roduce the majority of the world’s diamonds. De Beers has made unethical choices, including operating a cartel in the US and artificially propping up prices. The company also contributed to numerous taxes in South Africa, which led to migrant workers living in poor conditions [St. Antoninus Institute].
Happily, there are several companies that understand the importance of respecting human rights along the supply chain! Here are a few companies known for their ethical standards:
Tiffany & Co.
What are these companies doing right? Some, like Brilliant Earth, simplify their supply chains by working with laborers directly to ensure those workers receive a greater share of economic value [read more]. Some companies are supporting the development of fair trade diamonds (for which there is no certification yet). Additionally, some ethical companies like to source their diamonds from Canada or Botswana, because these countries have labor rights protections in place [Huffington Post]. In Botswana, diamond revenues actually go back into enriching the society – and we hope to see more countries follow this trend (too many governments keep the revenues to themselves for political power).
Now that you know, we hope that consumers who like a little glam can pause to think about the sourcing of diamonds and the practices of the companies they like. When you know what your money supports you can make responsible decisions, and you can feel better about your purchase! To learn about organizations that are geared toward human rights along the diamond supply chain, visit these links:
Partnership Africa Canada (PAC): http://www.pacweb.org/en/
Diamond Development Initiative (DDI): http://www.ddiglobal.org/
Madison Dialogue: http://www.fairjewelry.org/madison-dialogue-standards-for-ethical-diamonds/
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI): http://eiti.org/
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KCPS): http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/
Questions? Comments? Talk to us @phbalancedfilms or Facebook.
Editor's Note: Thanks to Becky Ballard for her research, which contributed to this post.