PLANSEE Tantalum certified by EICC as ‘Conflict-Free’
November 29, 2011
Plansee SE has announced that the use of tantalum raw materials from ethically acceptable sources has now been confirmed by the certificate of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC). The audit certificate covers all steps of material production.
“Sustainability is an integral part of our purchasing policy. The socially and environmentally responsible procurement of raw materials is set in our Code of Conduct. Our strict purchasing guidelines ensure that no materials are obtained from conflict-affected sources,” stated the company
The audit as part of the “Conflict-Free Smelter” program, jointly supported by the EICC and the Global E-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), is a voluntary commitment by PLANSEE and an important verification for the electronics industry. It serves as independent proof for the company and its customers that the use of conflict tantalum is renounced. These are materials which are mined mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining countries under sub-human conditions and which contribute to the financing of wars.
Conflict-free tantalum is an important raw material for PLANSEE. It is especially processed in products for the electronics industry, chemical industry and in applications for medical diagnostics. Both in the consumer electronics as well as in modern communication devices like cell phones, tantalum capacitors are a key electronic component.
Well-known electronics companies and their suppliers are members of the “Conflict-Free Smelter” program. The Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition is an independent organization that, together with the Global Sustainability Initiative GeSI, supports companies looking for more transparency in the procurement of raw materials and to applying common industry standards for ethical business practices.
Edited by: Paul Whittaker, Editor ipmd.net, [email protected]
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