[NCUC-DISCUSS] Responsible Technology

[DeeDee Halleck]

Intl Campaign for Responsible Technology
March 2, 2015
Intl Campaign for Responsible Technology
<https://vr2.verticalresponse.com/emails/2199023284135?contact_id=2199031681537&sk=aeLAB2JgCjBIHyohRAP0F5MGT-MEhRFK_VE9TSvuDY6Q=/aHR0cDovL3ZyMi52ZXJ0aWNhbHJlc3BvbnNlLmNvbS9lbWFpbHMvMjE5OTAyMzI4NDEzNT9jb250YWN0X2lkPTIxOTkwMzE2ODE1Mzc=/XXJmwoSTiJ7y5jPq1LwZrA>

*In January 2015, the International Campaign for Responsible Technology
(ICRT), the GoodElectronics Network plus more than 60 expert allies from 15
countries met, discussed and drafted a CALL concerning the hazards of
chemicals used in the global electronics supply chain.*


Intl Campaign for Responsible Technology, Intl Campaign for Responsible
Technology
<https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/tX4hEjHT6eaOyAtiAbQU3jVshKIebnZbnmN5XCkjhX0x0p6jkroVxD2u1YSK85B9p_Bc0E1i5lo-dxNzZ-PF1KVZtfK-SnJLJRLlvDD-eGzraRRxidb0J2M9SYrrIu1Vw3rO7PxqVS8HZUFnUThbq6BCKiIoHody=s0-d-e1-ft#https://d39ucq4owy475f.cloudfront.net/email>,



In January 2015, the International Campaign for Responsible Technology
(ICRT), the GoodElectronics Network plus a broad base of more than 60
expert allies from 15 countries came together to discuss the hazards of
chemicals used in the global electronics supply chain. During the 4-day
meeting, *"A Challenge to the Global Electronics Industry to Adopt Safer
and More Sustainable Products and Practices, and Eliminate Hazardous
Chemicals, Exposures and Discharges" *was drafted outlining our concerns,
views and demands on the industry with regard to the responsible use of
chemicals during the production process and throughout the lifecycle.

It was adopted unanimously by everyone attending.

We are now inviting organizations and individuals to endorse  this
*Challenge*.  We intend to present the endorsed *Challenge* to the
electronics industry in mid-March.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Ted Smith
International Campaign for Responsible Technology
San Jose, CA USA
tsmith at igc.org
+ (408)242-6707

Pauline Overeem
GoodElectronics
Amsterdam, Netherlands
p.overeem at goodelectronics.org
+31 20 6391 291
The Electronics Challenge

*A Challenge to the Global Electronics Industry to Adopt Safer and More
Sustainable Products and Practices, and Eliminate Hazardous Chemicals,
Exposures and Discharges*

*The Challenge*

The International Campaign for Responsible Technology (ICRT), the Good
Electronics Network, and their allies, are challenging electronics brands,
manufacturers, and suppliers to proactively reduce and eliminate chemical
and physical hazards through the development and adoption of safer
alternatives. We are addressing industry, governments and others involved
in the life cycle of electronic products from material extraction and
processing to product manufacturing, distribution, retail, use, and
post-use recycling and disposal. ICRT and Good Electronics embrace and
emphasize the underlying principles of the Internalization of External
costs and Extended Producer Responsibility.

*Human Rights, Worker Rights and Environmental Protections*

The overarching goal is sustainable production that is safe, healthy,
environmentally sound, and just. To achieve that goal, the electronics
industry must recognize the following human rights and worker rights:

• Right to safe and healthy workplace. It is the industry’s responsibility
to ensure effective workplace protections so that workers do not get sick
or injured.

• Right to healthy communities and a safe environment, free from harm
caused by materials used or disposed throughout the product lifecycle.

• Right to know what hazards are present in the workplace, all chemicals
that are there, and what is discharged into the environment.

• Right to an effective remedy when harm has occurred. This includes
compensation for workers made sick or injured, and liability for harming
the community or the environment.

• Right of workers to organize without interference and bargain
collectively.

*Action and Changes Needed*

Specifically, we have identified six key areas for change and action for
electronics brands, manufacturers and their suppliers:

1. Be transparent. Provide full materials disclosure to workers,
communities, and the general public, including what chemicals are being
used and discharged, and what hazards to the environment and humans
(including reproductive hazards) are known to be associated with the
chemicals.

2. Use safer chemicals. Assess hazardous materials used in manufacturing
throughout the product lifecycle and replace them with safer alternatives.
Where the environmental or human health effects of a substance are unknown,
its use shall be avoided; where it is inadequately or incompletely
characterized, the precautionary principle shall apply until all relevant
hazard testing is available.

3. Protect Workers. Develop and implement, jointly with affected and other
interested workers and their organizations, comprehensive hazard monitoring
for all workplaces and workers throughout the product lifecycle. This
includes training, capacity building, and industrial monitoring as well as
monitoring to measure exposures and health surveillance to identify and
prevent diseases. Workers shall be able to negotiate over hazardous working
conditions and refuse hazardous work without fear of retaliation.

4. Guarantee participation. Respect efforts of workers and communities to
participate in the sound management of chemicals and wastes in their
workplaces and communities. This includes the development of effective
worker health and safety committees and training programs.

5. Protect communities and the environment. Prevent harm throughout the
product lifecycle Conduct effective, transparent, independent monitoring of
all discharge streams. Eliminate hazardous discharges to air, waterways,
and land.

6. Compensate and remediate for harm to people and environment. Develop and
fund mechanisms that ensure that workers (present and former, and their
families) or communities harmed by exposure to hazardous chemicals receive
emergency relief and just compensation. Develop funding mechanisms to
ensure environmental and workplace remediation for as long as is needed to
address the harm.
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