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What Products Contain Conflict Minerals?

Written by Source Intelligence | Dec 20, 2024 8:06:59 PM

Conflict minerals are in high demand because they are critical components in many everyday consumer products. Mined primarily in politically unstable regions, these minerals often fuel armed conflict and human rights abuses. To mitigate these risks, companies must ensure responsible sourcing and verify supplier credibility. Global conflict minerals regulations support efforts to protect communities from violence and exploitation, but compliance is complex without a clear strategy. The first step in understanding compliance begins with identifying which products contain conflict minerals. 

Defining conflict minerals and their uses 

The term conflict minerals refers to tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold, often abbreviated as 3TG. These minerals are critical in various consumer products, particularly in the electronic and automotive industries. They are also frequently combined with other elements to form alloys like pewter and bronze, further extending their applications.  

What products are conflict minerals used in?  

Conflict minerals are widely used in consumer products, particularly electronics, due to their durability, heat resistance, and malleability. These properties make them indispensable, ensuring their presence across many supply chains.  

  • Tin is malleable, lightweight, durable, and resistant to corrosion; and is often used to coat other metals to prevent corrosion.  
  • Tantalum has high ductility and density. It is also great at conducting heat and electricity and has a high melting point of 3,017 degrees Celsius.   
  • Tungsten is often used in tools as it has the highest melting point of all metals at 3,420 degrees Celsius; has a high density; and has a high tensile strength. 
  • Gold is malleable, not highly corrosive, and conductive to electricity and heat. It is also resistant to corrosion, oxidation, and acids.  

Electronics

Tin 

  • Batteries 
  • Wire and cable coating 
  • Dielectrics (electrical insulators) 

Tantalum 

  • Wire 
  • LED lights 
  • Portable electronics & high-speed processing devices 

Tungsten 

  • Electrodes 
  • High temperatures 
  • X-ray tubes 

Gold 

  • Sound Systems 

  • Cellphones 
  • Connecting wires & connection strips 

Explore how 3TG impacts electronics manufacturing and discover practical tips for tracing these minerals in your supply chain.  

Clothing and Jewelry 

Tin 

  • Eyeglasses 
  • Jewelry, watches 
  • Zippers, fasteners, buttons

Tungsten 

  • Jewelry 
  • Parts inside automatic watches 

Gold 

  • Bracelets, necklaces 
  • Rings, earrings 
  • Watches

Home and Auto

Tin 

  • Roofing, glass, windows, weather insulator 
  • Power tools 
  • Car parts such as: engine parts, gears, pumps, joints, windshields, etc. 
  • Kitchen utensils 
  • Water purifiers 

Gold 

  • Catalytic converters 

Containers

Tin 

  • Food/drink product packaging 
  • Containers for paint, oil, polish, cleaners, etc. 
  • Gas tanks/radiator heater tanks

Glass

Gold 

  • Climate controlled buildings  
  • Ruby colored glass 

Other product categories 

Tin 

  • Solar Panels 
  • Urethane coatings and polyurethane foam production 
  • Polyester production 

Tantalum 

  • Camera lenses 
  • Fountain and ballpoint pens 
  • Laboratory equipment 

Tungsten 

  • Fishing weights 
  • Golf clubs 
  • Joints 

 Lighting

Tungsten 

  • Filaments in older-style (not energy-saving) electric bulbs 
  • Halogen tungsten lamps (energy saving) 
  • Television tubes 
  • Compact fluorescents (CFLs) in their emitter coils 

Tools

Tungsten

  • Welding tools 
  • High-speed cutting tools 
  • Hardware such as nails, screws, hooks, mounting equipment 

The lists above are only a modest example of consumer products that contain 3TG. We acknowledge they are incomplete lists and have selected these examples for brevity.

How are conflict minerals used in alloys?

Beyond their direct use in consumer products, conflict minerals are integral to various alloys. Alloys, which are mixtures of two or more elements (often metals), enhance material properties like strength, durability, or resistance to wear. Common alloys incorporating 3TG include: 

  • Bronze (tin + copper) 
  • Solder (tin + lead) 
  • Pewter (85-99% tin, 5-10% antimony, 2% copper) 
  • Steel (some heavy-duty steel may contain tantalum or tungsten) 

Global conflict minerals reporting requirements

Conflict minerals can enter a company’s supply chain at any stage, making vigilance essential to avoid sourcing materials linked to conflict and human rights abuses. To promote responsible sourcing of 3TG, regulations such as the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation (2017/821) and the U.S. Dodd-Frank Act (Section 1502) mandate due diligence on mineral origins and sourcing practices. Non-compliance not only risks reputational damage but also legal penalties. By understanding these requirements and adopting responsible sourcing practices, companies can safeguard their operations and stay ahead of compliance challenges. 

Learn more about navigating conflict minerals compliance in our blog.

Source your minerals responsibly with Source Intelligence 

Understanding the complexities of responsibly sourcing minerals can be a time-consuming challenge. Conflict minerals regulations impact a wide range of products, making it difficult to determine the right compliance solution for your business. Our responsible sourcing solution covers conflict minerals, extended minerals, and additional minerals of concern, meeting a variety of compliance needs.  

Source Intelligence’s robust software simplifies regulatory challenges, leveraging automation to streamline compliance processes. Explore our solution to learn more about Source Intelligence’s answer to responsible sourcing.