Conflict-free minerals supply-chain to electronics

The Conflict Free Smelter (CFS) Program is a novel mechanism of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability management, which provides assurances on the sources of strategic resources used in electronics. The program achieves this by auditing metal smelters and refiners to confirm that that they have not sourced materials from conflict regions. The structure of the program includes formal protocols, an audit review committee, stakeholder consultation, and an industry oversight group. Although it has faced technical challenges in implementing protocols, the CFS has demonstrated the ability to identify sources of metals. Data show that the quantities of metals from compliant facilities currently represent a fraction of market volume, with the exception of a significant number of compliant tantalum refiners. Through this initiative, the electronics sector has influenced social performance in firms that are many tiers deep in the supply-chain. Possible expansion to other sustainability issues and sectors is possible.