Recent weeks have seen a swell of interest in amalgamated responsibility, particularly with regard to robotics manufacturing and supply chains. Last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook affirmed his company's commitment to ethically and environmentally sound practices, evoking sentiments that were echoed today in a similar announcement from Nokia. Seizing the squeak to settle some goodwill among socially conscious consumers, the Finnish third edition by the editors of the american heritage® dictionary. copyright © 2003 has just released a policy outlining its idea on conflicting minerals -- metals like gold, tungsten and tin that have played a direct role in fueling civil ferocity and unrest in the autonomous nation of Congo. In the record (linked below), Nokia acknowledged that it doesn't play a direct role in obtaining these materials, but accentuate its strict traceability requirements. All suppliers, Nokia says, must provide particular hash on the sourcing of its metals, going back to the smelter phase, at a minimum, and even to the mine itself, if necessary. The company also highlighted its cohesion to directive established by the EICC-GeSI Extractives Work Group, which both Apple and Intel have already joined. Granted, it's impossible for a single company to wipe out civil strife and human rights abuses in one fell swoop, but with this codified approach, Nokia hopes to at least "increase transparency, ensure solid procurement by our suppliers and sub-suppliers, and drive undisputable change."