Responsible minerals programme
The company checks the plants that turn mined ore into the tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold or cobalt it uses.
How it counts towards a grade
- Supportive: it counts in its favour but isn't proof on its own
What it is
Responsible minerals programmes, such as the Responsible Minerals Initiative, check the smelters and refiners (the plants that melt and purify mined ore into metal) that supply metals for electronics and jewellery. The aim is to avoid metal that pays for armed groups or is mined with forced or child labour.
What it checks
- Smelters and refiners are independently checked
- Less risk of buying metal that pays for armed conflict
What it doesn't
- Checks usually stop at the smelter, not the mine, so child labour in mining can still be missed