A forward from our annual analysis of the SEC filings responsible conflict minerals sourcing reporting by Dr. Jennifer Kraus.
It's Not Just Price Driving Consumers
“What’s in your wallet?” is a great advertising tag line for a credit card company. It prompts you to investigate whether you have the best deal when it comes to a credit card rewards program. We as consumers typically want to make sure we get the best deal. Many sellers now provide you with a way to compare prices and shop smarter whether online or in brick and mortar settings.
But, the best price is now not only what’s most important. We, consumers, want to make sure our tomatoes are grown sustainably, seafood harvested ethically and smartphones manufactured responsibly.
While completing our annual analysis of SEC conflict minerals filings, it became clear that behind these demanding consumers
What Does Transparency Look Like?
So, there is some debate as to what exactly constitutes transparency, corporate responsibility and ethical sourcing. Let the dialogue carry on. It’s how we learn and grow.
At the moment, there is also uncertainty surrounding the longevity of Dodd-Frank Section 1502. However, what’s invigorating is the commitment we are seeing both within and outside our network of global customers to “do the right thing” whether or not there is a regulatory driver.
Achieving Responsible Conflict Minerals Sourcing
Responsible conflict minerals sourcing is a human rights issue, plain and simple.
The “doing” is what’s important - no matter how big or small. So, the challenge is to not only care about what’s in your wallet, but to care about what’s in the products you buy, source and manufacture. Our resources are finite, our potential, infinite.
Many businesses recognize this now and are faced with a choice: I can either stand idly by and let someone else tackle the issue or I can engage in the dialogue and do my part. The “doing” is what’s important – no matter how big or small.
The challenge is to not only care about what’s in your wallet, but to care about what’s in the products you buy, source and manufacture. Our resources are finite, our potential, infinite.
Words by Jennifer Kraus, Co-founder and EVP of Operations, Source Intelligence
Dr. Jennifer Kraus has over 25 years of experience providing multi-disciplinary strategic environmental, health and safety services to customers in the US, Mexico, Canada, and Central and South America. Prior to co-founding Source Intelligence®, Dr. Kraus was President of Global Environmental Consulting Company, Inc. (GECCo, Inc.), a consulting practice based in San Diego, CA. Dr. Kraus also served as an associate with Dames & Moore, environmental manager for General Dynamics Electronics Division, and safety engineer with Litton Guidance and Control Systems. Dr. Kraus is a former board member of the Good Neighbor Environmental Board, a congressional advisory committee on environmental and infrastructure issues along the US-Mexico Border; the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board; and the San Diego Industrial Environmental Association. Dr. Kraus completed her doctoral studies in public health, epidemiology at the UCSD School of Medicine and the San Diego State Graduate School of Public Health; she received her master’s degree in public health from the UCLA Graduate School of Public Health and her bachelor’s degree in biology from Princeton University.