“Conflict minerals” describes the complex of problems, that mining and trading in certain raw materials can help finance armed groups in conflict areas that are associated with serious violations of human rights, child labour and environmental pollution. The term is used mostly for the five raw materials tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold (“3TG” for short) and cobalt.
Tin and gold are used in the circuit board industry for the surface and cobalt (in small proportions) for connector gold / electroplated hard gold.
Important regulatory requirements for conflict minerals are currently:
- OECD guidelines on due diligence in the supply chain
global scope, initial focus on 3TG - US Dodd Frank Act, Section 1502 for companies listed on US stock exchanges
"Conflict free" for 3TG with geographical limitation - EU regulation (EU) 2017/821 on due diligence
global application for EU importers of affected raw materials (above quantity threshold)
Information on due diligence in the cobalt and mica supply chain is now also requested by some listed companies.
Multi Circuit Boards is not directly affected by the mentioned regulations.
However, these and other initiatives are still important to us. We carefully check our suppliers and also carry out regular examinations and updates. The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI, see below) reporting templates for conflict minerals (CMRT) and cobalt and mica (EMRT) serve as a basis.
Multi CB does not knowingly use metals from conflict regions based on the information provided to us by our suppliers.
On request we can send you our:
Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (RMI - CMRT) and Extended Minerals Reporting Template (RMI - EMRT)