of bringing them into the UK from overseas.

Tanzanite from Tanzania with 539kg of emissions, and emeralds from Zambia with 573kg. Emeralds are the 3rd most popular gemstone in the UK, with around 3,600 searches in the UK every month. Tanzanite is one of the UK’s least popular gems, with only around 880 searches, whereas diamonds sit in the middle at 2,900 UK searches each month on average.

The least sustainable gems to buy in the UK when it comes to CO2 emissions are opal, topaz and aquamarine - these travel from countries like Australia and Brazil, so they have a much larger environmental impact than those lower on the list. Opals are one of the most searched for gems in the UK, with well over 4,000 UK online searches every month, showing that there’s a potential problem with sustainability when it comes to buying these gemstones in the UK.

 

Gemstone	Country Most Commonly Mined From	CO2 Emissions of Travel to UK; KG
Tanzanite	Tanzania	539
Emerald	Zambia	573
Pearl	China	594
Sapphire	Sri Lanka	652
Garnet	Sri Lanka	652
Ruby	Myanmar	662
Peridot	Myanmar	662
Amethyst	Brazil	698
Aquamarine	Brazil	698
Topaz	Brazil	698
Opal	Australia	1,392

 

What are lab-grown diamonds? 

 

Don’t be fooled by the name; lab-grown diamonds are just as natural as mined diamonds. But the only difference is that these unique kinds of diamonds are built by scientists using expert technology rather than digging them up from the ground. 

Scientists can reproduce and replicate the same physical characteristics as natural diamonds, sitting at the top end scale of each 5C’s – colour, cut, clarity, carat weight and certification. 

Built under the same natural conditions as a natural diamond from a million years ago, lab-grown diamonds are created from carbon atoms in a lattice crystal structure.  They’re all created individually and have the same unique characteristics that you’d expect to see from a mined diamond - it’s not about creating identical, “cookie-cutter” diamonds.

Traditionally mined diamonds have a lot more value in price, as the average cost of a 1.19-carat diamond is £6,200*– whereas the price of a synthetic lab-grown diamond weighing 1.13 carats costs approximately £1.3K*. 

 

 

Abbott Lyon’s Promise to The Environment 

 

At Abbott Lyon, we take being an ethical and sustainable jewellery brand very seriously; we’re working hard behind the scenes to incorporate this into everything we do. By reducing our environmental impact as a business, we aim to make more conscious decisions as we embark on our sustainability journey. 

Using high-quality recycled materials, luxury recyclable packaging where possible, and ethical suppliers, we want to do good and make our products look good! 

All of our jewellery is made from 60% recycled stainless steel, 80% recycled brass or over 90% recycled 925 sterling silver. And for an eco-friendlier option, we use cubic zirconia stones, which create far less CO2 emission than mined stones. For our pearl jewellery collection, we are proud to have established a vegan range and do not use pearls that have been oyster-harvested.

All the paper used in our packaging is FSC certified, meaning it’s made with materials that support responsible forestry and adhere to strict environmental, social, and economic standards. Meanwhile, our sterling silver products are certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council, the leading standards authority in the global jewellery industry, working to create a sustainable supply chain.

 

Find out more about sustainability at Abbott Lyon.

 

Where can I buy lab-grown diamonds? 

 

Discover Abbott Lyon’s luxurious range of lab-grown diamonds, available in all types of jewellery, from chain necklaces, earrings, rings, and pendants. Each piece of jewellery has been intricately designed to have a lustrous finish, handcrafted from 92.5% pure recycled 925 Sterling Silver and a 5-year warranty for extra peace of mind. 

 

 

 

*Please note that the diamond value given was the price at the time (May 2023). The value may increase or decrease depending on the climate.