Certification Standard for Sustainably Produced Gemstones
Version:
2.0
Status:
Final Standard
Description:
This standard (SCS-007) is applicable to natural and laboratory-grown diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. Entities eligible for certification include producers and those who handle certified gemstones as they move down the supply chain. The certification program recognizes the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) achievement for mined gemstones and is structured around the following five Sustainability Pillars:
- Good Governance. Certified entities operate in compliance with applicable laws and international agreements and conduct due diligence on their supply chains.
- Traceability. Certified gemstones are traceable back to a certified source using blockchain-enabled chain-of-custody tracking.
- Environmental Stewardship. Certified entities manage resources to protect water quality, minimize depletion of the water supply, and reduce impacts from energy consumption.
- Social Responsibility. Certified entities engage with stakeholders, uphold worker rights, and protect workers from discrimination, workplace risks, and external threats.
- Climate Responsibility. Certified producers reduce their carbon footprint from production (“Scope 1”) and energy use (“Scope 2”) and balance out the remainder through the purchase of high-quality, independently verified offset credits.
The standard also provides producers with the opportunity to be recognized for going above and beyond by offering optional Trailblazer Recognition in the categories of 100% Renewable Electricity, Supply Chain Climate Responsibility, and/or Sustainability Impact Investor.
Starting August 1, 2026, organizations seeking to get certified or recertified may choose to undergo an audit against either Version 1.1 or Version 2.0 of the SCS-007 Standard. Starting November 1, 2026, all organizations seeking to get certified or recertified will be audited against V2.0. At the latest, all certificate holders must be audited against V2.0 by November 1, 2027.
For complete information about all standard criteria, download "SCS-007-1 Sustainability Rated Diamonds Standard V1.1" (see Documents section, to right).
Assurance System:
Conformance with SCS-007 requirements is assessed through annual audits conducted by SCS Global Services, a qualified and independent third party. Audits are conducted according to scheme-specific and relevant international standards. For full details about the SCS-007 assurance system, download “SCS-007 Certification Body Requirements” (see Documents section, to right).
Empowering Consumers:
For information about how SCS-007 and other SCS Standards meet the EU Empowering Consumers Directive, see “SCS Standards and the EU Empowering Consumers Directive.”
SCS Standards Operations:
For information about SCS Standards policies and procedures, see our Resources.
Documents
SCS Standards' documents are written and are primarily available in English. To access a standard or another supporting document in another language, interested parties may upload a copy of the document to a translation platform, or may request an official translation of the document in the desired language by contacting us.
SCS-007 Certification Standard for Sustainably Produced Gemstones V2.0
SCS-007-1 Sustainability Rated Diamonds Standard V1.1
SCS-007 Certification Body Requirements V2.0
SCS-007 Interpretation Log (May 2026)
SCS-007 iTraceiT Data Requirements V1.0
SCS-007-1 Annex A: Approved Mechanisms to Achieve Net Zero Carbon Footprint V2.1
SCS-007-1 Annex B: Supplemental Climate Reporting: Using the RF Protocol to Quantify Heat Reduction Potential of Producer Activities V2.1
SCS-007-1 Annex C: Quantifying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Results for the Production Operation V2.1
SCS-007-1 Annex D: Requirements for ISM Producers for Establishing Ecosystem Baseline Conditions V2.1
SCS-007-1 Annex E: Assessing Industrial-Scale Mining (ISM) Impacts on Water Resources and Quality V1.2
SCS-007-1 Annex F: Data Requirements for Certified Diamonds and Certified Diamond Jewelry V1.3