Tantalum, tungsten, tin and gold, “conflict minerals”, in addition to but not limited to other metals such as mica and cobalt, are widely used metals by the electronics industry. Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (REL) is concerned that these minerals are extracted from military conflict regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries recognized worldwide for human rights violations and environmental degradation.
As a distributor and manufacturer of electronic components, Richardson Electronics, Ltd. does not condone the use of any conflict minerals nor other metals at risk of being mined by countries recognized worldwide for human rights violations and environmental degradation in the products we supply. Currently most manufacturers cannot provide detailed information as to the ultimate source of the minerals used in manufacturing electronic components because of the complex and fragmented supply chains involved. Similarly, companies like Richardson Electronics, which resell products manufactured by other companies, have virtually no visibility into the source of the minerals used by the manufacturers.
In cases where we buy gold, tin, tantalum or tungsten, or other metals such as but not limited to mica and cobalt, to use in our own manufacturing, we are working with our suppliers to ensure they share our philosophy and are buying from conflict-free sources. There is much work to be done, but we are committed to taking proactive measures to ensure that products and raw materials we receive from our suppliers are responsibly sourced.
Last Updated: November 29, 2023
