BEST PRACTICES FOR ETHICAL SOURCING FOR CONFLICT MINERALS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

Open Access
- Author:
- Darby, Joelle A
- Area of Honors:
- Supply Chain and Information Systems
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Dr. Robert Alexander Novack, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. John C. Spychalski, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Conflict Minerals
Ethical Sourcing
Congo - Abstract:
- After decades of being plagued by horrific violence, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still host to multiple armed rebel groups. For years these groups were motivated by revenue from natural resources in the region, more specifically the mining sector. Once they gained control of these mines, it was a revenue source that allowed them to maintain power. The minerals from these mines that fuel armed groups (specifically tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold) eventually make their way into consumer electronics throughout the world. After international attention was brought to the issue and the U.S. government passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, companies were required to report the origin of any minerals listed above from the Congo and neighboring regions. This responsibility fell to supply chain and procurement functions of companies. The electronics industry has made positive strides in ensuring a conflict free supply chain while working to still source from clean mines in the Congo. However, not every company has the same level of dedication with regards to this topic and there is still work to be done to truly reform the mineral industry in the Congo. This paper examines strategies and initiatives of companies who have been identified as leaders in creating a positive impact. Two electronics companies were interviewed on their strategies regarding conflict minerals. Corporate social responsibility and non-governmental organization reports were researched and analyzed. These results were compiled to create best practices for how to ethically source conflict minerals.