Mica is an important raw material for our effect pigments, which are used in automotive, cosmetic and industrial coatings as well as plastics. We procure the majority of our mica from the Indian states of Jharkhand and Bihar. We have special measures in place to comply with high social and environmental standards in our mica supply chain.
Our approach to responsibility in the mica supply chain
In procuring mica from the Indian states of Jharkhand and Bihar, where social and economic factors contribute to poor working conditions, including child labor, we are supporting this region by safeguarding local employment and livelihoods. We source the raw material only from suppliers operating in formal working environments and we monitor compliance with our standards, including the prohibition of child labor.
Our mica suppliers are informed of our standards and have confirmed that they adhere to the principles of our Human Rights Charter as well as the requirements of our Supplier Code of Conduct. In the event of non-compliance with our standards, we work with suppliers to ensure the appropriate implementation of corrective measures.
We do not tolerate child labor and contractually prohibit our suppliers from employing children. If one of our suppliers were found to be using child labor, we would terminate the business relationship immediately. We are driving initiatives and taking measures to improve the conditions of mica sourcing based on our high standards. For example, we have contractually agreed with our suppliers to pay at least living wage to mine workers and workers in the processing units. Furthermore, we continuously review our monitoring processes to improve their effectiveness.
Roles and responsibilities
Group Procurement has overall responsibility for sourcing mica. A steering committee is in place to involve the relevant functions and inform the respective Board members about significant developments.
We have direct business relationships with suppliers for our mica supply chain in India in place. Our procurement unit is in direct contact with suppliers to reiterate the importance we place on ethical, social and environmental standards.
Our commitment: Compliance with guidelines and standards
As a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, we are actively involved in working to abolish child labor. Our Human Rights Charter underscores this commitment. In our Supplier Code of Conduct, we set out our expectations for our suppliers in terms of sustainability and human rights, including prohibition of child labor. Our Supplier Code of Conduct is also an integral part of our supplier contracts.
Auditing our mica supply chain
We have implemented a series of oversight mechanisms using a system that monitors and audits conformity with our social and environmental standards. In addition to visits by our company’s employees, regular inspections are conducted by third parties, who conduct comprehensive announced audits as well as frequent, unannounced monitoring.
External audits
Environmental Resources Management (ERM), a leading global provider of environmental, health, safety, risk, and social consulting services, conducts external audits of mines and processing plants, investigating working conditions as well as environmental, health and safety issues. The audit reports document any identified shortcomings in this respect and propose corrective actions. Findings concerning safety of electrical installations and installing proper emergency exit signs were successfully addressed. Our employees in Kolkata, India, and Darmstadt, Germany, take action to address any identified issues. If the corrective measures are not respected, we may suspend or even terminate our business relationship.
Unannounced inspections
Since 2013, IGEP Consult, an Indian non-governmental organization, has conducted regular unannounced monitoring to review labor standards throughout our supply chain. During these visits, IGEP officials monitor occupational safety and compliance with laws preventing child labor. In 2023, its inspections focused on checking the availability of physical examinations for workers and conducting mock fire drills. Additionally, we regularly optimize the escalation process together with IGEP, which holds bi-weekly review meetings with representatives of our company to assess suppliers. These meetings help to identify any required actions, which our sourcing teams then discuss and implement with our suppliers. As a result, our suppliers have successfully improved the working conditions at these sites.
Evaluating and tracking mica sources
We use a tracking system to help ensure that the mica we purchase is derived from sources qualified by our company. We also use this tracking system to monitor the productivity of our mica sources. Based on written records of the daily extraction quantities, we review the volumes of mica reported and supplied to the processing facilities. Furthermore, we use a digital traceability solution to increase transparency in the mica supply chain.
To maintain accuracy, our processes undergo constant review and improvement. We are also evaluating other mica sources in accordance with our quality, social and environmental standards, both in India and other regions. For example, we source a considerable amount of mica from Brazil. To monitor our suppliers’ adherence to these standards, we have conducted an audit through a third party.
Implementing living wages
We have contractually agreed with our suppliers a monthly wage of 17,500 Indian rupees for mine workers and workers in the processing units for their labor. In 2023, the workers in processing units and mines in our supply chain already received the aforementioned fixed salary, independent of mica volumes harvested or processed. This salary is a living wage that contributes to a reasonable living standard for workers and their families while helping to eliminate the root cause of child labor.
Community outreach in the mica supply chain
We are working to improve the living conditions of the families in mica mining areas. Since 2012, our educational efforts in Jharkhand include funding three schools with currently around 470 students as well as five vocational training centers, all run by our local partner, the NGO IGEP. At a fourth school operated by one of our mica suppliers, we provide on an annual basis scholarship for 200 children out of the 450 enrolled at the school.
In addition to our support for education, we are also helping to improve access to healthcare. For example, we are fully funding an IGEP-operated health center in Sapahi, Bihar, that serves approximately 20,000 residents in the local region.
Stronger together: Joint action in the mica supply chain
We are also a founding member of the multi-stakeholder group Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI). Since 2017, we have held the presidency of the organization. The initiative aims to eradicate child labor and unacceptable working conditions in the Indian mica supply chain by joining forces across industries.
During the reporting year, we continued supporting the RMI’s work, as described below.
Responsible workplace standards:
- The RMI conducted training sessions with supervisors and workers in several mica processing units.
- An RMI-facilitated audit program on workplace standards continued in 2023. We actively supported this audit program and provided assurance that the processing units we source from would participate throughout 2023.
Community empowerment:
- The RMI aims to address the root causes of child labor and improve livelihoods within local communities. The RMI’s scope covers 180 villages and reached over 16,000 households with 90,000 beneficiaries in 2023.
- In 2023, the RMI set the goal for its members to implement a living wage for all mica workers in the States of Jharkhand and Bihar by 2030.