LKAB’s statement on conflict minerals
LKAB comply by the UN Global Compact, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. As a result, we have a responsibility not to contribute to human rights abuses, which would be the case if we handle and use products defined as conflict minerals. Through our statement, we aim to clarify our stance on conflict minerals and explain our attitude and ambition to our employees, suppliers and customers.
What are conflict minerals?
Conflict minerals are those raw materials that are extracted, transported or procured in order to provide direct or indirect support to war and international crime, and that contribute to significant human rights abuses. The main conflict minerals are tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold (3T+G), and an example of a high-risk area is the Democratic Republic of Congo and adjoining countries.
How does LKAB work with conflict minerals?
In general it is difficult to guarantee that conflict minerals are not being used in for example electronic equipment, although LKAB does not consciously acquire any materials that contain conflict minerals.
LKAB is currently implementing due diligence processes in order to identify, prevent and mitigate any impact we may have on human rights abuses. Conflict Minerals are thus part of the regular work of supplier evaluations where LKAB is trying to find out whether and where conflict minerals are used in our products and in our value chain. We expect the same behaviour from our suppliers, as stated in LKAB’s Supplier Code of Conduct.
LKAB’s subsidiary LKAB Minerals purchases and sells tungsten and tantalum. However, these do not comprise conflict minerals, a point we would like to clarify for our customers with this statement on conflict minerals.
Why is LKAB doing this now?
Our customers have asked about our stance, and LKAB would like to make it easier for them to satisfy the demands stipulated by their customers, owners and legislation regarding conflict minerals and product safety. It is important for LKAB that our customers are aware of our stance and to feel that we are an important and reliable business partner.
