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Along with their precursor ores, the four metals tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (known as “3TG”) are commonly referred to as “Conflict Minerals.” This moniker stems from the history of the mining and transaction of these metals used to finance extralegal and/or armed conflict. Seagate requires that 100% of the 3TG in our products comes from sources that are certified to not contribute to human rights abuses. In conformance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Seagate files a Conflict Minerals Report annually with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Our most recent report covers the previous calendar year and underwent an Independent Private Sector Filing prior to filing. This report documents that Seagate is meeting our commitment to being Conflict-Free.
Cobalt is another metal with sourcing concerns similar to 3TG. While existing regulations do not require that companies conduct due diligence on the cobalt in their products, Seagate recognises the importance of ensuring that our raw materials are sourced responsibly. To support this value, early in 2019 we mapped every source of cobalt within our supply chain. Current work is underway to build capacity at the raw material suppliers to be able to certify that all sourcing of cobalt is aligned with an internationally-recognised standard.
Our Responsible Sourcing of Minerals Policy establishes our commitment to ethical sourcing practices. Seagate employs a team of senior-level professional staff to provide continual supply chain oversight, ensuring that we uphold our commitment to maintain a responsible supply chain. Seagate is a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) and strongly supports industry collaboration to build and maintain ethical minerals supply chains.