Raw materials in focus - Where does the electronics industry stand when it comes to responsible sourcing of raw materials?

The production of PCs, smartphones, printers and other IT products is associated with exploitative working conditions and human rights violations along the entire value chain. This begins with the extraction of the required mineral raw materials, which is often linked to conflicts, serious human rights violations and environmental destruction. In our current study "Raw materials in focus - Where does the electronics industry stand when it comes to the responsible sourcing of raw materials? An update of the "At the other end of the supply chain" study", we examined what IT manufacturers are doing to source raw materials responsibly and how the industry has developed since our last study in 2018. To do this, we analyzed the raw material approaches of 17 major IT manufacturers. The results of the study show The topic of responsible sourcing of raw materials has become mainstream in the industry. However, many companies have not yet implemented their due diligence obligations adequately. Instead of voluntary commitments, an effective legal framework is needed.

We have created a "profile" for each of the manufacturers examined, in which the individual results of our analysis are recorded. The fact sheets are linked below. (german only)