A primary source for those minerals is rebel-held and militarized mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that use forced and child labor. The 2010 US Dodd-Frank Act requires that manufacturers analyze their supply chains to determine if they are using minerals from such mines. It’s one more task for CPOs – and one more opportunity for them to play a major role in corporate CSR efforts. Only procurement could do the supply chain deep dive required. Some background: The New York Times has reported that over the last 15 years nine nations’ armies and 15 or more armed groups have fought in the DRC, causing more than five million deaths. Profits from the mining of those minerals in the country have allegedly funded the conflicts. The authors of the Dodd-Frank Act hoped to dry up the funds for the armed groups by encouraging manufacturers to source the minerals elsewhere. But, with vast and complex supply chains that include trading posts, exporters, smelters, and other third parties in a variety of countries, manufacturers face a daunting task in determining the exact primary source. Even the smelters that manufacturers use may not know where the minerals they refine are mined. Still, many large companies have been making progress. Apple has filed its report. So have Intel and HP.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 16:53:45 +0000
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