Nokia Joins AVX in the ‘Solutions for Hope’ Initiative, Uses Validated Conflict-Free DRC Tantalum in Products
February 23 2012 - 5:45PM
Business Wire
AVX Corporation, a leading manufacturer of advanced passive
components and interconnect solutions, is proud to announce that
Nokia, a global leader in mobile communications, has joined AVX in
the Solutions for Hope initiative.
“We are very pleased that Nokia has joined Motorola Solutions,
Intel, HP and Foxconn to support the Solutions for Hope initiative.
We have many more companies evaluating the program, and anticipate
further membership in the near future,” said Bill Millman, Tantalum
Divisional Director of Quality and Technology at AVX.
The Solutions for Hope initiative is enabling validated
conflict-free tantalum from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) to be used in AVX, Nokia and other participating company’s
products. The Solutions for Hope initiative was developed in
collaboration with other defined suppliers to create a ‘closed
pipe’ secure supply chain, delivering from in-region traceable
materials through independently assessed transport routes to a
validated conflict-free smelter onto AVX and its customers.
“Nokia already has a comprehensive program to strive for
conflict-free sourcing and it is one of the corner stones of our
supply chain sustainability efforts. We are very happy to be
joining the Solutions for Hope Initiative, which complements our
efforts in this area. It enables us to support sourcing from
Democratic Republic of Congo while ensuring that the raw materials
that are used in our products do not contribute to the conflict in
the region,” said Jarkko Sakki, Vice President of Sourcing at
Nokia.
As of December 1, 2011, all AVX tantalum powder and wire
suppliers are fully compliant with the independently audited
Conflict-Free Smelter Program (CFS). The first shipment of
conflict-free tantalum powder has been processed at the F&X
Smelter in China and is en route to AVX, and the second shipment is
in transit from the MMR warehouse in Kalemie, DRC to the F&X
Smelter.
To provide project updates, as well as complete transparency,
visit the Solutions for Hope website at
http://solutions-network.org/site-solutionsforhope/
“In accordance with the principles of the Dodd-Frank legislation
and current OECD guidelines, U.S. companies will soon be required
to fully disclose the use of certain minerals, including tantalum,
in their products and to describe the purchasing process to ensure
these minerals do not fund the illegally-armed groups operating in
the DRC. Because there currently is no recognized system to verify
that the sources of minerals from the DRC are conflict-free,
efforts to secure supply chains have led to a de facto embargo of
minerals from the region while such systems are being developed.
Tens of thousands of people in the DRC depend on artisanal mining,
many operating in regions where conflict is not present. Their
livelihoods and the economic stability of the region have been
threatened by the de facto ban. The Solutions for Hope project
creates an initial flow of tantalum that will help enable miners to
work and conflict-free systems to be developed in the DRC,” Millman
added.
The Solutions for Hope project is supported by several
implementing initiatives:
- ICGLR Regional Certification
- Traceability program by iTSCi
- Certification of mines by BGR
- Certified Trading Chain
- Due diligence guidance and
implementation by the OECD and the UN Group of Experts
- Conflict-Free Smelter (CFS)
program
- Conflict-Free Reporting Template
For further information on this project, please contact Bill
Millman at AVX: +44 (0) 1803 697211 or visit
conflict.free@eur.avx.com
About AVX
AVX Corporation is a leading international supplier of
electronic passive components and interconnect solutions with 24
manufacturing and customer support facilities in 15 countries
around the world. AVX offers a broad range of devices including
capacitors, resistors, filters, timing and circuit protection
devices and connectors. The company is publicly traded on the New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE:AVX).
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