Conflict Minerals and the iPhone 4

In case you were wondering, Steve Jobs reads Nicholas Kristof. Or at least, he follows the human rights news to the point that he knows what conflict minerals are, the complex system by which they make it into consumer electronics, and Apple's policies regarding them. And, he's willing to talk to the average iConsumer about them and whether or not they're in the newest iteration of the iPhone.

Jobs replied to an email this week from consumer Derick Rhodes, who sent a question to the CEO asking whether or not Apple was doing anything to prevent conflict minerals, minerals mined in war-torn areas which fund or involve human rights abuses, from infiltrating their phones. Derick was planning on upgrading his phone, but didn't want to buy something filled with "tantalum, tungsten, tin, and gold from Eastern Congo." Much to Derick's (and Wired.com's) surprise, Jobs actually wrote back, with a concise and honest reply, "Yes. We require all of our suppliers to certify in writing that they use conflict few [sic] materials. But honestly there is no way for them to be sure. Until someone invents a way to chemically trace minerals from the source mine, it's a very difficult problem."

First of all, mad props go to Jobs and Apple for having the issue of conflict minerals on their radar and a corporate policy in place regarding them. That's a large step farther than most electronics companies have gone. And he's right that conflict minerals in consumer electronics present a difficult and complex problem. But as the Enough Project points out in their blog, making conflict-free iPhones can be done, and it can be done without chemical tracing. Some companies have already started tracing minerals like tin and tantalum, and Apple could certainly follow.

Apple has already developed an internal auditing process to identify child labor and other abuses in the factories which make its products. The Enough Project is offering to help Apple take the next step, to be able to guarantee that iPads, iPods, and iPhones are conflict-free. But doing that will take a lot more effort than shooting off an email. That's why we're all standing ready to help you, Mr. Jobs, if you decide to take the plunge. And remember, while tracing conflict minerals may seem hard now, who knows: in a couple years, there may be an app for that.

Photo credit: acaben