conflictminerals
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Apple's 'Liam' robot takes apart your iPhone for recycling
Apple has come under fire for its use of conflict minerals in iPhones (so have many other device manufacturers, to be fair). Today at its "Loop You In" event, the company revealed how it aims to reduce its environmental impact. It comes by way of "Liam," a robot that disassembles old iPhones into their core components. The tungsten from the device's alert module will become a cutting tool, for example, while the silver contained therein is used for solar panels -- possibly including the ones powering the company's Thailand operations.
Everything Intel ships this year will be conflict-mineral-free
In 2011, Intel pledged to eliminate conflict minerals (tin, tungsten and tantalum sourced from the Congo) from its products. In 2014, it announced that all of its processors were finally conflict free. Now the company says it's completely conflict free -- nothing the company ships in 2016 will be made with conflict minerals. At all.
All Intel microprocessors shipped in 2014 will be conflict-mineral-free
Intel has announced that its entire 2014 line of microprocessors will be conflict-mineral free (tin, tantalum and tungsten), in its CES keynote address. Previously, the company joined the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition and its Conflict-Free Smelter group in an effort to separate itself from the blood-for-materials market. This looks like the logical next step in those efforts. If you're at the show and want to learn more, the outfit is holding a discussion panel at its booth on Wednesday.
Fairphone hits its production goal, promises to deliver more ethical smartphone by October
It's spent the last few months talking up its ambitious plan to produce what it describes as a more ethical smartphone, and Dutch startup Fairphone is now one fairly big step closer to realizing that goal. The company hit its production target of 5,000 pre-orders yesterday, with eight days still left in its initial campaign that will see early customers get a "limited edition" version of the phone for €325 (or roughly $425). While the phone itself appears to be a relatively capable device (if a tad behind the curve in terms of specs), its real selling point is of course how it's made. Fairphone is promising to use conflict-free resources in its construction, and says that it's working with its factory in China to ensure better working conditions and wages; three euros from each phone sold will also go to a program that works to remove electronic waste from Ghana. Speaking to ZDNet, Fairphone's Miquel Ballester does admit that "we are not 100 percent conflict-free," suggesting that's all but impossible given the current state of the industry where the "supply chain has become so difficult." He also notes, however, that "this is just the start," and that they hope to make more changes as the company grows in scale. Those interested in can find out more about the phone (and get their pre-order in) at the links below. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Intel wants to have conflict-free processors by the end of 2013
Intel had already promised that it would avoid using conflict minerals, and now it's giving itself a more concrete timetable for that to happen. It wants to have at least one processor that's proven completely conflict-free across four key minerals -- gold, tantalum, tin and tungsten -- by the end of 2013. Lest you think Intel's not taking swift enough action, it wants to reach the tantalum goal by the end of this year. The effort's part of a wider array of goals that should cut back on the energy use, power and water use by 2020. Sooner rather than later, though, you'll be buying a late-generation Haswell- or Broadwell-based PC knowing that the chip inside was made under nobler conditions.
Nokia establishes stance on conflict minerals in formal policy
Recent weeks have seen a swell of interest in corporate responsibility, particularly with regard to technology manufacturing and supply chains. Last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook affirmed his company's commitment to ethically and environmentally sound practices, evoking sentiments that were echoed today in a similar announcement from Nokia. Seizing the opportunity to establish some goodwill among socially conscious consumers, the Finnish manufacturer has just released a policy outlining its philosophy on conflict minerals -- metals like gold, tungsten and tin that have played a direct role in fueling civil violence and unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the document (linked below), Nokia acknowledged that it doesn't play a direct role in obtaining these materials, but emphasized its strict traceability requirements. All suppliers, Nokia says, must provide detailed information on the sourcing of its metals, going back to the smelter phase, at a minimum, and even to the mine itself, if necessary. The company also highlighted its adherence to guidelines established by the EICC-GeSI Extractives Work Group, which both Apple and Intel have already joined. Granted, it's impossible for a single company to wipe out civil strife and human rights abuses in one fell swoop, but with this codified approach, Nokia hopes to at least "increase transparency, ensure responsible procurement by our suppliers and sub-suppliers, and drive positive change."
Just say no: Apple and Intel stop using conflict minerals
While the US government hasn't issued an outright ban against the use of 'conflict minerals' coming from the Congo, it has passed a law that will require companies who use them to tell all of us when our gadgets have been paid for (in part) with blood. Looks like Apple and Intel weren't too keen on the bad PR that would come from such disclosures, and joined the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition and its Conflict-Free Smelter program. The program requires mineral processing plants either prove that they don't fund the ongoing hostilities in central Africa or peddle their war-supporting wares elsewhere. For now, that means that the folks in Cupertino and Santa Clara will have to find other sources for the three Ts (tungsten, tin, and tantalum) needed to sate our technological appetites.
New law requires gadget companies to disclose 'conflict mineral' use
When President Obama put his pen to the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act last week, it wasn't just financial reform he signed into law, but also a stipulation that may affect your gadget purchases down the road. You see, at present your technology includes some amount of tantalum, tungsten and tin, three rare earths that happen to be mined heavily in the Congo... and thus indirectly linked to poverty, rape and death. The new US law won't stop that, and doesn't restrict any sort of trade -- it merely requires companies to disclose the use of such materials in independent audits filed with their annual financial reports. It does, however, allow companies that don't use bloody rocks to label their products "conflict-free," so we're sure astute marketing gurus are developing plenty of new all-plastic gizmos even as we speak. For the children, of course.
