Global Cross-Industry Conflict Minerals Consortium Formed

Sept. 25, 2012 - PRLog -- CHICAGO, Ill. (September 25, 2012) – Responding to the sweeping impact of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) newly-finalized conflict minerals rules on business, a group of industry leaders in conflict mineral program development has formed the first cross-industry conflict minerals consortium.
The goal of the consortium is to provide a suite of solutions that enable companies across industries and supply chains to meet the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Section 1502, and the regulations approved August 22, 2012 by the SEC.
Section 1502 of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act requires publicly traded companies, subject to regulations by the SEC, to report on the origin of tin, tantalum, gold, and tungsten — conflict minerals — in their products. Companies affected by the Act will likely be required to determine applicability of the requirements, query their entire supply chain on the presence and origin of conflict minerals, conduct third-party audits and demonstrate due diligence measures to the SEC.
Members of the conflict minerals consortium are: The Elm Consulting Group International LLC, Atlanta, Ga.; Source 44, Solana Beach, Calif.; Resource Consulting Services, London, United Kingdom; MJB Consulting, Johannesburg, South Africa; Schaffer Environmental LLC, Austin, Texas; Foley Hoag LLP, Washington, D.C. and supply chain sustainability specialist Rachelle Jackson, Los Angeles, Calif.  
“Consortium members bring their extensive expertise to address conflict minerals solutions spanning law, environmental management, mining, corporate communications, social responsibility, software solutions and on-the-ground investigations,” Lawrence Heim, Director, The Elm Consulting Group International LLC, explained.  
“We are excited to be a part of this group of industry leaders in the field of conflict minerals compliance,” said Matt Thorn, Chief Operating Officer, Source 44, a global leader in supply chain sustainability data services and conflict mineral disclosure reporting. “It’s a difficult and complex problem that can only be solved with innovation, collaboration and expertise,” he said.
”The final conflict minerals rule will see companies having to demonstrate the quality of their supply-chain due diligence,” Harrison Mitchell, director of Resource Consulting Services, said. “We are excited to be part of the consortium which we fully expect to become the leading platform to discuss ideas and demonstrate best practices in implementation of the rule.”
Martin J. Bauwens of mine consultancy MJB Consulting added that in-country expertise is a critical element in addressing the issues of reporting requirements for conflict minerals. “The regulations promulgated by the SEC form a unique and complex challenge, requiring a wide range of skills to be deployed over multiple countries. In-country due diligence will have to be conducted to determine the origin of the conflict minerals,” he said.
Details on the consortium, its members and services offered are available at www.conflictmineralsconsortium.com
Media contact:  Anthony Hilvers, Consortium Secretary: 847-274-9043, info@conflictmineralsconsortium.com

Consortium Members
About Source 44
Source 44, home of Source Intelligence®, delivers a unique blend of cost-effective technology, expertise and data to rapidly improve supply chain sustainability and transparency. Their solution is tailored to the distinct challenges that retailers and manufacturers face when they set out to define and meet sustainability targets, from assessing suppliers for increased supply chain transparency and brand protection to complying with conflict minerals requirements. Each solution is powered by proprietary algorithms within Source Intelligence® and complemented by a 24/7 supplier engagement team to enable companies to meet sustainability goals like never before. Visit: s44.co
About MJB Consulting
Based in Johannesburg, MJB Consulting is an independent mining consultancy company which focuses on mining legislation in Africa and has a thorough understanding of conflict minerals regulations. The company offers a unique combination of highly specialized legal skills with on-the-ground expertise in multiple countries in Africa.
About The Elm Consulting Group International LLC (“Elm”)
Founded in 2001, Elm is an independent global health, safety, environmental and sustainability management consultancy with 14 offices in the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Columbia, New Zealand, Indonesia, China and a network of over 100 hand-selected affiliates in over 25 other countries. From being the audit firm who conducted the first tantalum smelter audits under the electronic industry’s Conflict Free Smelter (CFS) program* to being the only HSSE consultancy invited by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a panelist in their October 2011 Conflict Minerals Roundtable, Elm is one of the foremost authorities on conflict minerals programs under Section 1502 of the US Dodd-Frank Act.
* Elm voluntarily withdrew from the CFS program at the end of 2010 to provide advisory or auditor roles with the highest level of independence.
About Foley Hoag LLP
Foley Hoag is a dynamic law firm that represents public and private clients in a wide range of disputes and transactions worldwide.  From their offices in Boston, Washington, D.C. and Paris, and their Emerging Enterprise Center in Waltham, Massachusetts, they provide strategic legal advice that is tailored to each of their clients' unique goals.  Foley Hoag was the first law firm in the United States with a practice group devoted exclusively to corporate social responsibility.  The firm advises large and small companies regarding the management of social, political, and environmental challenges. Their counsel encompasses legal and reputational risk management; policy and standard development; and human rights due diligence and impact assessments.  Their Corporate Social Responsibility practice works closely with lawyers in the firm’s Corporate Finance and Securities practice to advice companies on disclosure and reporting issues.
About Resource Consulting Services
Resource Consulting Services (RCS) supports companies around the world to achieve due diligence compliance with international standards and regulations on supply chains. For the past two years, our team has assisted companies to meet compliance with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas – the only internationally recognized framework endorsed by the SEC under the conflict minerals rule. RCS is established as the leading upstream advisor to companies using tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold in their products to meet their due diligence and regulatory obligations with confidence.
About Schaffer Environmental LLC
Schaffer Environmental provides timely, accurate and valuable assistance to clients worldwide on pertinent environmental aspects of their business, products, organization and services. Their services include: Implementation, training and promotion of green procurement (EPEAT, Blue Angel and other eco-labels) and restricted materials programs (REACH, RoHS) throughout the supply chain; materials recycling and other environmental aspects of concern for doing business in today's world and building a leadership position for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and Green House Gas reporting/expertise.
About Rachelle Jackson
Rachelle Jackson is based in Los Angeles, Calif. and has over 15 years of experience in supply chain responsible sourcing with a particular focus on corporate social responsibility, labor and human rights. Ms. Jackson provides expert guidance on supply chain sustainability issues, including supplier mapping and material traceability, international labor standards, human rights, slavery and trafficking, and child and forced labor in the supply chain. She works with organizations on development and implementation of CSR policies and initiatives, including supplier-focused monitoring programs and community engagement initiatives. In addition, Ms. Jackson manages field and desk-based projects to establish baselines, evaluate impacts, conduct gap assessments, and execute traceability or research conditions in supply chains.