Responsible sourcing of minerals and metals at Seco
Ever wonder where the metals in your everyday products come from? At Seco, we’re committed to making sure our materials — like tungsten, tantalum, tin, gold, and cobalt — are sourced in ways that respect both people and the planet.Fagersta, May the 13th - Ever wonder where the metals in your everyday products come from? At Seco, we’re committed to making sure our materials — like tungsten, tantalum, tin, gold, and cobalt — are sourced in ways that respect both people and the planet.
Global standards for responsible business conduct have reshaped how companies source raw materials. These principles require businesses to carefully address the impacts of their operations in supply chains, ensuring they are free from human rights abuses and environmental damage. For us, that’s not just a legal obligation — it’s a core value to care for both people and the planet.
To ensure Seco is sustainable in every way, the company has aligned its sourcing approach with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (OECD Guidance). This approach includes a structured, five-step, risk-based due diligence process:
We’ve set clear standards through our Statement on Responsible Sourcing of Minerals and Metals and our Supplier Code of Conduct. These documents define our expectations for ethical supply chains.
We ask suppliers to share information about their sourcing, so we can identify any red flags. This helps us focus our efforts where they’re most needed.
After checking the information, we decide what to do next — maybe we keep working with the supplier, ask them to improve, or, in serious cases, end the business relationship.
We require mineral smelters in our supply chain to comply with recognized audit programs. The audit results also guide us in mitigating potential risks within our suppliers.
We publicly disclose our due diligence practices annually. The latest report is available on the Sandvik web page for Responsible Sourcing of Minerals and Metals.
Responsible sourcing is a shared responsibility. To support both our customers and suppliers, Seco ensures that:
- We comply with EU Regulation 2017/821, setting due diligence rules for importers of certain minerals from high-risk areas.
- We support customers in meeting the SEC Conflict Minerals Rule under Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act.
- Our experts provide training and advice to suppliers on best practices for ethical sourcing.
Beyond regulatory compliance, we’re setting higher standards for ethical mineral sourcing in manufacturing. At Seco, respecting human rights and protecting the environment isn’t just a priority — it’s part of who we are.
