Steve Jobs Admits Conflict-Minerals Are a Problem, Downplays Use in Apple Products

A customer planning to upgrade his original iPhone (2G) to the newest Apple smartphone - the iPhone 4 - reportedly decided to hold off his purchase until Apple’s CEO could confirm that the company didn’t use conflict-minerals. Softpedia reported yesterday that high-profile electronics manufacturers, including Apple, were being urged to reconsider the use of minerals that could be fueling violence in Congo.

Four of the elements referred to as conflict-minerals are tantalum (good at storing electricity), tungsten (used in a phone’s vibrating motor), tin (for its circuit boards), and gold (used to coat wiring). The Enough Project, an anti-genocide group, directly links the world’s largest technology companies to the situation in eastern Congo, where warlords may fund extremely violent campaigns by selling minerals to suppliers. Apple is specifically targeted in an ad spoofing the company’s "I'm a Mac; I'm a PC" campaign.

Apple’s chief executive officer, who has been very cooperative in answering fans’ questions in recent months, has downplayed allegations saying Apple is also using conflict minerals in its products. According to Mr. Jobs, his company has suppliers writing down exactly where their raw materials are coming from, and  specifying that they are conflict-free. The respective email conversation has been reproduced below for our readers (courtesy of Wired’s Gadget Lab blog).


Hi Steve,

I’d planned to buy a new iPhone tomorrow – my first upgrade since buying the very first version on the first day of its release – but I’m hesitant without knowing Apple’s position on sourcing the minerals in its products.

Are you currently making any effort to source conflict-free minerals? In particular, I’m concerned that Apple is getting tantalum, tungsten, tin, and gold from Eastern Congo through its suppliers.

Looking forward to your response,
Derick

Jobs’ reply:

Yes. We require all of our suppliers to certify in writing that they use conflict few [sic] materials. But honestly there is no way for them to be sure. Until someone invents a way to chemically trace minerals from the source mine, it’s a very difficult problem.

Sent from my iPhone


Note: Apple’s CEO most likely meant to type “conflict-free”, rather than “conflict few”.