RSN Reveals Annual Conflict Minerals Rankings in Highly Anticipated Webinar Hosted by Source Intelligence & Ropes & Gray
On Friday Nov 4th, Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN), a project of As You Sow, will release their annual Mining the Disclosures report, an in-depth analysis of conflict minerals reporting which ranks 200+ individual companies across 25+ industries in risk mitigation, human rights impact, and reporting quality. In collaboration with leading conflict minerals providers Source Intelligence and Ropes & Gray, RSN will hold a webinar on the same day to reveal which major brands are adequately protecting human rights and informing investors about their conflict minerals risk, and which are lagging.
While leading brands proactively monitor and mitigate risk, laggards provide little evidence of good faith efforts. Berkshire Hathaway faulted suppliers for weak reporting and declined to identify smelters, whereas Microsoft exercised leverage with its suppliers to enforce conflict-free policies and apply pressure on smelters to perform due diligence. ExxonMobil prohibited suppliers from sourcing from the DRC region, contributing to a devastating embargo that prevents the development of a legitimate minerals trade and worsens the humanitarian crisis in the DRC. In contrast, Apple helped improve risk monitoring between mines and smelters; Phillips increased its demand for conflict-free tin sourced from within the DRC; and Boeing and GE supported research on child labor in the region. Intel continued its public campaign to support conflict-free mining in the DRC.
Insights from Mining the Disclosures have been utilized by investors and experts to drive decision-making as a crucial benchmarking tool. “Full disclosures are fundamental to our evaluation of corporate risk management,” said Susan Baker, Vice President at Trillium Asset Management. “This comparative analysis allows investors to better assess risk and the extent to which issuers are promoting ethically sourced minerals and economic development in the DRC and neighboring regions.”
There are numerous opportunities and resources available to help companies that want to improve, regardless of how they currently rank. Andrew Arriaga, lead author, said: “Protecting people at the heart of the supply chain is good business. With conflict minerals, we’ve seen some companies move from pleading powerlessness to integrating risk management into daily business practices, combining efforts across multiple industries, and creating replicable models that can address other issues, like forced labor.” Other reports analyzing conflict minerals reporting and covering the due diligence process allow companies to draw from a myriad of resources when looking for ways to be confident in their efforts. Join the webinar tomorrow, Mining the Disclosures 2016, to understand the rankings and learn from industry leading examples of successful conflict minerals programs, due diligence efforts, and reporting.
About Responsible Sourcing Network (www.sourcingnetwork.org): RSN is a project of the nonprofit organization As You Sow (www.asyousow.org). RSN is dedicated to ending human rights abuses associated with the raw materials found in products we use every day. RSN supports stakeholders in leveraging their influence to achieve and measure impact related to cotton, minerals, and slave labor.
About Source Intelligence (www.sourceintelligence.com): Source Intelligence delivers supply chain intelligence and supplier data collection and analysis services that support regulatory compliance, sustainability and social responsibility initiatives. Experts at engaging suppliers and tracing supply chains, Source Intelligence combines the best of cloud-based technology with a 24/7 Supplier Engagement Team to provide clients with the scalability, flexibility and expertise needed to turn supply chain data into something both meaningful and actionable.
