Pandora Adds Carbon Footprint Labels to Lab-Grown Diamonds as Fifth Consumer Criterion

Jewellery company Pandora has introduced carbon footprint labelling for each of its lab-grown diamonds, providing consumers with emissions data alongside traditional Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat information. The company noted that its lab-grown diamonds carry a carbon footprint roughly 90% lower than their mined counterparts, with calculations verified by EY.

Pandora stopped using mined diamonds in 2021 and now uses only lab-grown diamonds made with 100% renewable energy. The company completed the transition to 100% recycled silver and gold in its jewellery in 2024. The carbon footprint data covers all emissions from the diamond crafting process, from raw material production to cutting and polishing, and has been calculated by external life-cycle assessment experts. Pandora said it intends to share its methodology with other jewellery makers to drive greater transparency across the industry.

The introduction of product-level carbon labelling in the luxury goods sector reflects increasing consumer expectations for transparency on the environmental impact of purchases. Pandora is positioning carbon footprint data as a new competitive dimension — the '5th C' — enabling consumers to factor climate impact into purchasing decisions alongside conventional quality criteria. The move also serves as a differentiation strategy, as the luxury jewellery market increasingly segments around sustainability credentials.

Product-level carbon footprint labelling is gaining traction across consumer categories globally, driven by regulatory requirements in markets including the EU and voluntary corporate transparency initiatives. For Indian consumers and retailers engaging with international luxury and consumer goods brands, the emergence of standardised carbon labelling norms will increasingly influence import decisions and retail partnerships. Pandora's methodology, validated by EY, may serve as a reference for life-cycle assessment standards in the jewellery and accessories segment.

Key figure — Lab-grown diamonds carry a carbon footprint approximately 90% lower than mined diamonds