European Semiconductor Industry Committed to Use Responsibly Sourced Minerals
April 30, 2021 | ESIAEstimated reading time: 1 minute
At the occasion of the 14th Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA) is highlighting the industry’s commitments to source its raw materials in an ethical and sustainable manner that safeguards human rights within the global supply chain.
The European semiconductor industry has been a leading participant on the responsible sourcing of minerals. Its ambition, as a downstream purchaser of minerals, is focused on supply chain due diligence processes in order to determine that minerals in the semiconductors that the industry manufactures do not directly or indirectly finance or benefit armed groups. The industry remains committed to use responsibly sourced minerals in its products.
ESIA, alongside the wider semiconductor industry, has been addressing conflict minerals issue over the past decade. Through the World Semiconductor Council (WSC), a “Conflict-Free Supply Chain Policy” was agreed to support the global progress in addressing the sourcing of conflict minerals (tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold, or 3TG) from conflict zones, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and surrounding countries in 2013. Since 2018, the industry has broadened its policy scope beyond 3TG and DRC to responsible sourcing of minerals from “conflict-affected and high risk areas”. Due diligence activities now look at other minerals such as cobalt.
The industry’s due diligence activities are designed based on the “OECD Due Diligence Guid- ance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas”.
Semiconductor companies have played a leading role in the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals and also actively collaborate with the work of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI).
Suggested Items
Seeking Employment: Meet Parker Capers
04/18/2024 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Parker Capers, a cybersecurity professional with a decade of experience in the SMT industry, earned a bachelor’s degree from DeVry and is CompTIA Security Plus certified. He is open to various industries but has a strong affinity for manufacturing due to extensive familiarity. Parker appreciates smaller companies where personal connections matter. Are you hiring?
SEMI Applauds CHIPS Program Office Progress to Diversify U.S. Semiconductor Industry Workforce
04/18/2024 | SEMIThe SEMI Foundation, the arm of SEMI dedicated to supporting economic opportunity for workers and the sustained growth of the microelectronics industry by creating pathways and opportunities for job seekers, applauded strides made by the CHIPS Program Office to diversify the U.S. semiconductor industry workforce and its release of the First Annual Report Regarding the Opportunities and Inclusion Activities Undertaken by the Department of Commerce.
VDMA: Machine Vision Navigating Through Uncertain Times
04/18/2024 | VDMAFor over a decade, the European machine vision industry has reported steady growth, with turnover increasing by an average of 9 percent annually between 2012 and 2022. Despite a temporary setback in 2020 (minus 4 percent) due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry rebounded strongly in 2021 (plus 17 percent) and 2022 (plus 11 percent).
IPC Bestows Posthumous Hall of Fame Award to Industry Icon Michael Ford
04/18/2024 | IPCIPC honored the late Michael Ford, Aegis Software, for his extraordinary contributions to the global electronics manufacturing industry with the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame Award at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. IPC’s most prestigious honor, the Hall of Fame Award is given to individuals who have provided exceptional service and advancement to IPC and the electronics industry. Ford, an industry leader and valued IPC volunteer, died suddenly in January 2024.
On the Line With... Podcast Talks With Cadence Expert on Manufacturing
04/18/2024 | I-Connect007In “PCB 3.0: A New Design Methodology: Manufacturing” Patrick Davis returns to the podcast to talk about design rules. As design considerations become more and more complex, so, too, do the rulesets designers must abide by.