De Beers is the largest diamond mining company in the world today, producing over 40% of global gem diamonds from our 15 mines in Africa, as well as sorting and selling the majority of the world’s rough diamonds.

De Beers has a long and proud tradition of commitment to good corporate citizenship. This commitment is expressed in part through their considerable social investment activities in South Africa, in Botswana and Namibia and through their investments made in social development.

De Beers also leads the industry with its ‘Best Practice Principles’, a set of guidelines, designed to ensure that everyone in the diamond chain observes the highest professional ethical standards of business practice. De Beers believes that adherence to its Best Practice Principles will ensure that consumers will continue to have confidence in the ethical standards of the diamond industry when they are buying a diamond.

Read more about De Beers' policy on conflict diamonds.

governance and transparency

The board of De Beers supports the principles of openness, integrity, responsibility and accountability. It also continuously endeavours to ensure that the group’s policies on corporate governance meet current best practice. De Beers is a founding member of the World Diamond Council who in cooperation with governments and NGOs developed the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). The KPCS is designed to stop the trade in conflict diamonds and became operational in 2003. De Beers is a member of the United Nations Global Compact.

enterprise and employment

The De Beers Fund is the instrument through which the company directs its social investment spending in South Africa. In this country, there are many ordinary people fostering their own development in extraordinary ways, often in harsh and difficult circumstances. By assisting these champions who work to transform society for the better, the De Beers Fund helps to build effective citizens with the skills, confidence and determination to play their part in the nation's longer-term well being and that of all its people.

De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM  has specially created  a private company, Matlafalang Business to promote small and medium enterprises (SME's) in and around the De Beers stakeholder communities in South Africa. The purpose of Matlafalang is to empower business men and women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. Teaching skills and making money available are part of this project to help small and medium businesses grow and become successful.

human development

De Beers believes that few things are more precious than diamonds and one of those is our Human Gems. It is with this in mind that our investment in our human capital remains a core focus in our commitment to fighting HIV / Aids.

As a consequence of the tragic human impact of this disease, there could be a significant business impact. HIV / Aids presents a complicated and multi-faceted economic and humanitarian challenge globally, but particularly in southern Africa where most of the company's operations are currently situated.

De Beers recognises that there are no quick fixes and that stimulating discussion, breaking the silence and stigma is of paramount importance! De Beers is thoroughly committed to educating employees at all levels, aggressively preventing the spread of HIV, and providing a continuum of care, treatment and support for those infected and affected. Working towards these ends with the local communities in which De Beers operates constitutes one area of their campaign to fight the scourge of this disease. De Beers aims to consistently be employer of choice and a leader in the fight against HIV / Aids

De Beers is also a member of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDs.