Charlotte Rose on making history, modernising the London Diamond Bourse, and why finance is the industry’s silent crisis

When Charlotte Rose was elected president of the London Diamond Bourse in June 2026, she didn't just break an 86-year tradition—she became the first woman to lead any diamond bourse globally. In an exclusive interview with Rough & Polished’s Mathew...

20 july 2026

Yoram Dvash: Industry unity, producer leadership and marketing investment key to natural diamond's future

The natural diamond industry is navigating a period of significant transition, but there are increasing signs that the foundations for a stronger and more positive future are being built, according to the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB)...

29 june 2026

AWDC: First fully traceable artisanal diamonds from DRC sold on the international market in Antwerp

In a historic milestone for the diamond industry, fully traceable, artisanal diamonds from the Democratic Republic of Congo have been sold on the international market for the very first time in Antwerp. Below, Ine Tassignon, AWDC spokesperson, provides...

22 june 2026

Natural diamonds most desired luxury jewellery, Gen Z spending double baby boomers, reveals De Beers report

Natural diamonds remain the most desired jewellery item among US consumers, with Millennials and Gen Z driving demand value and spending, according to De Beers Group’s The Diamond Report, which draws on the biannual Diamond Acquisition Study of 18,500...

15 june 2026

Edahn Golan: India’s lab-grown diamond exports surpass natural diamonds by volume, yet value gap widens

India’s diamond industry has reached a historic turning point. In March and April 2026, the volume of lab‑grown diamond exports overtook that of natural diamonds, with lab‑grown stones accounting for 51% and 50.4% of total export volume respectively...

01 june 2026

Eco-friendly packaging made out of algae developed in Russia

22 may 2024

Sergey Marinin, a graduate student at the Faculty of Ecology of Chelyabinsk State University, presented a new type of bio-packaging called algocarton (algae cardboard).

This innovative material is made from planktonic algae with the necessary strength and flexibility. Algocarton may become a promising replacement for conventional plastic and cardboard, offering more environmentally friendly and biodegradable packaging.

Modern packaging materials such as cardboard and plastic pose a significant environmental threat due to their slow decomposition. Algocarton, on the contrary, is biodegradable, which significantly reduces its impact on ecosystems. Algae for algocarton production are widely used in various industries, which makes this material not only environmentally safe, but also economical.

The development of algocarton production technology can be key in the creation of new environmentally friendly packaging materials that will find application both in industry and in everyday life.

The development and implementation of algocarton may significantly reduce the use of traditional plastic and cardboard packages, diminishing the amount of waste and its negative impact on the environment, according to nia.eco.

Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished