The production chain of consumer electronic products is a truly global one and is facing many social and environmental problems throughout the world.

The scope of SOMO’s research has widened from labour standards at production locations in Asia and Latin America to the entire life cycle of consumer electronics. SOMO started to research the labour abuses and environmental damage at the bottom of the supply chain; the conditions under which the raw materials for electronics are extracted. After initial resistance to take responsibility for this phase of their supply chain, the electronics companies now acknowledge that the electronics industry has the leverage for change, and the dialogue between business and SOMO will continue.

SOMO’s work in the electronics industry takes place through different projects: SOMO is coordinator of the European project makeITfair; is hosting the worldwide GoodElectronics network; and is partner in Procure IT fair, but also runs its own program together with partner organisations in the production countries. This program includes starting up dialogue between local workers organisations and supplier companies and monitoring the codes of conduct of the electronics brand companies.

watch videos electronics >

News Electronics