Capacitating electronics : the corrosive effects of platinum and palladium mining on labour rights and communities
Document type: report
Download file(s):
128629 (1367 KB)
Abstract:
The focus of this report is on the supply chain issues related to the mining stage of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs). PGMs are used in the automotive, jewellery and electronic industries, and as such, are part of these industries’ respective supply chains. PGMs consist of Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Osmium and Iridium and make up only a few of the many metals used in electronic consumer products. Others include Beryllium, Gold, Cobalt, Tantalum, Tin and Rare Earths, many of which are extracted in developing countries that have high risks of environmental damage, human rights abuses and poor working conditions. In the electronics industry, extractives can be seen as the forgotten link in the supply chain management of electronic consumer products. While companies subscribe to voluntary CSR initiatives such as the Electronics Industry Code of Conduct (EICC), the electronics industry as a whole feels that there is inadequate traceability or sphere of influence for a full supply chain approach up to the extractive phase. Additionally, most of the brand companies’ own codes and guidelines address responsibility for the whole chain of production, but most companies only address problems occurring in the top of the supply chain. So far the industry has not taken any measures to integrate the mining of metals in their social or environmental responsibility efforts.
Authors:
Steinweg, T.
,
Haan, E. de
Country:
South Africa
Category:
Research
ISBN:
978-90-71284-19-9
Keywords:
industry
,
finance
,
mining
Language:
eng
Organization:
SOMO - Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations
PAGE:
70
Place:
Amsterdam
Publisher:
SOMO
Year:
2007
Region:
Southern Africa
Right:
© 2007 SOMO This document is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivateWorks 2.5 License
Subject:
Economic Development and Trade
Title:
Capacitating electronics : the corrosive effects of platinum and palladium mining on labour rights and communities