One of Etico Bella's missions is to raise awareness around the injustices and unsustainability in the Jewellery and gemstone trade.
These issues come in many forms such as...
Environmental impacts:
Gemstone mining causes severe environmental damage, including deforestation, water pollution, and soil degradation. In Madagascar, sapphire mining has destroyed over 100,000 hectares of forest, while Sri Lanka’s gem pits contaminate rivers with heavy metals. Mining generates massive waste—up to 6,000 kg of debris per 1 kg of gems—and leaves land barren, as seen in India’s emerald mines. Mercury and cyanide used in extraction poison ecosystems, harming wildlife and communities. Additionally, the industry’s carbon footprint is substantial, with diamond mining emitting 160 kg of CO₂ per carat. Unregulated practices, like Myanmar’s jade mining, trigger landslides and river siltation. Without sustainable reforms, gemstone extraction will continue devastating ecosystems and exacerbating climate change.
Social impacts:
Gemstone mining fuels exploitation, conflict, and health crises. Today it is estimated that over 1 million children are involved in the mining industry. Enduring hazardous conditions for less than $2/day, as evident in Madagascar’s sapphire trade. Toxic mercury exposure and silicosis plague workers. An estimated 20% of gems may fund violence, like Myanmar’s ruby-funded military. Indigenous communities face displacement, such as Brazil’s emerald-driven land grabs. Despite high retail prices, miners receive just 5-10% of profits, trapping them in poverty. Child labor in Afghanistan’s lapis mines and deadly accidents in Colombia highlight systemic neglect. Ethical reforms—fair wages, traceable sourcing, and bans on child labor—are urgently needed to end these injustices and ensure gems don’t come at human cost.
