On August 22, 2012, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced its adoption of final rules relating to “conflict minerals” under Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Conflicts Minerals Rules”).
The purpose of the Conflict Minerals Rules is to discourage the use of minerals that might be financing the violent conflict within Central Africa.
“Conflict minerals” are gold, Columbite-tantalite (coltan), cassiterite, wolframite, or their derivatives, which are currently limited to tantalum, tin, and tungsten, regardless of their source. Conflict minerals that can lead to adverse consequences under the Conflict Minerals Rules are those that originate in (or are mined from) the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and/or adjoining countries (Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia) (“DRC Conflict Minerals”).
Herman Miller is committed to operating in a socially responsible manner. It is our policy to refrain from purchasing DRC Conflict Minerals that may finance or benefit armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or an adjoining country - directly or indirectly from any sources. It is our requirement that suppliers not supply Herman Miller (or our affiliates, including, but not limited to, Nemschoff, Geiger, POSH, Maharam, and Colebrook, Bosson & Saunders) with any products that the supplier cannot certify as “DRC conflict free” within the meaning of the Conflict Minerals Rules.
Herman Miller requires that its suppliers establish their own due diligence programs to ensure a supply chain that results in products that are “DRC conflict free”. Suppliers must provide assurance to Herman Miller that all products supplied to Herman Miller or our affiliates are “DRC conflict free” in accordance with the Conflict Minerals Rules.
