Conflict Free Tin Initiative

Results

In just two years, the CFTI moved from a high-level concept to a functional tool for industry. CFTI demonstrated and communicated that it is possible to provide a reliable, traceable supply of conflict-free minerals to the international market from some of the most volatile and complex places in the world. An independent assessment of the program commissioned by the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade also noted the importance of the global-local engagement CFTI facilitated, and its role in highlighting broader challenges relating to governance and ASM that require the attention of local governments.

CFTI also laid the groundwork for Scaling Up Mineral Trade, a project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Netherlands that supports the iTSCi Programme in the Great Lakes Region. Funding from the MFA will support field activities of Pact, the implementing partner of the iTSCi Programme in the region, in order to bring more miners and their communities back into the responsible international market; something that will result in economic opportunity locally, and an expectation of improved security and governance. The project will also add social value through provision of training on savings and business skills, improving health and safety in artisanal mines, and addressing various human rights issues in the mining sector such as gender equity.

Figures

Around 400 tonnes of concentrated tin ore (cassiterite) was produced in South Kivu during the time of the CFTI project. Since that concentrate would have contained around 65% tin metal, we can estimate that around 260 tonnes of conflict-free tin was produced and reached the international market, much of which was used in normal manufacturing processes of hundreds of companies. Some of the partner companies utilising the tin were;

Fairphone received soldering paste containing CFTI tin from Alpha at the end of November 2013. With this paste, 25,000 First Edition Fairphones were produced in China.

Credit: Thomas Ellis

Kemet Capacitors are used in virtually all electrical and electronic equipment. The industries include:

Alternative Energy; Automotive; Computer; Consumer/Gaming; Defense/Aerospace; Industrial/Lighting; Medical; Telecom; Etc.

 

AIM produced solder bars with CFTI tin in their factory in Juarez, Mexico.

AIM's SN100C bar solder made with CFTI tin

 

Tata Steel 

Credit: Julian van Zanten

 

Philips:

Philips CFTI product: a starter for fluorescent lamps