Are diamonds biodegradable? (3 eco-friendly diamonds)

The article will discuss the biodegradability of diamonds while also covering topics such as

Are diamonds sustainable?
What are eco-friendly diamonds?
How long do diamonds take to degrade?
What makes diamonds non-eco-friendly?

Are diamonds biodegradable?

Diamonds can not be given the status of being biodegradable because, under natural conditions, diamonds will last for millions of years.

By definition, biodegradation is the breakdown into simpler materials such as carbon dioxide, water et cetera. This breakdown is caused by microbes. As a result, there is decreased waste generation and assimilation.

However, there are certain conditions that are deemed necessary for biodegradation to exist. These include

The material must be sourced from nature
The material must be organic
The material must degrade under natural conditions

When it comes to the case of diamonds, diamonds are technically organic in nature and they are mined too. This makes them naturally sourced as well.

However, due to the exceptional chemistry of diamonds, diamonds can last for millions of years. As per some estimates, diamonds may last for up to 3.5 billion years. The years are staggering as it seems.

Is diamond non-biodegradable in all conditions?

If you need to biodegrade a diamond, you will need to provide exceptional temperature and pressure. Under the influence of high temperature and pressure, diamonds can degrade by the action of microbes into graphite.

Graphite is the pure form of carbon and therefore, this graphite can assimilate and be utilised back into nature.

How long does a diamond take to degrade?

The time taken, when it comes to the case of real diamonds, is actually quite staggering. As per studies, real diamonds under natural conditions will require billions of years and this is just a code for never.

However, if external conditions are optimised such as high temperature and high pressure, then the diamond can degrade readily into graphite.

However, there are not just real diamonds. There is also the lab-grown diamond that takes up space in the consumer market.

However, it is claimed that lab-grown diamonds come along with the same qualities and therefore, the time required for the lab-grown diamonds to degrade is similar to the Earth-mined diamonds.

Are diamonds eco-friendly?

An attempt to answer these questions leads to the opening of many doors. There are several factors that will render diamonds either sustainable or not sustainable.

Therefore, before developing a stance on the eco-friendliness or sustainability of diamonds, let us scrutinise the points that are pivotal in making the backbone of the stance.

The mining

The mining of diamonds can not be said to be eco-friendly because there is a multitude of environmental anomalies that spring from the mining process.

For example, one of the issues that are usually associated with the mining of diamonds is that the mining of diamonds happens at the expense of non-renewable sources of energy.

This means that fossil fuels are consumed for the mining process which not only leads to the depletion of non-renewable sources of energy but also the generation of environmental problems such as global warming, and climate change – to name a few.

Another issue that is associated with the mining of diamonds is the blatant avoidance of human rights that results in the deviation of many points of the SDGs of 2030.

As per a study, for every carat that is mined, there are serious environmental repercussions such as

250 tons of soil being removed
Billions of gallons of water being contaminated
127 gallons of fresh water being used
143 pounds of air pollution gets emitted

Therefore, in light of these points, the mining process of diamonds is anything but sustainable and must be remediated if we want to save our planet.

The use

The use of diamonds has no significant impact on the environment because of the fact that the use is not linked with any emissions.

However, any transport or logistics associated will take a toll on the environment because, after the mining process, the raw materials have to be taken to the labs.

The disposal

The disposal of diamonds actually depends subjectively. If the users are eco-friendly and have a green mindset, there will not be detrimental impacts.

However, in the other case, there will be significant environmental impacts because not only it will render more mining, the misused and improper disposal will lead to detrimental impacts since it has been covered that diamonds can not be given the status of being biodegradable under natural conditions.

Are there any eco-friendly diamonds?

Yes, as it turns out, there are eco-friendly diamonds as well that have the least environmental impact, and have equal value but the catch here is that these diamonds are a lot cheaper than earth-mined diamonds.

Below are some examples of eco-friendly diamonds

Reused diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds
Carbon negative diamonds

Reused diamonds

First in line we have reused diamonds. These diamonds are not different from earth-mined diamonds but the basic point that is there is that when diamonds are reused, recut, or resized; then they will not be needed to mine again and this will save us from the negative and detrimental impacts of mining that takes a lot of toll on the environment.

Lab-grown diamonds

Lab-grown diamonds are very similar to earth-mined diamonds. However, these diamonds contribute to fewer environmental problems and more than that, are also considered to be cheaper as the laborious mining is omitted.

The physical and chemical properties are the same in both earth-mined and synthetic diamonds as millions of years of the creation process are imitated in the labs to make synthetic diamonds. These diamonds are becoming increasingly popular because of both the environmental and economic advantages that they have to offer.

Carbon-negative diamonds

This is another remarkable example of eco-friendly diamonds because what happens is that the carbon that is out there (resulting in global warming and other environmental anomalies) is utilised to make diamonds.

Therefore, there is a win-win for both the industry (diamond) and the environment.

Conclusion

It is concluded that Diamonds can not be given the status of being biodegradable because, under natural conditions, diamonds will last for millions of years.