This article from Foreign Policy focusses on the iPhone and the many ethical situations around its materials, production and use. This post will disuss one particular material used within the iPhone, and other electronic devices, found in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Coltan.

Coltan, short for columbite-tantalite, is used in almost every electronic device around the world including the iPhone. The mineral coltan is able to hold a high electrical charge for lengthy periods of time and for that reason, all mobile devices as well as the iPhone use coltan to improve battery life.

While 50% of the world’s coltan resources are mined with fair practices from Australia, many mines in Congo are controlled by rebel groups. The DRC does not benefit from the profits of the mines. In fact, the mines create dangers in the country. Not only are the working conditions extremely hazardous, but the war over control of the mines has killed nearly seven million people in the last twelve years. Apple claims it requires suppliers to “certify that the materials they use have been produced in a “socially and environmentally responsible process”” but the mineral is very hard to trace. As a company, business, or even consumer in the electronics world, how do make sure your electronics avoid coltan mined from the Democratic Republic of Congo?