Natural resources

Deposits of mineral resources such as gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum in politically fragile areas that are the hot spots of armed conflicts and civil wars can lead to human rights abuses and facilitate corruption and money laundering. These raw materials are referred to as conflict minerals or conflict resources, as in many cases the mining of these materials is illegal and outside of state control, for example by rebels or militias. This particularly affects countries with weak or no government leadership and where international rights are systematically violated, such as Rwanda, Uganda, Congo and Burundi.

In order to curb trade of mineral resources from high-risk areas, the OECD has published a guideline for the due diligence to establish responsible supply chains for minerals from conflict and high-risk areas. As a machine wholesaler, we have committed ourselves to this guideline by regularly checking, to the best of our ability, whether the minerals and metals used in machines we offer and which are manufactured by upstream suppliers, are sourced in a responsible and conflict-free manner.

Our strategy for supply chains in the pursuit of a responsible global supply chain for minerals from conflict and high risk areas

Recognising that risks of significant adverse impacts which may be associated with extracting, trading, handling and exporting minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas, and recognising that we have the responsibility to respect human rights and not contribute to conflict, we commit to adopt and widely disseminate the following policy on responsible sourcing of minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas, as representing a common reference for conflict-sensitive sourcing practices and suppliers’ risk awareness from the point of extraction until end user. We commit to refraining from any action which contributes to the financing of conflict and we commit to comply with relevant United Nations sanctions resolutions or, where applicable, domestic laws implementing such resolutions.

Regarding serious abuses associated with the extraction, transport or trade of minerals:

1. While sourcing from, or operating in, conflict-affected and high-risk areas, we will neither tolerate nor by any means profit from, contribute to, assist with or facilitate the commission by any party of:
   1. any forms of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment;
   2. any forms of forced or compulsory labour, which means work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of penalty and for which said person has not offered himself voluntarily;
   3. the worst forms of child labour
   4. other gross human rights violations and abuses such as widespread sexual violence;
   5. war crimes or other serious violations of international humanitarian law, crimes against humanity or genocide.

Regarding risk management of serious abuses:

1. We will immediately suspend or discontinue engagement with upstream suppliers where we identify a reasonable risk that they are sourcing from, or linked to, any party committing serious abuses as defined in paragraph 1.

Regarding direct or indirect support to non-state armed groups:

1. We will not tolerate any direct or indirect support to non-state armed groups through the extraction, transport, trade, handling or export of minerals. “Direct or indirect support” to non-state armed groups through the extraction, transport, trade, handling or export of minerals includes, but is not limited to, procuring minerals from, making payments to or otherwise providing logistical assistance or equipment to, non-state armed groups or their affiliates who:
   1. illegally control mine sites or otherwise control transportation routes, points where minerals are traded and upstream actors in the supply chain; and/or
   2. illegally tax or extort money or minerals at points of access to mine sites, along transportation routes or at points where minerals are traded; and/or
   3. illegally tax or extort intermediaries, export companies or international traders.
2. We will immediately suspend or discontinue engagement with upstream suppliers where we identify a reasonable risk that they are sourcing from, or linked to, any party providing direct or indirect support to non-state armed groups as defined in paragraph 3.

Regarding public or private security forces:

1. We agree to eliminate, in accordance with paragraph 10, direct or indirect support to public or private security forces who illegally control mine sites, transportation routes and upstream actors in the supply chain; illegally tax or extort money or minerals at point of access to mine sites, along transportation routes or at points where minerals are traded; or illegally tax or extort intermediaries, export companies or international traders.
2. We recognise that the role of public or private security forces at the mine sites and/or surrounding areas and/or along transportation routes should be solely to maintain the rule of law, including safeguarding human rights, providing security to mine workers, equipment and facilities, and protecting the mine site or transportation routes from interference with legitimate extraction and trade.

Regarding bribery and fraudulent misrepresentation of the origin of minerals:

1. We will not offer, promise, give or demand any bribes, and will resist the solicitation of bribes to conceal or disguise the origin of minerals, to misrepresent taxes, fees and royalties paid to governments for the purposes of mineral extraction, trade, handling, transport and export.

Regarding money laundering:

1. We will support efforts, or take steps, to contribute to the effective elimination of money laundering where we identify a reasonable risk of money-laundering resulting from, or connected to, the extraction, trade, handling, transport or export of minerals derived from the illegal taxation or extortion of minerals at points of access to mine sites, along transportation routes or at points where minerals are traded by upstream suppliers.

Regarding risk management of bribery and fraudulent misrepresentation of the origin of minerals, money-laundering and payment of taxes, fees and royalties to governments:

In accordance with the specific position of the company in the supply chain, we commit to engage with suppliers, central or local governmental authorities, international organisations, civil society and affected third parties, to optimize and follow up necessary steps in risk mitigation through appropriate measures of our company. We will suspend or discontinue engagement with upstream suppliers after failed attempts at mitigation.