Phone firm takes tough stance on ‘conflict minerals’

Nokia recently raised its voice on the issue of conflict minerals by publishing a policy that spells out its stand. The Finnish phone maker joins other consumer electronics companies in the corporate responsibility of avoiding conflict minerals in their supply chain. “We are concerned about the link between illegal extraction and trade in natural resources, and associated human rights violations, conflict and environmental degradation,” the policy reads in part. “Currently, these issues are acute in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the extraction and trade of ores of tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold, which flow to world markets through DRC and adjoining countries.’ Coltan, tungsten, tin and gold are among the precious metals found in most electronics gadgets. Laptops, mobile phones, personal computers, TVs, tablets like iPads and other consumer electronics gadgets have part of their circuitry made from these metals. Incidentally, the metals have been a bone of contention for decades in parts of central Africa. To establish its stand clearly, Nokia states in its policy that it prohibits human rights abuses associated with the extraction, transport or trade in minerals. More…

News selected by Covalence | Country: Democratic Republic of Congo | Company: Nokia, Apple, Intel | Source: The Daily Nation (Kenya)