As world leaders act to secure access to these minerals, companies come under pressure to follow due diligence guidelines to promote ethical sourcing of these materials for their supply chains. Regulations such as the US Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Section 1502), EU Regulation 2017/821 and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive require companies to trace materials through their supply chains and report to the public about their use of conflict minerals.
Several industry associations, including the Responsible Business Alliance’s Responsible Minerals Initiative, were created to help companies with their due diligence efforts. Reports such as those issued by the US Government Accountability Office on Conflict Minerals offer insights into the efficacy of these regulations and suggest improved approaches for industry engagement.
The SEMI Responsible Supply Chain (RSC) working group was recently formed to host discussions on these topics. This webinar will provide insights from speakers Jennifer Peyser, Responsible Business Alliance Senior Vice President of Responsible Sourcing, and Kimberly Gianopoulos, Managing Director for the International Affairs and Trade team at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
United States
Welcome and Introductions of RSC working group
Dr. Harrison is a MEMS Engineer with AMFitzgerald & Associates, a design firm located in the Bay Area California. She has a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, and has worked as a designer and process engineer in the semiconductor industry for 10 years. She was nominated as a 2022 MEMS & Sensors Industry Group Emerging Leader. As a founding member and leader of the SEMI Responsible Supply Chain Working Group, she hopes to bring SEMI members together to discuss solutions to human rights issues in the semiconductor supply chain.
Conflict Minerals Supply Chain Overview
Report Review
Director Gianopoulos oversees a 140-person team that reviews a wide variety of federal government oversight issues, including International Security Assistance, Bilateral and Multilateral Foreign Assistance, International Trade and Finance, and U.S. Diplomatic Presence and Management. She serves as a facilitator in GAO’s Learning Center and participates in recruiting activities. Ms. Gianopoulos has received several awards, including a Distinguished Service Award, a Meritorious Service Award, a Client Service Award, and several Results Through Teamwork awards. Ms. Gianopoulos earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Public Analysis and Administration from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She is a Certified Government Financial Manager and a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration.
RMI Activity Overview
“The RMI supports over 500 downstream, midstream, and upstream member companies with a suite of due diligence standards and tools, data, guidance, training, and other resources for global responsible sourcing and regulatory compliance. Our facility and supply chain due diligence standards are rooted in longstanding international norms while reflecting emerging corporate and stakeholder priorities for regulatory compliance, managing sustainability risks and impacts, and fostering responsible mineral supply chains.”
Q&A
Summary and Closing Remarks
