By Kari Williamson
The audit as part of the "Conflict-Free Smelter" programme, jointly supported by the EICC and the Global E-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), is a voluntary commitment by PLANSEE and an important verification for the electronics industry. It serves as independent proof for the company and its suppliers that the use of material from conflict zones is renounced.
These are materials which are mined mainly in Central Africa under sub-human conditions and which contribute to the financing of wars.
Conflict-free tantalum is an important raw material for PLANSEE, the company says. It is especially processed in products for the electronics industry, chemical industry and in applications for medical diagnostics. Both in the consumer electronics as well as in modern communication devices like cell phones, tantalum capacitors are a key electronic component.