Responsibility means commitment: We procure raw materials from unobjectionable sources

As a company aware of its responsibilities, we exercise due diligence in sourcing tungsten and tantalum.

Tungsten and tantalum are partially mined in conflict regions in and around the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and have therefore been classified as "conflict minerals." As one of the world's leading manufacturers of products made from refractory metals such as tungsten and tantalum, we carry great responsibility. We are particularly concerned that the raw materials we procure are sourced responsibly and do not contribute to such conflicts.

Sustainable Purchasing Policy

We employ a wide range of measures to ensure that we do not source or use any raw materials from socially, ethically, or ecologically questionable sources. Sustainability is a fixed part of our purchasing policy and is defined in our Code of Conduct.

We only select suppliers that comply with rigorous procurement guidelines as per our Supplier Policy. Suppliers not only have to demonstrate that raw materials meet our strict quality requirements. They must also unreservedly respect human rights, labor laws, and international trade law, and provide proof that their raw materials come from "conflict-free" sources and meet strict environmental requirements. We have taken part in a pilot study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and have implemented the "Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas."

More about our supplier policies:

Supplier Policy

View our Due Diligence Report:

Due Diligence Report

Our Conditions of Purchase and Sales

Other countries, other customs. Legal requirements sometimes differ too. Would you like to sell us something and read our Conditions of Purchase? Or would you like to read our Conditions of Sales as a customer? Here you will find these conditions for all of our locations:

To the Conditions of Purchase and Sales

RMAP Compliant Procurement

Tantalum is an important component of the capacitors used in electronic devices. As a reliable supplier to the electronics industry, we can provide a certificate testifying to the unquestionable origin of our tantalum. In this, the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) certifies that Plansee uses tantalum raw materials from ethically irreproachable sources. This audit covers all tantalum procured within the audit period and/or all products containing tantalum manufactured during the audit period.

This audit conducted as part of the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) Downstream Audit Program, a joint undertaking promoted by the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA – formerly EICC) and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), is a voluntary obligation adopted by Plansee. For us, our customers, and our suppliers, this represents independent confirmation that we are compliant with the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP).

Following a re-audit in 2018, the audit committee of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) has confirmed that Global Tungsten & Powders (GTP) in Towanda - a Plansee Group company - sources tungsten in compliance with the RMAP. For Plansee's customers, this certificate provides independent proof that the Plansee Group procures its tungsten from responsible sources.

You can report violations through our whistleblower system.

REACH

REACH is the regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals. As of 2007, all substances produced in or imported into the EU in quantities in excess of a ton must be registered with the European Chemicals Agency. Would you like to learn more about our REACH activities? Our sales staff would be happy to provide you with more information.

Do you have questions about conflict materials? We're here to answer them.

Alexander Tautermann
Director Marketing and Sales Organisation
+43 5672 600 2664

Take a look at our supply chain policy and RMI certificates here:

Raw materials supply chain policy

RMI certification letter (Plansee)

RMI certification letter for tungsten (GTP Towanda)

Closing the Circle to Protect the Environment

The Plansee Group uses chemical and thermomechanical processing in its own recycling plants to treat returned customer materials and production waste. But the environment is not the only consideration. There are also good economic reasons for re-using these "secondary raw materials":

Security of supply
Careful use of natural resources

Our in-house team of scientists is constantly fine-tuning the adopted methods and processes and guarantees that only top-quality powder is obtained. In the case of tungsten in particular, a large proportion of the Group's material requirements is covered by recycling.

The input material for the recovery process consists of sintered hard tungsten carbide scrap, as well as soft scrap such as powders and grinding sludge and other secondary raw materials with a tungsten content of at least 60%.

Alloys and other materials such as cobalt, nickel or tantalum can also be recycled. To enable us to reprocess as much waste material as possible, we have long-term take-back agreements with many of our customers.