Apple has received satisfactory consideration from environmental organizations on how to obtain the energy necessary for the manufacture of its products. It constantly promotes campaigns for its suppliers to adapt their production processes to renewable energies. Currently more than 90% is obtained thanks to renewable energy. Today we have known a report called Ranking of Companies in the Minerals Conflict in 2017, which gives Apple a privileged and deserved position in obtaining the minerals from Africa, for the manufacture of components. Apple ranks first, followed by Alphabet (Google), HP, Microsoft and Intel, in that order.
The report analyzes 20 companies that purchase raw materials in African countries. They analyze companies that consume large amounts of: tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold. These raw batteries are used to manufacture consumer electronics and jewelry. In certain countries of the continent, with the excuse of armed conflicts, workers' rights are not respected and the ranking prepared analyzes which companies "move away" from conflictive countries and buy at a reasonable price. The categories that the study assesses are the following:
- Due diligence search and reports on obtaining Conflict Minerals.
- Obtaining Conflict Free Minerals of the Congo, Particularly Gold
- Support and Improvement in the livelihoods of the Mining Communities Artisan in the East of the Congo.
- Defense of Minerals Without Conflicts.
Apple is the only one that achieves satisfactory results in each of the categories. But the company does not stop there. Proactively, set alerts related to reports and taking action by removing vendors and other vendors from your supply chain that violate your standards.
The apple company you have no problem sharing your reports with other providers to improve the processes for obtaining minerals.
Apple has not only found better ways to address incidents within its own supply chain, but it has also helped develop centralized shared platforms for risk assessment that other companies can use. This additional effort contributes to the overall strengthening of due diligence in the conflict minerals supply chain.
