Konfliktfrie

Konfliktfrie is an adjective used in Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages to denote goods or materials produced or sourced without involvement with armed conflict or human rights abuses in conflict-affected regions. In practice, the term is often linked to minerals and metals that may finance armed groups, and to supply chain transparency initiatives that aim to ensure responsible sourcing.

The concept is most commonly applied to minerals (often referred to as 3TG: tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold) used in electronics, but it can extend to other commodities such as timber, palm oil, or cobalt. For products labeled konfliktfrie, companies typically pursue traceability from mine to market and implement due diligence to identify and mitigate risks of sourcing from conflict areas.

Standards and regulatory frameworks inform these efforts. The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals provides a widely adopted framework for risk assessment and supplier engagement. The European Union’s Conflict Minerals Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/821) requires importers to exercise due diligence and report on their supply chains. In the United States, the Dodd-Frank Act Section 1502 addressed the use of conflict minerals in certain products. Companies may also rely on third-party certification schemes or audit processes to verify claims of conflict-free sourcing.

Verification typically involves supplier questionnaires, audits, validation of smelters and refiners, and documentation that demonstrates a chain of custody. Challenges include complex multi-tier supply chains, limited visibility of lower-tier suppliers, and the risk of mislabeling or greenwashing. Overall, konfliktefrie claims align with broader responsible sourcing and corporate social responsibility efforts to reduce financing of conflict and improve human rights conditions in mining regions. See also: conflict minerals, responsible sourcing, supply chain due diligence.