Cutting battery industry's reliance on cobalt will be an uphill task

The Congolese government has promised to pilot regulated areas for artisanal miners. Increasing consumer awareness has also led to supply chain auditing projects such as the Responsible Sourcing Network, run by the nonprofit organization As You Sow, as well as two industry-led bodies, the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance and Responsible Mining Initiative, to ensure that suppliers are up to standards set by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development. Read More →

RSNAs You SowJanuary 6, 2020Jasper Jolly, mining the disclosure report, cobalt

Companies ‘disregard responsibility’ over conflict minerals: Report

An analysis of 215 companies’ mineral supply chains has found many have fallen short of their obligations under the Conflict Minerals Rule, also known as Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act, regarding their sourcing from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

RSNAsYouSowOctober 24, 2019Mongabay, mtd

Carmakers not monitoring cobalt labor abuses with EVs – study

Many auto companies aren't doing enough to monitor whether the cobalt in their electric vehicle batteries could be linked to child labor and other human rights abuses, according to a report released this week.

RSNAsYouSowOctober 14, 2019David Iaconangelo, mtd

Number of companies ensuring they use conflict-free minerals drops

Nine years after the implementation of a law requiring publicly traded companies to ensure their raw materials don’t come from mines that use child labour or fund warlords or corrupt soldiers, companies’ efforts to comply continue to fall short.

RSNAs You SowOctober 14, 2019Cecilia Jamasmie, mtd, mining

Major minor setbacks

With the cacophony of discussion around how to make fashion ‘sustainable’ and ‘circular’ it’s easy to lose sight of the sector’s other pressing issues.

RSNAs You SowSeptember 6, 2019David Styles, Turkmen Cotton Pledge

YESS Aims to Eliminate Modern Slavery in Cotton Sourcing

Creating foundational documents aimed at establishing an industrywide approach to identify and address forced labor in cotton sourcing, the Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN) on Wednesday released the YESS: Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced Standard, and YESS Workbook.

RSNAsYouSowMarch 22, 2019Arthur Friedman, YESS Standards, YESS Standard, report

VF Corp, Nike, Gap ink Turkmen Cotton Pledge

“Seven years ago RSN created the Uzbek Cotton Pledge. Due in part to the international community refusing to source cotton harvested with slave labour, we are starting to see a commitment by the government of Uzbekistan to change its antiquated and abusive system.”

RSNAsYouSowJanuary 31, 2019cotton

Uzbekistan Aims to End Forced Labor in Cotton Fields

In previous years, local health inspector Abdusamat Kurbanov would have earned high praise and fat kickbacks for forcing hundreds of workers to leave their day jobs and pick cotton in Uzbekistan’s sweltering cotton fields for weeks at a stretch.

RSNAsYouSowJanuary 21, 2019cotton, Thomas Grove