Sustainability
This year, we accomplished something major: We got our net-zero targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.
What is the Science Based Targets initiative?
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is an organization that helps companies and financial institutions set clear targets for decarbonization in line with the latest climate science.
What are science-based targets?
Science-based targets help companies reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. These targets guide emissions reduction strategies that use scientific data, think beyond the near-term, and create new opportunities by driving innovation and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.
So why does it matter?
These goals help us work smarter and spot opportunities to cut emissions through better products, services, and tech.
Our Greenhouse Gas Emissions
You can’t reduce what you don’t measure. So we have started with a big picture look at our emissions to see where they’re coming from and how we can reduce them.
Bar chart showing greenhouse gas emissions breakdown by category with percentages
Included in our 2024 Mission Disclosures and Goals are our SBTi near-term, long-term, and net-zero targets, our 2023 baseline and our 2024 GHG Inventory. Progress towards our SBTi targets will be reported annually in these Disclosures.
Optimizing Energy in Our Showrooms
We love meeting you IRL in our 40 showrooms (so far) across the US. For us, driving sustainability includes reducing our energy use in our retail fleet and our corporate spaces.
In 2022, we reevaluated the design of our new showrooms and created our green building standard to reduce energy use.
Since 2023, seven new showrooms across the US were constructed to use 30% less energy for lighting.
We know that transitioning to renewable energy across our retail fleet and corporate spaces is critical to meeting our targets. Our goal is that all showrooms across the US will buy renewable energy through their electricity providers by 2050. And while we work towards that goal, we purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) for all non-renewable energy use in showrooms and our corporate spaces.
In 2024, seven showrooms used renewable energy, and we transitioned six more showrooms to renewable energy use throughout the year.
All In on
Packaging
Wasteful packaging has no place in our business — so we have spent serious time and energy making sure ours is responsible and recyclable. Our packaging uses recycled materials made with less energy, less water, and fewer emissions.
Our fine jewelry boxes and shipper boxes have been redesigned to be more efficient, reducing our e-commerce packaging 44% by weight.
Our wood boxes use 100% FSC certified wood from responsibly managed forests. Over 85% of our paper-based packaging uses 100% FSC Recycled paper and is recyclable.
Circling back...
You can recycle your boxes with us. We made it really easy.
Full Circle
We always start with raw materials from responsible or repurposed sources. Then, each of our pieces is carefully crafted to last generations. If it’s time for something new, we’ll recycle your old materials so they can take another turn in the jewelry lifecycle.
Closing the loop...
You can recycle your jewelry with us too. We made it really easy.
Circularity in Action
Click icons to learn more
Infographic showing jewelry lifecycle with connected icons representing different stages
Brilliant Earth
Journey around our jewelry lifecycle.
Responsible Raw Materials
Our raw materials include our Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds™, lab diamonds, ethically sourced gemstones, repurposed precious metals, Fairmined certified gold, and recycled diamonds.
Refiners
Our precious metals are sourced from responsible refiners who hold repurposing certifications from the Responsible Jewellery Council or third-party validator, Scientific Certification Systems (SCS).
Cutting and Polishing Manufacturers
38% of our natural diamonds were cut and polished with renewable energy or in certified energy-efficient facilities.
16% of our lab diamonds were cut and polished with renewable energy, Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), or have an SCS Sustainably Rated Certification.
Jewelry Manufacturers
All of our jewelry suppliers get an annual independent verification of their repurposed metal purchases.
Our largest gold and silver suppliers are undergoing the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) Downstream Assessment Program, an on-site audit to evaluate their precious metal sourcing practices.
Brilliant Earth Showrooms
Our new showrooms are built to uphold our green building standards and either directly purchase renewable energy or use Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).
Customers
Even after our fine jewelry gets to our customers, we keep the circularity going with our free lifetime diamond upgrade and options to easily recycle your jewelry with us.
Designed to Last a Lifetime
Our focus on product quality and our lifetime warranty helps make sure our pieces are crafted to last.
Bring It Back
We repurpose your diamonds and jewelry to keep the cycle going.
Golden Opportunity
No one ever throws away their gold. Because it’s not considered a typical waste product, “recycled gold” is only accurate when the gold is reclaimed from e-waste. To reflect this, the jewelry industry updated the definition to “repurposed” in 2024.
From here on out, we will refer to our gold and silver as “repurposed.”
In 2024, we used 99% repurposed gold* (3% increase from last year) and 95% repurposed silver* to craft our fine jewelry collections.
By 2025, 100% will be repurposed or Fairmined.
Certain components and findings, like peg heads, posts, clasps, tennis bracelet mountings, and chains, may not be from repurposed sources due to limited availability. Limited supply in the market poses a challenge to exclusively source repurposed platinum, so we work with our suppliers to source repurposed platinum when available.
In 2024, we expanded our Fairmined Collectionopens in a new window to include engagement and wedding ring styles, increasing our Fairmined gold purchases by over 300%.
We supported small-scale Fairmined certified gold miners in Peru by paying them a premium price for responsibly mined gold. This allows them to invest in Amazon reforestation and newer, safer mining equipment.
In 2024, we joined the Amazon Gold Working Group with Indigenous communities, NGOs, government officials and others across the industry to look at intersectional issues within Amazon gold mining. Together, we are beginning to create lasting, positive change in the Amazon basin.
20 years of progress