Making Mining Safe and Fair: Artisanal Cobalt Extraction in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
September 2020
More than 70% of the global production of cobalt takes place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), of which 15–30% comes from so-called artisanal and small-scale mines. This white paper assesses recent approaches to formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining of cobalt. The learnings from the cobalt context in the DRC can help guide companies on how to address human rights issues in their global mineral supply chains and improve working conditions of more than 40 million people in artisanal mining worldwide.
Global LaborRelated
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Apparel Industry Purchasing Practice Metrics
After consultation with over 70 industry professionals, our Center has developed a set of nine Responsible Purchasing Practice (RPP) Metrics organized according to the apparel product lifecycle—from pre-production planning, through production, to post-production—reflecting the stages at which purchasing decisions have the greatest impact.
Too Hot to Ignore: Extreme Heat in Garment Supply Chains
Extreme heat is already disrupting garment factories across South and Southeast Asia, and in a new report drawing on field research across India, we find that most global brands have failed to act, pointing to a need for shared responsibility that treats climate adaptation as a core business obligation.
Conscience Incorporated
In his new book Conscience Incorporated, Michael Posner, director of the Center for Business and Human Rights, offers practical strategies and bold reforms to help businesses align profitability with ethical responsibility.