Manufacturer of passive components, AVX, has announced that all its current tantalum powder and wire suppliers are compliant with the independently-audited conflict-free smelter programme (CFS). AVX claims to be the first in the industry to reach this point, providing assurance to its customers that all AVX products contain only conflict-free tantalum.
The company is working in accordance with the principles of the Dodd-Frank legislation and current OECD due diligence guidance for responsible mineral supply chains from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. This document targets companies sourcing minerals or metals from conflict-affected areas of weak governance and provides recommendations to help respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through mineral or metal purchasing practices.
The announcement is another step in AVX’s efforts to keep conflict minerals out of the supply chain, as demonstrated by its ten year policy of not using tantalum sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or any area in which insurgents benefit from the sale of minerals.
AVX will continue this role by working with multiple stakeholder partners, including companies such as Motorola Solutions, HP and Intel, in the Solutions for Hope pilot program. This program aims to demonstrate that conflict-free tantalum can be mined from the DRC to the benefit of the local population. Based on a closed-pipe supply chain the initiative initiative could ultimately allow the DRC to return as a supplier of responsibly-sourced minerals to the tantalum industry.