Hazardous substance management
AkzoNobel is deeply committed to responsible sourcing, as an important part of AkzoNobel’s supplier sustainability strategy. We do our best to ensure that our suppliers’ products and components do not contribute to adverse impacts on human rights.
How do we do it?
Conflict minerals are minerals mined in conditions where armed conflict and human rights abuses occur. The term is often used to refer to four minerals – tungsten, tantalum, tin and gold (also known as 3TG) – that are mined in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). These minerals have a high risk to be mined in conditions where armed conflict and human rights abuses occur.
After conflict minerals were under high scrutiny and addressed by NGOs, the United States of America have passed a law requiring companies to conduct due diligence on the origin, source and chain of custody of such minerals and provide specialized disclosure regarding the findings of such due diligence. Also, the European Union has passed a regulation on conflict minerals, coming into effect on January 1, 2021.
We are carrying out due diligence on conflict minerals in line with our commitment to respect human rights across our value chain and supporting the objectives of these laws and our customers in this regard.