Non-Conflict Minerals
We know that human rights violations are a possibility anytime minerals are mined. This is why we are intensely involved in all of the issues surrounding raw materials from mines, particularly when it comes to the four materials defined as “conflict minerals”: gold, tantalum, tin and tungsten. At least once per year, our suppliers conduct a regular inspection of the source mine and confirm this using the CMRT (Conflict Minerals Reporting Template).
For this reason, WACKER takes great care to avoid procuring minerals from conflict areas. When we purchase raw materials containing tin, gold, tungsten or tantalum, we require our suppliers to confirm that neither they nor their sub-suppliers procure these minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda or Zambia. Based on feedback, we have no evidence suggesting that the raw materials from our suppliers come from mines in these countries.
WACKER uses the CMRT for its reporting on conflict minerals, and updates this at least once each year. Developed by the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI), the CMRT form shows simply and transparently how information on a material’s country of origin and on the contracted smelter and refiner is communicated along the entire supply chain.
More information can be found in our fact sheet: Conflict-Free Minerals