Social Impacts of the Production of Notebook PCs · w w w. o e k o. d e The Notebook Industry:...
Transcript of Social Impacts of the Production of Notebook PCs · w w w. o e k o. d e The Notebook Industry:...
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Social Impacts of the Production of Notebook PCs
by Andreas Manhart & Rainer Grießhammer
LCM 2007, Zürich, August 27-29
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→ Various social trouble spots in the life cycle of ICT products
→ Growing consumer concerns
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BMBF:Case study computer
&Methodology development to integrate social aspects into LCA
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All companies in thesupply chain meeta required set ofminimum standards
1 Notebook “contains”:- 1.752 working hours- less than 0,00002 accidents- no occupational diseases
?
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d eThe Computer‘s Life Cycle
L i f e C y c l e o f C o m p u t e r s
• WSIS • EMPA• StEP• Greenpeace
• World Bank• FIAN• FFI
• CAFOD• SOMO• Corporate data
HardwareManufacturing
ResourceExtraction Use Disposal &
Recycling
→ Focusing on social aspects
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d eSupply Chain Simplification
Notebook
Mainboard
Printed CircuitBoard
Network Interface Card
Case …
Printed CircuitBoard
Inductors …
Copper Foil Epoxy Resin
Crude OilCopper Ore
Resistors
Copper Ore
CPU
PlasticSi-Wafer
Crude OilSilica Sand Crude Oil
…
Copper Foil Epoxy Resin
Crude OilCrude OilCrude Oil Copper OreCopper Ore
Copper Foil Copper FoilEpoxy Resin Epoxy Resin
Printed CircuitBoard
Printed CircuitBoard
Crude OilCopper Ore
Copper Foil Epoxy Resin
Printed Circuit Boards
Mainboard Network InterfaceCard
Inductors Resistors
Boards & Cards
Passive Electronic Components
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A. EmployeesA.1 Safe & healthy working conditionsA.2 Freedom of association, right to
collective bargaining & workers‘participation
A.3 Equality of opportunity andtreatment & fair interaction
A.4 Abolition of forced labourA.5 Abolition of child labourA.6 Adequate remunerationA.7 Adequate working timeA.8 Employment securityA.9 Social securityA.10 Professional developmentA.11 Job satisfaction
B. Local CommunityB.1 Safe & healthy living conditionsB.2 Respect of human rightsB.3 Respect of indigenous rightsB.4 Community engagementB.5 Maintaining & improving social
and economic opportunities
C. SocietyC.1 Public commitments to sustainability issuesC.2 Prevention of unjustifiable risksC.3 Employment creationC.4 Vocational trainingC.5 Anti-corruption effortsC.6 Social & environmental minimum standards
for suppliers and co-operation partnersC.7 Non-interference in sensitive political issuesC.8 Contribution to the national economic
developmentC.9 Prevention & mitigation of armed conflictsC.10 Transparent business informationC.11 Protection of intellectual property rights
D. Users / Consumers…
Developing Social Indicators
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d eQuantitative & Qualitative Indicators
Quantitative and qualitativeinformation of various sources
→ Companies→ Labour rights activists→ Internet-sources→ Expert judgements→ …
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d eThe Notebook Industry: Brandname-Companies
Brandname Headquarter
Dell USA No own production
Hewlett-Packard USA No own production
Lenovo (formerly IBM) China (formerly USA) No own production
Acer Taiwan No own production
Toshiba Japan No own production
Fujitsu-Siemens Japan & Germany Own production (high-end only)
NEC Japan No own production
Sony Japan Own production (high-end only)
Apple USA No own production
Asus (= Asustek) Taiwan Own production
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d eThe Notebook Industry: Assembly-Companies
Company Headquarter Production Sites Production volume 2006
Quanta Taiwan PR China 22.000.000
Compal Taiwan PR China 15.000.000
Wistron Taiwan PR China, Philippines 11.000.000
Inventec Taiwan PR China 7.000.000
Asustek Taiwan PR China 6.500.000
Mitac Taiwan PR China 2.500.000
Uniwill Taiwan PR China 2.200.000
FIC Taiwan PR China 2.000.000
Arima Taiwan PR China 1.300.000 – 1.600.000
Twinhead Taiwan PR China ca. 800.000
Clevo Taiwan PR China ca. 800.000
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d eThe Notebook Industry: Supplier-Structure
PR ChinaHong KongSanger
PR ChinaHong KongStrongwill
PR ChinaPR ChinaVina
PR ChinaPR ChinaJingyou
PR ChinaHong KongGold Peak
PR ChinaHong KongNew Sun
PR ChinaTaiwanGLW
PR ChinaTaiwanSimplo
ProductionHeadquarterCompany
Battery-block assembly:
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d eThe Notebook Industry: Supplier-Structure
Battery-cell manufacturing:
Company Headquarter Production Sites Market-share
Sanyo Japan Japan 28%
Sony Japan Japan, PR China 15%
Samsung SDI South-Korea South-Korea 12%
MBI Panasonic Japan Japan 12%
LG Chem South-Korea South-Korea, PR China 7%
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d eSocial Indicators (for Chinese Factories)
Workers:Remuneration: 690 RMB (= 69 Euro) per monthWorking hours: 196 hours / months officially, about 290 hours unofficiallyChild labour: no major problemForced labour: no major problemFreedom of association: not guaranteedSocial insurances: basic (legal obligations)Housing: Dormitories (8 persons per room)Discrimination: Young women preferredHealth & safety: Partly hazardous work in
component manufacturing
On product level:Remuneration: 1.0 – 2.0 Euro per notebook (assembly only)Working hours: 2.5 – 3.0 hours per notebook (assembly only)
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d eSome Problems & Findings
1.) Access to reliable data very difficult and time intensive→ 2,000 parts per notebook→ Nondisclosure widespread→ No sympathy of labour rights activists
“focus on improvements and not science”
2.) In assembly no differentiation of brands and products possible→ Same wages→ Same working hours→ Same treatment→ Products of engaged companies and those of free riders would
get the same ratings
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d eWay Out
1.) Use data and information of various sources→ Companies, labour rights activists,
newspapers, expert judgements…
2.) Focus on hot-spots→ health & safety in parts manufacturing→ labour intensive productions→ …
3.) Focus on improvements→ Evaluate on measures companies / governments / consumers could
imply to improve the situation
4.) Measure the companies’ engagement
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IMPROVE the handling of critical production processes(chemicals)
Measures towards FAIR electronics:
ALLOW independent reporting on working conditions(e.g. SA 8000)
ESTABLISH durable and trustful business relations betweenbrandname-companies, suppliers and sub-suppliers(→ investments in social and environmental standards should not lead to disadvantages)
ENCOURAGE workers to organise and participateTRAIN workers and management in labour rights issues
(→ national labour law, international standards (ILO))COMMUNICATE with the consumers
(→ positive marketing of fair and sustainable products)
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION !
Contact:
Dr. Rainer Grießhammer
+49 (0)761 – 45295 50
Andreas Manhart
+49 (0)761 – 45295 44