Intel says no to conflict minerals in chips
Intel's announced something of a milestone when it comes to its manufacturing: from this year, it's making and shipping "conflict-free" microprocessors.
The chip maker has made a "rigorous effort" to ensure its sources of specific metals – tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold – aren't funding human rights abuses, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The solution to conflict-free sourcing requires global action, said Intel.
Chief executive Brian Krzanich, who was speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, invited "the entire industry to join us in this journey".
The issue, he said, is of personal importance to him, which is why the company's made its commitment to exclude minerals from conflict zones from its supply chain.