Apple Cobalt Supplier Seeking Ethical Supply With Industry Pilot
- China’s Huayou is among companies working to track mine output
- Child labor was found in some mines in Congo, biggest producer
Apple in Talks With Cobalt Mines to Secure Supply Chain
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A supplier of cobalt to Apple Inc. is joining with others in the industry to try to ensure the metal used in rechargeable batteries is sourced ethically after some mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the top producer, were found to be dangerous or employ child labor.
China’s Huayou Cobalt Co. is among refiners, miners, gadget firms and global carmakers collaborating in the Better Cobalt trial project that seeks to track supply from Congo mines to the batteries used in phones and vehicles, said Nicholas Garrett, a director at the Better Sourcing Program running the pilot. He declined to name other members while contracts are being completed.