January 15, 2014, Alexandria, Virginia -- As the leading industry initiative on conflict minerals, the Conflict- Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI) calls on more companies to join the effort to become conflict-free by becoming CFSI members. A five-year, joint industry effort by over 120 companies from seven different industries, the CFSI provides vital sourcing information that enables companies to make informed choices about minerals they use in their products – including helping companies meet their upcoming reporting deadline related to U.S. conflict minerals regulations.
“We’ve focused for over five years on an industry solution to an industry challenge: becoming conflict-free. It has been a major challenge and there have been people who’ve questioned that we could even do it. By collaborating and focusing on the pinch point in the metals supply chain – smelters and refiners – we’re now able to provide our members with the information they need to make responsible choices about conflict minerals in their products,” said Michael Rohwer, Program Director for the Responsible Minerals Initiative.
The CFSI provides a range of tools and resources that support responsible sourcing, including through the Conflict-Free Smelter Program and its smelter audit program, access to Reasonable Country of Origin Information (RCOI) data, the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template, which ensures consistent sourcing data throughout the supply chain, and a range of guidance and analysis papers on conflict minerals due diligence and best practices. The CFSI also runs twice-yearly workshops on conflict minerals issues which are open to all participants. The 13th CFSI Workshop will take place in Brussels March 17-18, 2014 with a special focus on pending European Union regulations and conflict minerals initiatives based in the Great Lakes region.
Any company that uses or transacts in tantalum, tin, tungsten or gold is eligible for membership in the CFSI. The membership application is available online, along with further details of member benefits and annual fees.
Press contact
Julie Schindall
Director of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition
+1 571 858 5721 / +1 703 647 0967 / jschindall@eicc.info / www.conflictfreesourcinginitiative.org
