January 21, 2012
Keywords: Manufacturing industry Mineral Resources
Panasonic Corp., a major consumer electronics manufacturer based in Japan, announced on September 30, 2011, that it has decided to participate in a pilot project to implement the Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. The Guidance was developed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation for Development (OECD).
Officially approved by the OECD's committee in 2010, the Guidance provides management recommendations for global responsible supply chains of tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. It helps companies to identify and address risks in their supply chains in order to prevent purchasing these minerals from organizations involved in conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its neighboring countries. Examples of conflict include human rights abuses, illegal exploitation of natural resources, and political fraud. The OECD's pilot project on implementing the Guidance will be carried out from August 2011 through July 2012 by companies and industry associations that have volunteered to participate.
Upon participating in the pilot project, Panasonic will take the following actions within the company: identify affected products and business areas, and choose suppliers to assess; conduct assessments and analysis of the target suppliers; and finalize the company's policies, systems, and processes to prepare for the official implementation starting in fiscal 2013 (1/APR/2012 - 31/MAR/2013).
The company hopes to contribute to international efforts to address conflict mineral issues by building through this project a management process in accordance with global standards.
Posted: 2012/01/21 06:00:15 AM
Panasonic to Implement OECD Due Diligence Guidance
http://www.panasonic-batteries.com/eu/news/17
OECD: Implementing the OECD Due Diligence Guidance
http://www.oecd.org/document/15/0,3746,en_2649
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