Apple is one of the few companies that has declared on many occasions its commitment to the environment and as proof of this, we can see how the vast majority of their facilities, including data centers, are supplied through solar panels, as are most of the suppliers they work with, mainly in China.
But in addition, it also maintains a firm commitment to the origin of the materials necessary for the manufacture of the components of its devices. The Cupertino-based company has published the report for 2018 in which it shows us how remains deeply committed to responsible sourcing.
Apple has filed this report with the SEC, the body that handles protect investors and maintain the integrity of the securities markets in the United States, to continue demonstrating its commitment to the products used to manufacture its products and that these do not come from conflict zones or that finance armed groups.
In this report, Apple states that remains committed to defending human rights throughout its global network of suppliers and works to safeguard the well-being of the people involved in its supply chain where the materials come from.
Apple states that it does not use materials in its products that do not directly or indirectly finance armed groups or that originate from conflict areas. As of December 31, and for the fourth consecutive year, 100% of the smelters and refineries identified in Apple's supply chain participated in an independent conflict minerals audit program for coltan (columbite-tantalite), cassiterite, gold, wolframite and their derivatives such as tantalum, tin and tungsten.
Both tantalum, tin and tungsten are collectively called 3TG. Of the 253 3TG smelters and refineries currently serving Apple as of December 31, the company He did not find any reasonable basis to affirm that some of them were financing or benefiting directly or indirectly armed groups.