RBA 2022 Annual Report

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

Dear Colleagues,

While the global pandemic continued to present many challenges to international supply chains in 2022, I’m pleased to say the Responsible Business Alliance not only met those challenges but flourished despite them. Some organizations in our space scaled back their operations, but the RBA expanded its tools, programs, initiatives, and other resources for its members and their suppliers. Some reduced staff, but the RBA added experts in strategic positions and geographic locations around the world where needed. Some struggled to retain members, yet the RBA had another year of record membership growth.

Increased regulatory requirements, including through trade instruments and mandatory due diligence legislation, and changing investor and customer expectations on companies’ environmental, social, and governance performance, are just some of the global trends affecting companies today. Policymakers around the world, from Europe to Asia to the Americas, are stepping up efforts to legislate responsible business conduct and mitigate the effects of climate change, which is raising the bar for companies and making RBA tools and programs, and its role as trusted adviser to governments and industry alike, more important than ever.

To that end, in 2022 the RBA and its initiatives piloted and launched new tools, standards and services. We improved existing platforms and developed new ones to address the evolving landscape in which our members operate. We also met with countless stakeholders, government officials, and industry partners throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa and participated in numerous events around the world to promote responsible business conduct and effective due diligence.

As always, our success is due in large measure to our members, their commitment to the organization, and their collective efforts. To support our continued evolution, the Senior Executive Advisory Council and the Senior Executive Advisory Taskforce, which are composed of executives in member companies, in conjunction with the Board of Directors and senior RBA staff, are actively helping to guide the organization in its prioritization of the strategic issues members are collectively facing. Meanwhile, members participating in steering committees, work groups, and task forces, providing input on our standards and tools, and actively participating in our initiatives greatly contribute to the organization’s momentum and impact.

In this annual report you will read many details about our efforts, but the key takeaway is that there has never been a greater need for an organization like the RBA, its member and staff expertise, and our collaboration with key stakeholders to address some of the most challenging human rights and environmental issues of our time.

Sincerely,

Rob Lederer CEO, Responsible Business Alliance

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RESPONSIBLE LABOR INITIATIVE

In 2022, there was a significant increase in proposed and newly in-force regulations around the world requiring proactive actions by companies to address and prevent forced labor. The RBA’s Responsible Labor Initiative (RLI) focused on equipping members with knowledge and tools to ensure readiness for compliance with new regulations across jurisdictions. The RLI also continued to build momentum in membership, programming, partnerships and governance.

Membership and Tools

The RLI welcomed five new members in 2022. Its membership spans across many industries, including electronics, auto, apparel and footwear, food and beverage, entertainment and toys, healthcare, medical and rubber gloves, and retail. With its multiindustry focus, the RLI seeks to build consensus and standards across multiple sectors to ensure workers are protected from forced labor regardless of industry or country.

Respondents to the RLI member survey in 2022 rated top benefits as: industry and policy updates, including information on RBA’s engagement with stakeholders and policymakers; peer learning; and

support with practical implementation of tools to build supplier capacity. The survey revealed a high usage of the e-Learning Academy among RLI members, with the next highest being Practical Guidance documents, such as the Practical Guide to Due Diligence on Recruitment Fees in International Supply Chains Members also noted the need to expand tools into more languages and provide more on-site support for suppliers (see the Responsible Factory Initiative and Advisory Services sections of this annual report). RLI staff hosted two refresher training sessions to expand awareness and increase use of tools available to RLI members: one session on all the forced labor online tools in August, and a second session on the Responsible Recruitment Due Diligence Toolkit in September.

Member Engagement

RLI plenaries during 2022 continued to keep members up to date on the latest developments related to emerging and new forced labor regulations. The RLI provided extensive deep-dive briefings on jurisdictional contexts through the plenary sessions as well as the member newsletter, RLI Connect. Toward the end of 2022, these briefings were summarized in a

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guidance document made available to members that mapped global due diligence requirements to the currently available and planned RBA tools and services.

Programming: Responsible Recruitment

During 2022, staff worked to complete the final steps for the second phase of the Responsible Recruitment Program (RRP). The RBA Foundation worked with the program’s implementing partner, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), to pilot the pre-employment orientation (PEO) and post-arrival orientation (PDO) trainings for migrant job seekers and migrant workers respectively in Nepal and Indonesia. A PEO and PDO training curriculum, aligned with the regional guidelines of the Comprehensive Information and Orientation Programme (CIOP) –currently implemented in the context of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue – were developed in local languages as part of the pilot rollout. In addition to the curriculum, easy to digest animated videos and booklets were produced to facilitate socialization of the training. More than 120 training participants contributed to empower aspiring migrants and migrant workers with access to accurate, reliable and transparent information on the labor migration cycle and enable them to minimize risks, vulnerabilities during pre/post recruitment, pre-departure, and employment stages.

The RBA Foundation and IOM also hosted a mid-term stakeholder meeting, with more than 120 participants attending in-person and virtually, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May. The meeting was part of the “Promoting Safe Migration in Malaysia, Nepal, and Indonesia Through the Transformation of

Recruitment Practices and Standards in the Supply Chain” program, started in August 2020. The meeting sought to provide updates, obtain feedback and enhance continued engagement with stakeholders from local and foreign government officials, the private sector, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society organizations.

Program implementation continued during 2022, with 48 private recruitment agencies in the program from Nepal, Indonesia, and Malaysia attending a two-day ethical recruitment training. The purpose of the training was to introduce the participants to modern slavery and ethical recruitment principles and practices, and the RBA’s third-party verified self-assessment questionnaire and Specialty Validated Assessment Program (SVAP) on Forced Labor to demonstrate compliance with RRP requirements.

Programming: Worker Voice

In 2022, we further enhanced the RBA Voices worker voice platform by piloting the Worker Feedback Tool in September. In addition to worker surveys, worker learning management system and VAP assessment interview support, RBA Voices expanded its facility-level grievance/ feedback mechanism capabilities so workers can raise feedback primarily to their management through mobile devices as well as website forms. RBA Voices continued to be a complementary tool for members and their supply chain partners to support open communication between workers and facility management. The Worker Feedback Tool sits within the RBA Voices technology, and can be deployed by members as a supply chain grievance management tool that meets the independent due diligence

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countries, reaching 117,886 workers across 80 supply chain partners. The VAP assessment interview functionality supported the process, reaching out to 31,223 respondents who provided further information and updates on their workplace conditions during an assessment.

RLI Policy and Stakeholder Engagement

In 2022, the RLI continued to work in close partnership with RBA’s global public policy team, with two key areas of focus: engaging governments in source and destination countries with high risk of forced labor to increase awareness and encourage alignment with RBA’s Code of Conduct; and engaging governments in market economies developing or newly enforcing regulations related to forced labor due diligence and/or import bans toward the goal of harmonization and practical implementation in the context

of complex global supply chains. RLI staff participated in several government and ministerial-level meetings during 2022 to advance these goals through high-level meetings with the governments of Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, and the European Union.

In addition, the RLI continued to build partnerships with key external stakeholders toward the goal of collective impact to effectively address and prevent forced labor. The RLI is grateful for continued partnership and collaboration with key stakeholders including IOM, IJM, North South Initiative, UNDP, ILO’s Fair Recruitment Principles team and the ILO Business Network, the Fair Hiring Initiative, The Remedy Project, Bard College Berlin, Working Capital Fund, IHRB’s Leadership Group for Responsible Recruitment, the Consumer Goods Forum, Tech Against Trafficking, OECD, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Working Group on Forced Labor.

In 2022, the RLI welcomed two new stakeholders to its multi-stakeholder steering committee: Anne Beatrice, co-Founder of North South Initiative; and Archana Kotecha, Founder of The Remedy Project.

For more information on the RLI, visit ResponsibleLabor.org

RESPONSIBLE MINERALS INITIATIVE

This year was an important time for the RBA’s Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) to reflect on and prepare for the “next generation of minerals due diligence,” which was the theme of the RMI’s annual conference in 2022. Expanding regulatory requirements and enhanced attention to environmental, social, and governance performance in the minerals supply chains are driving deeper and broader practices — and expectations — in the scope of due diligence and definition of responsible minerals. The RMI’s direction and strategy reflected this future look while maintaining long-term commitments to our core standards, minerals, tools, and stakeholders.

Key milestones for the RMI included leadership in minerals and risk scope and market acceptance of RMI standards; launching multi-stakeholder governance; providing member guidance on an “all minerals” approach to due diligence; expanding training and technical assistance offerings to members, auditees, and independent third-party audit firms; and restructuring and optimizing program operations.

Membership

The RMI continued to experience strong membership growth in 2022 with 60 new members. The year-end RMI membership count for 2022 was 468.

Eleven new smelters or refiners (SORs) joined the RMI as Upstream Members in 2022, doubling the RMI’s upstream membership. The RMI also welcomed a new Vendor Member and three Association Members.

Assessments Operations and Quality Assurance

In 2022, the RMI continued to enhance its three assessment programs: the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP), the Downstream Assessment Program (DAP) and the Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Standard

As travel restrictions eased and lockdowns decreased, RMAP and DAP assessments rebounded, and all the assessments were conducted in person. Ten downstream assessments were completed in 2022 to support producers of tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold, and cobalt to help participants meet EU regulations.

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In 2022, 309 out of 492 known tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, and mica SORs were active or conformant to the RMAP or a cross-recognized program.

In 2022, 309 out of 492 known tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, and mica SORs were active or conformant to the RMAP or a cross-recognized program. The number of conformant cobalt SORs increased by 59 percent compared with 2021, and 26 cobalt refiners completed an on-site assessment.

The first pilot assessment for the Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains - All Minerals, which covers all minerals apart from 3TG and cobalt and is applicable to all upstream actors from mines to processors, was conducted in 2022. This enabled the RMI to verify the implementation of the standard’s requirements, the scalability of the assessments and the assessment tool’s efficiency.

The RMI continued to pilot assessments for its new mica and ESG standards. Four mica assessments were completed in 2022, bringing a total of five mica processors participating in the RMAP. The second ESG assessment was completed as an add-on in 2022. The focus of the pilot was to identify opportunities to support the auditees in preassessment preparation and support.

The RMI identified 47 SORs across all minerals under the RMAP scope in 2022, of which 12 were 3TG SORs, eight were cobalt refiners, and six were mica processors. The RMI also identified four copper processors, 11 lithium processors, five nickel processors, and one zinc processor. Twenty-one SORs became conformant for the first time in 2022, and 16 joined the active list.

By Geography

NUMBER OF CONFORMANT SMELTERS AND REFINERS - 2022

Operations

In 2022, RMI Operations underwent significant changes to improve the experience of auditees and members in the RMI assessment programs. Improvement highlights included the following:

• Consolidated assessment expertise, to exchange best practices, scale up the RMI assessment, and encourage cross-training and development, by integrating the RMI Operations Team into the overall RBA Operations Team.

• Increased RMI Operations staff to improve Key Performance Indicators.

• Conducted a deep analysis of the end-to-end assessment process to identify opportunities for improvement.

• Implemented controls and notifications to eliminate late reassessment initiation.

• Formalized and automated the RMI assessment program – to be implemented in 2023 – to increase the program efficiencies in tracking, expediting and delivering.

• Developed additional standard interpretation guidance to promote consistency in the implementation of the assessment standards requirements and methodology across independent third-party auditors and quality reviewers.

Quality Assurance and Continual Improvement

The RMI Quality Team added two internal staff to further enhance the overall quality of the RMI’s assurance program for the RMAP, DAP and ESG assessments. These new resources led to improved rates of quality reviews and an increase in assessment capacity-building support from the RMI. Over the course of 2022, RMI Operations eliminated the Quality Control backlog and was back on target by the end of the third quarter.

The top 5 most common nonconformances of assessments conducted in 2022 were the following:

1. Supply Chain Policy missing critical elements.

2. Inconsistent implementation of Know-Your-Counterpart (KYC) process.

3. Procedure to identify conflictaffected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs) missing critical elements and/or implemented inconsistently.

4. Company’s expectations that suppliers will undertake mineral supply chain due diligence and risk management consistent with the standards defined in Annex II of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance are not communicated to suppliers via contracts and/or written agreements.

5. No step 5 Public Due Diligence Report.

Standards Development, Piloting, and Implementation

Following the development of new standards and expanding coverage of minerals and issues in 2021, the RMI carried out implementation and piloting in 2022. This included implementation of the All Minerals and ESG Standards. The RMI also launched its Emerging Minerals Working Group in November, to support the rollout of these mineralagnostic standards. The working group enables members to undertake research on the supply chains of minerals beyond 3TG and to engage in outreach efforts to promote the uptake of due diligence practices, including RMAP standards.

The Joint Due Diligence Standard for Copper, Lead, Molybdenum, Nickel, and Zinc enables companies

to comply with the London Metal Exchange’s Responsible Sourcing requirements and is a standard of the RMI, the Copper Mark, the International Lead Association, the International Molybdenum Association, the International Zinc Association, and the Nickel Institute. In 2022, molybdenum was added to the Joint Due Diligence Standard’s scope. Covered metals processors can be assessed to the Joint Due Diligence Standard via the RMAP.

Market Acceptance of RMI Standards

To help increase market acceptance of RMAP assessments, the RMI continued its efforts to obtain recognition by key government and market institutions.

RMAP ASSESSMENT NON-CONFORMANCE BY SECTION - 2022

Under the Responsible Sourcing Program of the London Metal Exchange (LME), the RMI applied for recognition of the following:

• Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Standard for Mineral Supply Chains

• The Global Responsible Sourcing Due Diligence Standard for Mineral Supply Chains — All Minerals

• Cobalt Refiner Due Diligence Standard, which was assessed for LME recognition purposes through OECD Alignment Assessment pilot for non-3TG minerals

These standards are in addition to those the LME previously recognized on a conditional basis: the RMI’s Tin and Tantalum, Tungsten, and Gold Standards, as well as the RMI ITA Tin Criteria and Joint Due Diligence Standard.

Under the EU Delegated Act for Recognition of Industry Schemes, the RMI applied for recognition of the following:

• RMAP Tin and Tantalum Standard,

• RMAP Tungsten Standard

• RMAP Gold Standard

• RMI Downstream Assessment Program (DAP)

In 2022, the RMI ESG Standard, which covers all minerals at the processor level, was approved by the LME as equivalent to ISO 45001/ OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001. The Cobalt Refiner Due Diligence Standard was conditionally approved under Track A of the LME Responsible Sourcing program. The RMI continues to pursue full recognition, expected in 2023, by engaging in the process of implementation assessment, including shadow assessments conducted by third parties.

To achieve recognition under the EU Delegated Act for Recognition of Industry Schemes, in support of the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, the RMI Tin and Tantalum, Tungsten, and Gold Standards have been assessed to be fully aligned with the OECD. The alignment assessor identified a gap in implementation that was less than 10 percent. To close the gap, the RMI designed and implemented an improvement plan to meet the recommendations. The RMI submitted a re-application in the second quarter of 2022 with supportive evidence, which is under review by the European Commission.

Capacity Building and Training

In 2022, the RMI held programmatic trainings including RMI EU Recognition Auditor Skills Strengthening Training, Better Mining RMI Upstream Assurance Mechanism Training, and SPOC Training for the Due Diligence Practices Team.

To further address the key elements highlighted in the OECD alignment assessment for the purposes of EU recognition, the RMI held an auditor training. This training equipped thirdparty auditors with guidance and practical examples on how to conduct robust assessments via the conflictaffected and high-risk area (CAHRA) identification process, the execution of on-the-ground assessments, and engagement with upstream due diligence mechanisms.

The RMI also developed and held a training focused on its ESG and All Minerals Standards. The virtual training, attended by 125 third-party auditors and auditees, provided an overview of requirements and the assessment process.

Technical and Financial Assistance to Auditees

The RMI also made a strategic shift and provided direct technical assistance to auditees in 2022. This internal technical assistance is in the pilot phase, to be finalized in 2023. The RMI further formalized the technical assistance oversight for external providers to ensure consistency in the implementation of standard requirements. Free technical assistance is made available to all auditees and, in 2023, these resources will also cover the ESG and All Minerals Standards.

The RMI Financial Assistance Program also remains an important element of auditee support, paying 75 percent of the cost of re-assessments for smelters and refiners with low volumes. The RMI disbursed financial assistance to nine smelters and refiners since the inception of this policy. The RMI also continued to disburse funds under the Initial Audit Fund, paying for the full costs of initial assessments. Since 2014, the RMI has disbursed more than $2M to smelters under the Initial Audit Fund, including approximately $166,021 in 2022.

Upstream Due Diligence

Following the expansion of the Upstream Smelter Due Diligence Fund used for upstream assurance mechanisms (UAMs) that requested financial assistance with their OECD alignment assessments, the RMI received new applicants in 2022. The purpose of the Fund is to support responsible sourcing from CAHRAs for which there is not currently a recognized upstream mechanism available. Recipients are required to provide deliverables that serve a public good, including on-the-ground risk assessments of mine sites,

ongoing monitoring, capacity-building of local communities, development of template questionnaires or reports, or the publication of case studies.

In 2022, the RMI recognized CRAFT, a code of practice that helps miners and their buyers assess critical social and environmental risks in artisanal supply chains – such as child labor, illicit trade, and uncontrolled use of chemicals – and track progress in mitigating these and other risks. The scope of the third-party, OECDmethodology alignment assessment of CRAFT conducted from November 2021 to February 2022 was limited to the CRAFT Code standard and not implementation. As CRAFT was developed as a tool for artisanal miners, its scope does not include all supply chain actors that would need to be part of an upstream mechanism (Section A and C of the OECD Alignment Assessment Tool), thus only OECD Section B of the tool was in scope.

The RMI updated its upstream recognition process in December 2022 and published a frequently asked questions document to provide additional guidance on upstream due diligence and use of upstream mechanisms, in support of RMAP

(Better Mining and CRAFT) and welcomes applications from systems demonstrating OECD-aligned upstream due diligence. The RMI also noted constructive dialogue with ITSCI, continuing into 2023, regarding the RMI Recognition Process.

Supporting a Comprehensive Due Diligence Ecosystem

With standards and RMAP remaining a core focus, the RMI is also committed to developing and expanding support for member companies in meeting evolving regulatory requirements on environmental, labor, and human rights issues. The RMI developed a portfolio of resources dedicated to the management of ESG risks and refined processes to drive due diligence practices.

Toolkits, member guidelines, and training modules were released in 2022 to help RMI members establish critical steps of broad-based due diligence processes, including:

mineral sourcing

• Design and management of a UNGP-aligned grievance mechanism

• Understanding remediation of human rights impacts

The RMI also published version 4.0 of its Practical Guide to Minerals Due Diligence Implementation, which provides step-by-step guidance for companies with U.S. SEC disclosure obligations for conflict minerals as well as companies that must comply with EU requirements.

In 2022, the RMI continued the revision process of the Risk Readiness Assessment (RRA), a set of criteria and guidelines tailored to mineral supply chains for the management of risks to environment, climate and people associated with a company’s operations and its supply chain. The objective of the revision is to bolster the RRA as a credible set of auditable criteria that can support companies to achieve regulatory preparedness and meet expectations of investors, stakeholders, and

civil society. The revision process pursued alignment with international reference frameworks such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Fundamental ILO Conventions, OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct, and the Paris Agreement. A first round of public consultations was held in May 2022 with more than 150 stakeholders and the re-draft of the RRA Criteria and Criteria Guide was informed by the consultations.

To generate awareness and drive the update of ESG due diligence practices, in 2022, the RRA selfassessment was also made mandatory for all companies pursuing an RMAP assessment. In 2022, 37 new RRA reports were submitted by users of RBA-Online, including mining, recycling and metal processing facilities.

Material Insights is an online platform launched in late 2021 by the RMI and TDi Sustainability. It has public content, as well as RMI memberonly premium content that helps users build knowledge on mineral supply chains and identify material ESG risks. In 2022, Material Insights carried information on 25 minerals such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, mica, and copper. Supply chain risk, country governance, and ESG data were published for those minerals. Additional minerals will be included in the platform in 2023.

The RMI also issued updates to its Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT) in May and its Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT) in November. Its Pilot Reporting Template (PRT) was released in November and represents the RMI’s first mineral-agnostic template. Future PRT releases will be based on member feedback on their supplier

surveys and mineral prioritization activities.

The RMI continued to maintain the Minerals Grievance Platform (MGP), which is a channel for the identification, review, and resolution of grievances, offering a connected and efficient system that benefits a wide range of stakeholders and builds on existing mechanisms. The MGP scope includes OECD Annex II risks, as well as environmental and occupational health & safety risks. The MGP is not limited to the RMI but includes third-party audit programs such as the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) and the Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC). In 2022, the MGP included approximately 78 midstream and downstream company users and 21 in-scope grievances.

In 2022, the RMI received no new grievances through the RMI Grievance Mechanism, however, for the MGP (all MGP grievances are visible to RMI members) seven new allegations submitted. Of the seven allegations, three were linked to RMAP-participating smelters’ or refiners’ supply chains and the other four allegations were linked to SORs in cross-recognized programs. The grievances included complaints against SORs, upstream and downstream actors, and mining operations, with risks including human rights issues, 3TG from illegitimate sources, smuggling, and other OECD Annex II risks. When a grievance is received, the RMI works with the parties in question to verify and mitigate the issues raised in accordance with the Grievance Mechanism, including reviewing corrective actions, commencing in-depth assessments, conducting legal reviews, facilitating stakeholder engagement, addressing

the issues through the RMAP, encouraging respondents to issue public statements, and referring to the grievance platform or partner mechanisms for resolution where appropriate.

Partnerships and In-Country Engagement Tripartite and International Coalitions

The RMI maintained active engagement with supply chain, government, and NGO partners and stakeholders in advisory and leadership roles, including as a member of the OECD MultiStakeholder Group, a board member of the European Partnership on Responsible Minerals (EPRM), and as a member of the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade (PPA).

Together with the RBA, the RMI joined the EU-funded CIRPASS consortium, which is dedicated to the elaboration of a prototype for Digital Product Passports (DPP) for priority materials in electronics, battery, and textile sectors. As an associated partner to the CIRPASS consortium, the RMI is able to contribute inputs for alignment of the DPP to existing and upcoming regulations on mineral supply chains (e.g., EUCMR, EU Battery Regulation) and to understand data requirements that might impact RMI members with the introduction of DPPs in the EU market.

Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Cobalt

In early 2022, the Global Battery Alliance (GBA) Board of Directors decided to formally transfer the ASM Cobalt Framework, previously undertaken by the GBA Cobalt Action Partnership, to the RMI. This transition recognized the RMI’s expertise, role

as a standard-setting organization, ability to move forward with piloting and implementing an assurance mechanism, and commitment to work closely with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In March 2022, the RMI hosted a delegation led by Her Excellency Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi, the Minister of Mines of the DRC to discuss a path forward for the publication and mutual acceptance of the ASM Cobalt Framework. This meeting resulted in an ongoing partnership and dialogue with a technical committee of experts established by the Minister of Mines to refine and approve the Artisanal Cobalt Framework and begin site selection for piloting. The RMI, committee representatives, and provincial government representatives met in Lubumbashi for DRC Mining Week, held technical meetings, engaged stakeholders, and conducted a visit to an artisanal cobalt mine site.

The RMI also held restitution workshops in the DRC, co-sponsored by the GBA and in partnership with the Minister’s technical committee, to discuss the changes made to the ASM Cobalt Framework based on stakeholder engagement and feedback in 2021. In addition to the workshops in the DRC, the RMI held a member briefing and a public webinar open to global stakeholders in July 2022 to review the updated ASM Cobalt Framework. The RMI partnered with NGO IMPACT throughout the year in support of these activities, including facilitation of restitution workshops and technical committee coordination.

In August 2022, the RMI Steering Committee and the Minister of Mines formally approved the ASM Cobalt Framework. The RMI and technical

committee are finalizing the Framework assessment tools and the list of pilot sites for implementation in 2023.

More information on the RMI’s work related to ASM cobalt can be found on the RMI website

EPRM STAG Project in Burkina Faso and Progressive Due Diligence Lab Launch

In 2022, the RMI continued to partner with Artisanal Gold Council and RESOLVE to implement the European Partnership for Responsible Mineral’s (EPRM’s) funded Scalable Trade in Artisanal Gold Project in Burkina Faso (STAG Project). This project looks to build a CRAFT-compliant trading system to connect upstream miners with midstream traders and refiners.

There were several key project developments in 2022:

• The RMI engaged an independent assessor to conduct a third-party, OECD-methodology alignment assessment of the CRAFT code, for the purpose of applying the RMI Recognition Process. The CRAFT code assessment focused on the CRAFT standard only.

• Based on the recognized CRAFT code, the STAG team developed an upstream review of the STAG-CRAFT standard and due diligence assessment tool. Once implemented, the RMI will look to recognize the STAG-CRAFT Burkina Faso standard as an upstream assurance mechanism, connecting downstream actors with RMAPvalidated smelters or refiners.

• The project identified three mine sites in Burkina Faso to implement the CRAFT-STAG code. These sites underwent a CRAFT-STAG compliance assessment and, with the RMI’s input, identified a few challenges and gaps and

are undergoing continuous improvement plans to address the identified gaps. Project partner Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) identified a local gold aggregator and trader, AG SARL. Despite political instability, AG SARL was granted a trading license and three mining sites began trade, utilizing the CRAFT-STAG code. The RMI continues to provide assistance to AGC.

• The RMI facilitated meetings with potential information system companies to provide IT solutions for transparency in the gold supply chain and ensure mine-to-market traceability of gold.

• The RMI launched the Progressive Due Diligence Lab (PDDL), consisting of 10 members and 10 organizations. The PDDL’s objective is to provide capacity building utilizing member expertise through task groups, workshops, and site visits. During the first meeting, members performed landscape analysis of artisanal and smallscale gold mining and highlighted thematic issues and gaps for continued improvement.

The project looks to enable a scalable, replicable system that will provide upstream, midstream, and downstream actors the means to demonstrate their responsible due diligence activities in sourcing artisanal gold. Once implemented, the project will provide an avenue to include artisanal gold within the RMAP program.

For more information on the RMI, visit ResponsibleMineralsInitiative.org

RESPONSIBLE FACTORY INITIATIVE

The RBA’s Responsible Factory Initiative (RFI) helps suppliers improve labor conditions, environmental practices, and alignment with the RBA Code of Conduct. The RFI is intended to augment the traditional assessment cycle, with an increased focus on root cause analysis, management system improvements, in-depth trainings, and ongoing coaching and support. Further, we seek to reduce the pressure many factories face when being subjected to an assessment by positioning the work of RFI staff as consultative and solution-oriented rather than focusing on findings and a pass/fail outcome.

Any supplier seeking to improve alignment with the RBA Code of Conduct can benefit, but there are certain suppliers that benefit most from RFI membership, including:

• Less mature suppliers that are not prepared for an assessment or had poor assessment results

• Facilities that do not demonstrate continuous improvement

• Factories that are transitioning from another code to the RBA Code

• Tier two+ facilities that have less experience with codes and assessments

• New suppliers that have not yet implemented the RBA Code

“RFI is a beyond audit approach that provides new and innovative ways to engage suppliers where they gradually increase their ownership of sustainability efforts. The coaching provided by the highly professional RFI staff, coupled with the robust trainings, further help drive continuous improvement. We look forward to more Signify suppliers joining RFI in the future.”

Jaap Borstrok

In 2021 and 2022, the RFI partnered with Philips, whose Supplier Sustainability Program closely resembles the RFI Factory Engagement Program (FEP) in structure, approach, and intent. Through the collaboration, we redesigned the FEP, driving improvements to the program’s self-assessment questionnaire and continuous improvement plans and, in July of 2022, launched a pilot of the updated RFI program. Twenty-five suppliers participated in the pilot, going through a deep-dive assessment of their policies and operations against the RBA Code. RFI staff then worked with the suppliers to develop and implement continuous improvement plans.

Head of Supply Chain Sustainability Signify N.V.

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It was evident from scoring of the self-assessments that the majority of RFI pilot members had significant room for improvement with nearly 75 percent of participants scoring less than a 70 (on a scale of 0-100), indicating ineffective management systems with significant gaps. Robust trainings, continuous improvement plans, and the support RFI staff have driven improved RBA Code compliance.

In 2022, the RFI continued to optimize its programs by adding a fulltime Program Manager, who led the 2022 pilot; incorporated the Factory Engagement Program’s SAQ and Improvement Plan into RBA-Online, improving the experience for RFI members; and developed a report on improvements that will be produced after continuous improvement plans are implemented.

Plans for the RFI in 2023 that will continue to improve the program for RFI members include:

• The formation of an Advisory Council made up of select RBA members that have suppliers participating in the RFI

• Further optimization of the RFI self-assessment questionnaire, making it easier for RFI members to complete while also improving its effectiveness in assessing a supplier’s performance against the RBA Code

• The development of featured trainings for RFI members covering Code elements and an overview of the responsible sourcing regulatory landscape affecting RFI members

“Recently, more of our customers are asking that we complete an RBA SAQ or conduct an audit. Yet, before joining the RFI, we weren’t fully aware of how to address all our gaps with the RBA Code. Through our membership, company management is more engaged, we’ve adopted more RBA tools and, with the support of RFI staff, we’re confident we have improved alignment with the RBA Code. We are committed to RFI and a continuous improvement journey that will improve worker satisfaction and boost our reputation with stakeholders, including our customers.”

Amos Lin EHS Supervisor ICC Electronics (Dongguan) Ltd. (Part of Inventus Power Inc.)

For more information on the RFI, visit ResponsibleFactory.org

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental Mission and Senior Environmental Advisory Taskforce

Ensuring the RBA continues to meet its members’ growing environmental priorities requires that our programming and resources continually evolve. As environmental issues are very diverse, however, it is necessary for the RBA to apply its strengths to the areas of greatest need and impact.

Throughout 2022, the RBA explored industry trends to align its environmental strategy with highpriority issues. The RBA drafted its environmental mission statement, identified strategic imperatives, and organized a Senior Environmental Advisory Taskforce (SEAT) to inform the RBA’s Environmental Roadmap and ensure that our internal priorities align to fulfill the greatest needs of our members and their industries.

The SEAT is composed of representatives from nine member companies who are seniorlevel experts in environmental sustainability. In October, the RBA held a SEAT kickoff meeting to gather feedback on strategic direction and input on material topic prioritization. The guidance of the SEAT has helped the RBA outline a multi-year plan to further position the RBA and its members to accelerate impact in major environmental aspects of international value chains. The SEAT will continue to meet in 2023 as the RBA formalizes its Environmental Roadmap.

Emissions Management Tool

In 2022, the RBA planned for an industry-wide Emissions Management Tool (EMT), to be launched in early 2023. This Tool leverages the RBA’s capability to

The RBA’s environmental mission is that members have visibility into their value chains, understand material environmental impacts at each tier and are enabled to address these impacts both individually and collectively.

levels. In addition to reporting through RBA-Online, because the Emissions Management Tool is powered by Optera, a well-respected third-party platform provider, the EMT also offers crucial capacity-building potential, including for suppliers to calculate their own emissions and establish an accurate baseline.

Environmental Maturity Profile

The RBA re-piloted the Environmental Maturity Profile after updating the scoring mechanism to more accurately account for initiatives and modifying questions to better align the question set with similar surveys. Changes to the tool came from member feedback and the pilot provided key insights on the future of the maturity profile. Through the piloting process the RBA was also able to provide an analysis of the survey results to participating members. Going forward, the RBA will continue to integrate maturity questions, those that seek to identify program capacity instead of performance, into qualitative surveys on greenhouse gases, energy, water and waste.

in the 27th meeting of the UN Conference of Parties. As nations met to negotiate a future for climate progress and emission reduction, it was clear that environmental justice and support for those most impacted by climate effects was a prominent issue. RBA staff had the opportunity to meet with officials from several governments looking for ways to leverage industries’ collective ambition for progress in international supply chains. Now that the RBA is a recognized Observer of the conference, our future participation will provide additional opportunities to share members’ success stories with strong partners that are equally eager to address climate issues and leverage our collective power for change.

Circular Materials

The RBA continued to explore its role in providing opportunities for members and the wider industry to more fully engage in the circular economy, primarily through responsibly recycled e-waste and reclaimed materials and components. Leaders within RBA membership engaged in discussions on how the RBA could extend the due diligence provided in manufacturing supply chains with reverse and end-of-life supply chains. These processes

risk in opportunities for poor working conditions and illegal environmental dumping. Members agreed that strong due diligence was needed in the sector but would be best serviced in an efficient way that encouraged transparency for material movement and practices. The RBA extended the dialogue around these priorities with partners at the Circular Electronics Partnership, of which the RBA is a founding partner, as well as other stakeholders, and looks forward to building and contributing more directly to solutions in the near future.

PROCESS CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT

In 2022, the RBA strengthened its focus on the responsible management of chemicals. Our efforts aimed to increase international awareness on the occupational, social and environmental impacts of chemical usage in manufacturing operations and related management practices.

In recent years especially, there has been widespread recognition of and increasing public concern about industries’ management of hazardous chemicals and waste. Despite countless benefits of chemicals, notable failures to prevent and mitigate negative impacts have resulted in some devasting adverse effects that have demanded global attention. The RBA’s continued investment in its Process Chemical Management Resource Suite (PCMRS) enables factories to implement effective management systems through the provision of robust resources and empowers members to educate and support their suppliers’ adoption of best practices in chemical management.

Building on its previous work, the RBA completed the development of the process chemical management and safety learning plan that is now available to members and their suppliers in RBA’s e-Learning Academy. This specialized series of courses educates Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) management personnel on meeting and exceeding RBA Code of Conduct requirements

for eliminating or controlling workers’ exposures to toxic chemicals. The curriculum includes more than 19 hours of on-demand training modules, which are based on the RBA’s comprehensive Process Chemical Management Guide. The learning plan contains eight chapters of interactive modules that include videos, quizzes, and over 20 supporting resources. These resources include program templates, Excel-based tools, exposure assessment strategies, supporting reference materials, and more. Each module pertains to an essential element for responsible chemical management, which is accompanied by supporting technical information and resources for implementation. The written Guide was made available in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai, and the online educational courses were made available in English and Chinese.

Complementing the EHS management educational resources, RBA’s PCMRS also includes a workerfocused chemical safety curriculum, available to workers through the RBA Voices mobile learning app on their personal smart devices. Leveraging the RBA’s unique position in supply chain engagement, RBA members and their suppliers can rapidly deploy these educational resources to millions of workers throughout multiple industries. New gamified courses on interpreting hazard information, preventing chemical exposures, and chemical first-aid

and emergencies are now available free of charge, among hundreds of other courses to increase workers’ knowledge on occupational safety, environmental management, and professional growth.

In continued collaboration with the Clean Electronics Production Network (CEPN) throughout 2022, the RBA provided its members opportunities to participate in the development of the Toward Zero Exposure (TZE) program. Other benefits of our engagement with CEPN included engaging with external stakeholders from the NGO community and utilizing the multi-stakeholder incubator’s work products such as the Qualitative Exposures Assessment (QEA) Tool and the Process Chemical Data Collection (PCDC) Tool. In testing the use of the PCDC Tool, RBA members helped identify significant challenges regarding data exchange transparency, accuracy of safety data sheets, and risk-scoring with consideration of control measures.

The RBA also provided input on verification requirements of CEPN’s Toward Zero Exposure program, as signatories prepare to demonstrate fulfillment of their commitments.

The RBA additionally provided input toward CEPN’s creation of a worker survey pilot, which the RBA will help deploy using the RBA Voices survey feature in a mutual effort to collect worker input from supplier facilities of CEPN signatories.

With members’ continued support in 2022, the RBA completed the first version of its Specialty Validated Assessment Program (SVAP) on Chemical Management, which meets membership needs for a standardized approach to responsible management of chemicals. The protocol offers highquality, consistent, and cost-effective assessments of occupational health and safety practices based on requirements of the RBA Code of Conduct and applicable regulations.

Preliminary pilot assessments conducted by a third-party firm with specialized expertise in industrial hygiene and occupational safety tested the new protocol’s validity and feasibility. Based on feedback from stakeholders, including the third-party auditors, auditees, and members, the SVAP on Chemical Management operations manual underwent significant development in 2022 to improve content and align formatting with other VAP protocols. The first version of the SVAP on Chemical Management was finalized in August and added to RBA-Online.

In 2023, the RBA will advance the SVAP protocol based on additional assessments, establish specialized qualification criteria for the independent third-party firms that conduct the audits, and build capacity with new and existing firms.

PUBLIC POLICY

Supply chain sustainability and responsible sourcing continued to be greatly influenced and shaped by public policies and regulation around the world in 2022. Rules aimed at driving responsible business conduct across supply chains were being developed or implemented and increased expectations on companies. These efforts reinforced the need for the RBA to actively engage policymakers worldwide, acting as a trusted advisor and helping to shape regulatory efforts around industry tools and best practices while encouraging harmonization across regions and alignment with existing global standards such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and OECD MNE Guidelines. Equally important was the RBA’s role in keeping its members informed on emerging developments and helping them to prepare to meet new requirements.

Highlights of 2022 included:

• Met with government officials in major producing and sourcing countries, including Malaysia, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

• Participated as an expert speaker at the European Parliament International Trade committee hearing on tackling forced labor in value chains.

• Hosted the RBA Annual European Conference, featuring MEPs and other policymakers, industry, and civil society representatives.

• Engaged U.S. government agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Labor, as well as the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), on a wide range of responsible sourcing issues.

• Co-hosted, with the EU representation of Bavaria and in partnership with BMW, a conference in Brussels dedicated to the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive with EU policymakers, industry representatives, and other stakeholders.

• Participated in a European Parliament multistakeholder conference on the future of due diligence, where the RBA spoke about supply chain due diligence in action and how stakeholder engagement is a crucial tool embedded in due diligence processes.

• Continued active engagement with the Malaysian government regarding the design of its National Action Plan on Forced Labor, encouraging them to

meet international standards on forced labor due diligence and leverage RBA and RLI tools for firms employing foreign migrant workers.

• Participated in a UN multi-stakeholder business and human rights consultation as part of the Accountability and Remedy Project (ARP), which explored the links between human rights due diligence and access to remedy.

• Provided substantive feedback into the review of the OECD MNE Guidelines, as part of wider strategic engagement with OECD on key responsible business conduct themes.

• Hosted workshops to support members’ preparedness for specific due diligence legislation, such as the Norway Transparency Act and Germany’s supply chain due diligence act.

• Launched a monthly public policy webinar series for members, which featured analyses and briefings by leading experts and policymakers on salient issues.

• Hosted deep-dive webinars, in collaboration with international law firms, to help members understand emerging U.S. and EU legislation such as U.S. forced labor laws, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the EU batteries regulation, and others.

• Hosted a webinar with the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights on the Next Decade of Business and Human Rights.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Stakeholder engagement at the RBA involves many staff members across the organization working with government officials, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, investors, public buyers, and academics, among others. This is indicative of the importance of stakeholders to all activities of the RBA, whether in positions of governance on the steering committees of the RLI and RMI, providing input on our standards and tools, or in partnerships to improve the situations of workers in their countries.

Highlights of 2022 included:

• Updated our formal terms of engagement with Electronics Watch (EW) regarding RBA investigations of EW reports of RBA Code violations identified in the shared supply chains of members and EW affiliates that are primarily public buyers.

• Engaged Green America’s Clean Electronics Production Network (CEPN) on issues including health and safety challenges related to process chemicals. The RBA is a member of CEPN and also serves on its Design Team, which makes key decisions guiding the Network.

• Partnered with the German Agency for International Cooperation GmbH (GIZ) on issues related to supply chain due diligence legislation.

• Engaged the Ministry of Mines and other officials of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on issues related to responsible minerals sourcing and the development of a standard for ASM cobalt.

• Partnered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the North-South Initiative (NSI) on efforts related to foreign migrant workers in Malaysia.

• Met with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) to exchange information and discuss cooperation on human rights issues in supply chains.

• Partnered with the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) to host a session at the Global Forum on Responsible Recruitment, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities of implementing zero-recruitment-fees policies.

• Met with representatives of foreign missions in Malaysia, including representatives from the British High Commission, the Delegation of the European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the U.S. Embassy to discuss modern slavery.

• Presented the RBA approach to implementing due diligence mechanisms to prevent forced labor, as part of a course organized by the ILO International Training Centre. The course was attended by corporate responsibility and sustainability professionals, government officials, international organizations, employers organizations, and trade unions from 25 countries.

• Participated as a board member of the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM).

• Participated in the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade (PPA) as a member.

• Met with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss supply chain due diligence.

• Met with members of the Sustainability Taskforce from the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) to discuss environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.

• Participated in the Circular Electronics Partnership as a founding partner.

• Partnered with the Alliance for Water Stewardship on a report on Water Strategy in the IT Sector.

RBA Advisory Services provides consulting support to members and their suppliers, including facilitating the adoption and implementation of due diligence programs aligned with international standards, capacity building, corrective action plan management, and remediation. In 2022, the RBA Advisory Services team worked on 36 projects, including the remediation of recruitment fees, customized training on the RBA Responsible Labor Initiative’s Responsible Recruitment Due Diligence toolkit, new supplier evaluation and onboarding, and conducting gap analyses for assessment criteria and membership requirements.

To meet the increasing demand for Advisory Services, the RBA expanded the number of staff involved in these projects – enabling members and their suppliers to tap into staff expertise while at the same time allowing RBA staff to work directly with members and their supply chain partners on a variety of projects. We will continue this practice in 2023 to enhance the scope and scale of support we can provide to members and their suppliers.

PROJECT UPLIFT: A WORKER-RELIEF FUND

The RBA’s Project Uplift WorkerRelief Fund was launched in 2021 to support projects by local nongovernmental organizations that provide relief, education, or economic empowerment to workers across key sourcing regions for RBA and RMI members. A total of $278,535 was granted to six projects that were selected from 16 applications. These projects were implemented from January to December 2022, except for two that received an extension into 2023. Below is a summary of the funded projects, which focused on Covid-19 relief, economic empowerment, and education.

Covid-19 Relief

In Thailand, the Labour Protection Network (LPN) established 19 worker groups to implement Covid-19 prevention and response activities for more than 2,676 direct and 100,000 indirect migrant workers from Myanmar. These activities included the production of public awareness short films and a grievance channel that responded to various issues ranging from access to healthcare, child protection, food security, and gender-based violence. A white paper with recommendations on improving Covid-19 response for migrant workers was also developed based on the feedback received from the worker groups and presented to the relevant central and provincial government agencies.

In Malaysia, aid for thousands of migrant workers impacted by intermittent lockdowns, including those who lost their jobs, through the distribution of food and essentials, financial assistance for temporary housing and medical care, and repatriation for those seeking to return home.

Economic Empowerment

In Indonesia, Advokasi Buruh Migran Indonesia created a responsive business incubator for migrant workers. The project benefited more than 1,000 migrant returnees by providing a series of trainings to support the start-up of small household businesses, increasing returnees’ access to funding for their entrepreneurial efforts, assisting them with business applications, and providing consultation to fledgling businesses.

In Nepal, Aaprabasi Mahila Kamdar Samuha focused on the reintegration of 500 migrant women returnees into the domestic labor market and provided them with access to social services by conducting a regional mapping of available local resources, conducting market needs analyses in selected districts, and providing reskilling, business development, and financial assistance.

In Uganda, Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa Expertise Centre promoted opportunities for women

disrupted during the pandemic. The project also provided training to support these aspiring entrepreneurs who will be eligible to receive a revolving fund to finance their businesses. This project is expected to benefit more than 400 family members.

Education

In Indonesia, the Institute for Education, Development, Social, Religious and Cultural Studies partnered with six vocational schools and the government to increase awareness on responsible recruitment issues. The program targeted aspiring migrant workers by implementing an ethical recruitment curriculum for teachers and students in vocational schools, supporting the government’s monitoring of vocational schools’ involvement in recruitment, and developing policy guidance for national legislation on ethical recruitment.

TRAINING AND CAPABILITY-BUILDING

From the launch of the RBA’s online Learning Academy in 2014 to the end of 2022, more than 200,000 courses have been completed by learners. Approximately 10,000 new accounts were created in 2022 alone and there were about 54,000 course completions.

In 2022, the RBA continued to expand its library of trainings for members and their suppliers, adding the following courses:

• Environmental Management Systems (English, Simplified Chinese)

• Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (English, Simplified Chinese)

• Women in the Workplace (English, Simplified Chinese)

• Supply Chain Transparency and Traceability (English, Simplified Chinese)

• Preventing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment (English, Simplified Chinese)

• Responsible Recruitment Due Diligence Toolkit (English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese)

• Responding to an Infectious Disease (Malay)

• Introduction to Human Rights (Italian, French)

• Recognizing Forced Labor (Spanish)

• Portuguese and Hindi translations of 17 courses on topics including chemical management, factory assessments, fire safety, forced labor, migrant workers, health & safety, recruitment, harassment, working hours, and more.

Within the Learning Academy in 2022, there were more than 130 completions of the Factory Lead Certification Program, a training and certification program for factory staff. Factory Lead Certification is an important component of the Factory of Choice (FoC) and the Responsible Factory Initiative (RFI) programs. Factories with a Certified Factory Lead have 26 percent to 34 percent higher audit scores (varies by industry), fewer priority findings, and fewer overall findings.

From the launch of the RBA Learning Academy in 2014 to the end of 2022, more than 200,000 courses have been completed by learners.

VISIT THE WEBSITE

Some improvements included:

• Easier access to courses through enhanced category and filtering menus

• Global content delivery system to improve system speed

• Fully translated user interface

• Improved usability of the homepage

• Redesigned course pages (users can preview courses and selfenroll)

• Newsletter feature (power users can send custom emails to their users)

RBA staff worked with members to migrate learners and course completion data and continued supporting members to set up and roll out larger group programs in 2022.

2. RBA Introduction

3. RBA Code of Conduct - Health and Safety

4. RBA Code of Conduct - Ethics

5. RBA Code of Conduct - Management Systems

6. RBA Code of Conduct - Environment

7. Recognizing Forced Labor

8. RBA Corrective Action Plan

9. RBA VAP

10. Introduction to Human Rights

Instructor-Led Trainings

The RBA continually holds instructorled, in-person and virtual training sessions in numerous regions and time zones around the world. In 2022 we held 16 virtual Code of Conduct and Validated Assessment Program trainings for 503 participants. Additionally, we hosted four trainings on the Specialty VAP (SVAP) on Forced Labor for 73 participants and five Responsible Supply Chain Initiative trainings for 89 participants.

RBA MEETINGS AND EVENTS

Outreach Meetings

In 2022 the RBA hosted four Outreach Meetings geared toward members and their suppliers, as well as non-member companies, in Guadalajara, Mexico; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; and Hanoi, Vietnam for more than 675 participants.

RBA Outreach Meeting in Seoul, South Korea

The RBA held an Outreach Meeting in Seoul, South Korea on December 15 geared toward members, their suppliers, and other non-member companies operating in South Korea. The meeting focused on recent public policy developments, human rights due diligence, environmental sustainability, best practices, and other country-specific issues.

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in Guadalajara, Mexico and online for an RBA Outreach Meeting on September 1. The discussions focused on forced labor, Mexican labor laws, responsible business conduct, international regulatory and policy developments, company best practices, and updates on the RBA and its initiatives.

RBA Outreach Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam

The RBA welcomed Vietnam-based members and their suppliers in Hanoi for an RBA Outreach Meeting on June 28. RBA staff focused on due diligence tools and programs while highlighting how global trends such as ESG regulations and EU mandatory due diligence legislation will impact companies and their supply chains in Vietnam.

RBA Annual Conference and Member Meeting

On October 17, the RBA held its annual members-only meeting prior to its annual conference. The members meeting included updates on the RBA, its initiatives, programs and tools. Key issue areas and emerging regulations were also discussed and members had the opportunity to participate in multiple roundtables

On October 18, the RBA's Board Chair Sue Slaughter and CEO Rob Lederer delivered welcome remarks to officially open Responsible Business 2022, the RBA's annual conference in Santa Clara, California.

The RBA's keynote speaker, the Hon. Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities, and Former Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Canada, delivered the keynote address and then took questions from the audience.

Featured speaker Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs at the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, then shared the latest efforts and priorities of the DOL and her vision for responsible labor in global supply chains.

Afterward, senior executives from RBA member companies – Sarah Chandler, Vice President, Environment and Supply Chain Innovation, Apple; Jennifer Wuamett, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Sustainability Officer, NXP Semiconductors; and Michael Cooke, Vice President, Social and Environmental Responsibility, Jabil – spoke about trends, challenges and best practices as they navigate an ever-changing CSR environment and address emerging issues.

Conference participants then went into a series of concurrent breakout sessions on important issues including decarbonization, remedy, due diligence, worker voice, global regulations, and more.

Attendees later reconvened for a plenary session on the Just Transition: Enabling a Responsible Clean Energy Infrastructure Supply Chain, which explored opportunities and risks associated with renewables in supply chains, with featured speaker Samantha Sloan, Vice President, Global Policy, Sustainability & Marketing, First Solar; and panelists Deborah Graham-Clifford, Director, Global Purchaser and Manufacturer Relations, Global Electronics Council; and Ashleigh Owens, Deputy Director, Financial Institutions Lead at Shift Project.

The second day of the RBA's annual conference began with another discussion with senior executives from RBA member companies who shared their experiences, perspectives, and best practices: Dr. Christoph Klahold, Chief Compliance Officer, BMW Group; and Inhee Chung, Vice President, Corporate Sustainability Center, Samsung Electronics.

A session on global regulations followed, with speakers Eamon Gilmore, EU High Representative for Human Rights; Kyoko Kashiwabara, Deputy DirectorGeneral for Business and Human Rights Policy at Japan Ministry of Economy,

Trade and Industry; MEP Anna Cavazzini, European Parliament, Chair of the EP Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee; Madelaine Tuininga, European Commission, Head of Unit for Trade & Sustainability at DG Trade; Christoffer Bjørnum, Head of Department, Norwegian Consumer Authority; Josh Kagan, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Labor Affairs, Office of the United States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President; and Anosha Wahidi, Head of Division, Germany Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The Just Transition: Embedding Human Rights Due Diligence in E-waste Value Chain session explored the newly expanded Fundamental Principles and Right to Work and how companies can ensure their circular supply chains remain fully responsible. Panelists included Casper Edmonds, Head of Unit, ILO; and Lee Read, Partner, ERM.

That afternoon, attendees chose from a series of concurrent breakout sessions that covered salient topics such as reducing Scope 3 emissions, water stewardship, the evolution of social auditing, data analytics, and more.

RMI Annual Conference and Member Meeting

On October 19, the RMI held its annual members-only meeting prior to its annual conference. The members meeting included a year in review and look ahead, a townhall and leadership discussion, public policy overview, workgroup roundtables, and smelter engagement training.

The RMI's annual conference, Responsible Minerals 2022, took place on October 20 and began with welcome remarks by the RMI's Executive Director Jennifer Peyser, followed by keynote speaker Gillian Caldwell, USAID Chief Climate Officer and Deputy Assistant Administrator.

Her Excellency, the Minister of Mines from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Antoinette N'Samba Kalambayi, provided remarks about the collaboration between the DRC Ministry of Mines and the RMI to establish a sustainable cobalt supply chain, and our collective work to finalize the normative framework for artisanal cobalt.

A policy session on all-minerals due diligence followed, with speakers Rein Nieland, Head of Section, European Commission, DG Trade; Tudor Petru Fabian, Policy Advisor, European Parliament, International Trade Committee; J. J. Messner de Latour, Senior Program Manager, Responsible Sourcing, Microsoft; Johannes Danz, Project Coordinator for Sustainable Supply Chains, Human Rights and Raw Materials, Mercedes-Benz Group

AG; and Richard Kent, Researcher/ Advisor, Human Rights and the Energy Transition, Amnesty International.

Next, a session on an ESG approach to minerals supply chains focused on reporting, assurance, recently developed standards, guidance and tools to support ESG due diligence, with speakers including Casper Edmonds, Head of Unit, Extractives, Energy and Manufacturing, Sectoral Policies Department, ILO; Kerri Abbott, Responsible Material Sourcing, Ford; Rashad Abelson, Legal Expert, OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct; and Nicole Hanson, Responsible Sourcing Manager, LME.

In the afternoon, RMI conference participants attended concurrent breakout sessions on crucial issues including critical minerals, anticorruption, ASM cobalt, and sourcing from conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs).

Afterward, a general session was held on new approaches and technologies for supply chain due diligence and industry collaboration, with speakers Jat Verma, Head of Responsible Minerals Sourcing, Operations, Apple; Alyssa Newman, Program Manager, Supplier Responsibility –Responsible Materials and Inclusive Sourcing, Google; Leon Joris Riedel, Business Area Manager for Mineral Sector Governance, Levin Sources; Aleksandra Cholewa, Director of Investment & Development, Luma Holding Ltd; and Andy Lee, Research Associate, RESOLVE.

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RBA ON THE MOVE

Malaysia Government Delegation at RBA HQ u

The RBA and its Responsible Labor Initiative met with a delegation of representatives from the government of Malaysia and International Justice Mission (IJM) at RBA headquarters on November 9 to discuss joint efforts to prevent forced labor through the implementation of the National Action Plan and collaboration with the private sector.

COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt u

During the week of November 7, the RBA was in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt for COP27 and participated in important conversations taking place on sustainability, environmental conservation, and global climate action through emissions reduction. The RBA attended the opening of the U.S. Center, engaged in discussions and exchanged perspectives with various organizations, including a representative from the Marrakesh Project and a delegation from Cisco. The RBA team also met with government officials, including Shinichi Kihara, Deputy Director-General for Environmental Affairs, Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Global Forum on Responsible Recruitment u

In partnership with the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), the RBA hosted a session at the Global Forum on Responsible Recruitment on November 2. Under the theme of Action in Supply Chains, the RBA shared experience from its Responsible Labor Initiative’s Responsible Recruitment Program (RRP), including inviting recruitment agencies participating in the RRP to share their perspectives, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities of implementing zero-recruitment-fees policies.

ILO International Training Centre

The RBA presented its approach to implementing due diligence mechanisms in order to prevent forced labor as part of the course on International Labour Standards and Corporate Social Responsibility: The Labour Dimension of Human Rights Due Diligence, organized by the ILO's International Training Centre on October 27. The course was attended by corporate responsibility and sustainability professionals, government officials, international organizations, employers organizations, and trade unions from 25 countries.

European Parliament S&D Conference u

On October 12, the RBA participated in a European Parliament multi-stakeholder conference by the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) on the future of due diligence. The RBA spoke about supply chain due diligence in action and how stakeholder engagement is a crucial tool embedded in due diligence processes.

t Samsung Vietnam Multi-Stakeholder Forum

The RBA participated virtually in Samsung's Vietnam Multi-Stakeholder Forum, highlighting the importance of collaboration, the increasing number of regulations and due diligence legislation around the world, and how the RBA can assist companies in Vietnam and globally.

Dialogue with U.S. State Department on NAP u

On August 30, the RBA hosted a virtual member roundtable dialogue with the U.S. Department of State on its update of the U.S. National Action Plan (NAP) on Responsible Business Conduct. Representatives from the State Department gave insightful presentations and responded to RBA member feedback and questions on the NAP.

t Responsible Tech Conference in Dublin, Ireland

RBA staff participated in the Dublin-based Responsible Tech conference hosted by Article One, Trinity College Dublin, and Intel, with OECD leadership and EU participation, on September 12. The RBA articulated its vision on industry approaches and preparatory efforts toward the adoption and implementation of mandatory due diligence legislation and related regulations.

MATRADE Sustainability Event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The RBA spoke at a program on Stakeholder Engagement: National Trade Blueprint (NTBp) - Sustainability Agenda organized by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) on August 16. The objective of the program was to enhance MATRADE officials’ understanding on a wide range of sustainability topics and their impacts on trade and investment. The RBA shared its perspectives on the importance of due diligence on forced labor risks and potential implications on Malaysia exporters.

RBA-Bavaria Corporate Sustainability Conference in Brussels, Belgium p

The RBA, together with the EU representation of Bavaria and in partnership with BMW, hosted a conference in Brussels on July 13, dedicated to the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Gathering 200 policymakers from across EU institutions, industry representatives, and diverse stakeholders, the event featured insightful discussions between key MEPs and industry executives. Speakers agreed on the importance of harmonizing due diligence policies and legislation across the EU, creating clear, implementable, and enforceable expectations, and aligning with existing frameworks.

Stakeholder Meetings in Vietnam u

The RBA met with key national policymakers as well as national and international institutions in Hanoi during the last week of June. The RBA, GIZ, and Vietnamese counterparts discussed impacts of emerging regulations. The RBA met with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs; the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade; the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and local CSO representatives and international institutions, including the ILO.

t Stakeholder Meetings in Malaysia

The RBA met with members, prospective members, and stakeholders during a series of meetings in Malaysia from June 27July 1. The RBA discussed membership compliance and enhanced engagement with local stakeholders to better support the RBA’s mission, the RBA’s Standard for the Investigation and Repayment of Fees, the Responsible Factory Initiative, and potential local civil society partnerships to address issues on recruitment and employment of foreign migrant workers in Malaysia.

Meeting with MATRADE in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia u

The RBA met with members of the Sustainability Taskforce from the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) at the RBA office in Kuala Lumpur on June 28. The discussion covered wide-ranging environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, including potential collaboration to promote the importance of responsible business conduct among small and medium-sized enterprises that either are or are seeking to be part of international supply chains.

t EPRM Event on EU CMR Implementation

On June 14, the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM) held an event on the EU conflict minerals regulation and the responsible sourcing of 3TG. The RBA’s Responsible Minerals Initiative, OECD, LBMA, and ARM highlighted industry initiatives designed to support company due diligence and regulatory compliance. The event brought together representatives from EU member state National Competent Authorities, the European Commission, upstream and downstream companies, civil society, and other industry stakeholders.

Mining Week Conference in Lubumbashi, DRC u

The RBA's Responsible Minerals Initiative attended DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from June 1-3. The trip enabled the RMI to meet with representatives from the DRC government, civil society, international organizations, and the private sector. It was also an opportunity for the RMI to continue discussions with Her Excellency, the Minister of Mines Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi following their meeting in Washington, D.C. in March.

t RBA SEAC Meeting in Santa Clara, California

The RBA held meetings in Santa Clara, California and virtually with its Senior Executive Advisory Council (SEAC) and Board of Directors on May 24 and 25. The SEAC is comprised of executives from member companies who, in addition to RBA board members, provide strategic guidance to the organization. Through moderated discussions, the RBA staff, SEAC and Board focused on strategy, progress and priorities related to current and emerging social and environmental issues, to help guide collective industry efforts and ensure the organization continues to meet member aspirations with evolving programs and services.

RBA Foundation Stakeholder Event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia u

The RBA Foundation, together with its implementing program partner, International Organization for Migration (IOM), hosted a mid-term stakeholder meeting in Kuala Lumpur on May 24. The meeting was part of the “Promoting Safe Migration in Malaysia, Nepal, and Indonesia Through the Transformation of Recruitment Practices and Standards in the Supply Chain” program.

AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum in Edinburgh, Scotland u

The RBA joined a discussion on the future of water stewardship within the ICT sector at the 2022 AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum, held May 17-19 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The RBA highlighted strategies and tools the tech sector can use to improve water management in their international supply chains.

tGovernment, Partner and Stakeholder Meetings in Malaysia

The RBA's Responsible Labor Initiative held several meetings in Malaysia from May 18-23, with representatives from government, partner, and stakeholder organizations, including the Malaysia National Strategic Office, Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons and AntiSmuggling of Migrants (NSO-MAPO), Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA); the British High Commission; the Delegation of the European Union; the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the U.S. Embassy; the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the North-South Initiative (NSI), and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM).

t RBA European Conference

The RBA and its Responsible Labor and Minerals Initiatives hosted their annual European Conference in hybrid format (in-person in Brussels, Belgium and online) on May 11 and 12. The first day was a members-only event that featured updates on key RBA tools and programs as well as townhall-style discussions. The second day was a public, multi-stakeholder conference focused on key EU trends and developments including mandatory due diligence legislation and industry efforts. While in Brussels, RBA leadership also met with key strategic stakeholders and policymakers, including European Commission and European Parliament leadership.

t G7 Conference on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence

On May 10, the RBA participated in a G7 conference, "Strengthening The 'E' in HREDD," which addressed human rights and environmental due diligence. The event was hosted by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection. The RBA spoke about environmental and sustainability efforts in international supply chains, including how companies are increasingly conducting effective due diligence.

t Meeting with Malaysia Ministry of HR Delegation

The RBA met with a delegation from Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources at RBA’s headquarters on May 9. The discussion focused on forced labor, RBA initiatives, tools and resources, and how collaboration can further transparency and due diligence in international supply chains.

OECD Event on Mineral Supply Chain Due Diligence u

The RBA’s Responsible Minerals Initiative joined a panel of government, NGO and business stakeholders on April 7 to reflect on the OECD report, "Monitoring corporate disclosure: Assessing company reporting on mineral supply chain due diligence." The report found the share of global companies demonstrating uptake of the OECD Guidance increased from 30 percent to 53 percent from 2014 to 2018, and audit programs “have been a driving force for uptake of due diligence practices among both downstream and upstream.”

t OECD Minerals Forum

At the OECD 15th Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains, the RBA's Responsible Minerals Initiative held a side session on May 5 about “Investors’ ESG Expectations on Responsible Minerals.” During this session a diverse group of investors outlined their expectations on ESG from companies involved in mining and sourcing minerals, and shared best practices.

t Heightened Due Diligence Webinar

On April 26, drawing on existing authoritative guidance, speakers from leading institutions including OECD, Shift, ILO and the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights discussed what it means to do business responsibly in conflict-affected and high-risk areas, and reflected upon practical steps for companies to enhance their due diligence and to assess when to responsibly disengage. This webinar was co-organized by the RBA, Amfori, and AIMProgress for members of those organizations.

t European Parliament Address

On April 25, the European Parliament International Trade committee discussed the EU policy approach to tackling forced labor in value chains, following the earlier announcement by the European Commission that it would soon introduce a legal instrument to ban products from the EU internal market that are linked to forced labor. The Committee’s Chair, MEP Bernd Lange, invited the RBA to serve as one of two external experts to advise MEPs on the matter.

LBMA-WGC Summit in London, UK u

The RBA’s Responsible Mineral Initiative participated in the LBMA-WGC Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing Summit on March 29, joining a panel on the Future of Responsible Sourcing. The RMI discussed ideas to support progressive due diligence and inclusion of the artisanal gold sector in responsible supply chains.

t Multi-Stakeholder Conference in Belgium

The RBA was invited to present the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive proposal at a Belgian multi-stakeholder conference on March 31, where the country’s national discussions about mandatory due diligence legislation were held in the presence of the Belgian Queen, as well as the Belgian Minister for International Cooperation. The Queen highlighted the importance of responsible value chains for achieving the UN SDGs, after which RBA staff presented the EU plans for cross-sectoral mandatory due diligence legislation.

Atea Forum in Stockholm, Sweden u

The RBA participated in Atea’s Sustainability Focus (ASF) forum on March 24. The annual ASF Forum is a community for buyers from across Europe to share best practices in sustainable IT procurement. The RBA highlighted its mission and vision, explaining key issues the industry faces in global supply chains and how RBA tools and initiatives help companies conduct effective due diligence.

t European Union Event in Washington, D.C.

The RBA attended an event at the Residence of the European Union in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the Ambassador of the European Union to the United States, Stavros Lambrinidis, this event on March 24 focused on sharing perspectives on sustainable and responsible corporate behavior in global value chains. Other attendees included Director General for Justice and Consumers Ana Gallego Torres, as well as representatives from businesses, trade unions, NGOs, and other stakeholder communities.

t Forum on National Action Plan in Penang, Malaysia

The RBA participated in the Forum on National Action Plan on Forced Labor (NAPFL) in Penang, Malaysia on March 10, organized by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia. The Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities participated as a panelist during the forum, together with the RBA and others, including representatives from the British High Commission and the U.S. Embassy.

Meeting with DRC Delegation

The RBA and its Responsible Minerals Initiative met with Her Excellency Antoinette N'Samba

Kalambayi, Minister of Mines, and her Delegation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at RBA headquarters on March 8. The Minister spoke about priorities for the minerals sector and the RMI described its history of engagement with the DRC and its tools to support the responsible sourcing of minerals.

t Responsible Glove Alliance Webinars

As part of its initial launch campaign, the Responsible Glove Alliance (RGA), for which the RBA is the Secretariat, held several webinars during the week of March 7. These webinars included stakeholders from civil society; government representatives from the U.S., UK, EU, Australia, and Malaysia; IGOs; public purchasing organizations; and others to share perspectives on challenges and opportunities related to the RGA’s vision and mission.

Briefing on Recruitment Fees in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia u

On January 25, the RBA organized a Briefing and Dialogue with Government on the Definition of Recruitment Fees, in support of Malaysia’s inaugural National Action Plan on Forced Labour (NAPFL), 2021-2025. The RBA shared its principles, approaches, and experience in ensuring workers are not required to pay fees for their employment through the implementation of the RBA Definition of Fees.

t Electric Vehicle Battery Producer Briefing

On March 3 and 4, the RBA and its Responsible Minerals Initiative held a briefing for Electric Vehicle (EV) battery producers, which focused on how rising expectations from a variety of stakeholders and evolving regulatory requirements worldwide are reshaping EV battery producers’ efforts to manage social and environmental risks in their supply chains, and the many tools the RBA has to assist in this area.

t UN Business and Human Rights Consultation

The RBA spoke at a multi-stakeholder business and human rights consultation hosted by the UN on March 3 and 5 as part of its Accountability and Remedy Project (ARP), which explored the links between human rights due diligence, accountability, and access to remedy. The RBA emphasized how smart implementation of due diligence legislation can help incentivize responsible business conduct.

SUPPLY CHAIN MAPPING TOOL

In 2022, the RBA launched the first iteration of its Supply Chain Mapping Tool in RBA-Online. This module uses interactive visualizations to enable members to create multi-tier maps of their supply chains. Features including geographic views, tree views, and tabular data grids help members build out graphs that best meet their specific needs. The module also allows for multiple mappings, including context-specific subsets of suppliers, such as product-based, region-based, or component-based maps.

Another key feature is the ability to produce graphical overlays that leverage the strength of the existing assurance data managed within RBA-Online. Each supplier node and country can be color-coded, based on

available risk assessments and thirdparty audit results. There is also an indicator when there has not yet been any kind of assessment performed, or if the supplier has formally registered in RBA-Online, which can be used to assist members in their decision making when determining where to apply further due diligence in their supply chain.

By pulling in data from multiple sources, such as third-party audit data, established trading relationships, completed conflict mineral reporting templates, and imported supplier lists from external sources, the Supply Chain Mapping Tool supports the build out of comprehensive supply chain views. Additional suppliers can also be discovered via an advanced cascading

requests technique. By encouraging transparency at deeper levels of the supply chain, these cascading requests are used to automatically fill in gaps where members may not have complete visibility to their upstream providers.

In 2023, the RBA plans to provide a series of new services designed to assist members with identifying common component providers, down to the raw material level. By combining advanced discovery techniques and verification processes, the RBA’s goal is to build industry-level mappings that will allow for deeper transparency and cooperation among participating companies.

DATA ANALYTICS IN RBA-ONLINE

In 2022, RBA’s Data Analytics team continued to enhance the organization’s suite of data tools, further enhancing the power and reach of RBA’s online sustainability data management system, RBA-Online. The tools available to members allow them to monitor, analyze, and benchmark their most valuable data available in the RBA ecosystem.

RBA members continue to benefit from the advanced data tools developed over the past two years, and the RBA Data Analytics team has begun to offer RBA-Online data tools to RMI members as well. In 2022 RBA members gained access to new analytics capabilities, such as those related to Corporate SAQs and industry-wide benchmarking for VAP assessment scores, while also seeing the deployment of practical tools for supplier visibility and site-level reports to help better manage their supply chains. The Data Analytics team also fielded requests for custom data sets and analyses from dozens of RBA and RMI member companies in 2022.

MULTI-INDUSTRY WORKER SURVEY

In 2020, the RBA joined a multi-industry working group with other experts in the areas of social and environmental responsibility, including Social Accountability International (SAI), ICTI Ethical Toy Program, amfori, Global Seafood Alliance (GSA), and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP). These organizations recognized the value of a worker survey tool to complement existing social assessment programs, and the RBA offered its RBA Voices platform to survey workers on safety and working conditions, across industries in numerous countries.

The survey was deployed at scale in 2021 and throughout 2022 in Turkey, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Mexico, and Italy with more than 9,000 workers participating. The results confirmed the working group’s hypothesis that working hours and wages are the top two common issues across industries and geography.

In 2023, the working group will publish details on the survey results in a white paper and plans to meet throughout the year to explore additional opportunities to further our mutual objective of improving working conditions in global supply chains.

MULTI-INDUSTRY SURVEY RESULTS: PROGRAM TO DATE

MEMBER PORTAL

CODE REVISION PROCESS

In 2022, the RBA launched a new member portal to improve communications and collaboration between and among the RBA and its members. The portal serves as a centralized hub where members can view announcements regarding current news and events, navigate to applicable working group and task force pages, the global policy hub, regional network pages, locate reference documents, and access/participate in discussion boards.

Another key benefit of the RBA member portal is access to all of the RBA’s systems and platforms. This includes single-sign-on access to RBA-Online, the Learning Academy, and other resources. With separate spaces in the member portal, members can more easily navigate to the resources that are most relevant to them, reducing the time and effort required to find the information they need.

The RBA member portal has also enabled enhanced event management. With an integrated event management system, the RBA is able to plan, promote, and manage events more effectively. Members can register and track their attendance, access event resources and presentations, and provide feedback through the portal. The RBA is also able to better track attendance and collect valuable data that can inform future event planning.

Overall, the RBA member portal has enabled us to better serve our members, improve engagement and collaboration, and streamline key processes. We have seen increased engagement and satisfaction among our members since launching the portal, and we are confident that it will continue to be a valuable resource for our membership moving forward.

The RBA’s triennial Code of Conduct revision process is a multi-stakeholder endeavor and takes approximately one year to complete. The latest revision process, which will produce RBA Code of Conduct 8.0, started in 2022 with a third-party gap analysis. The analysis compared RBA’s Code of Conduct 7.0 with other prominent industry standards and identified high-level themes to focus on during the revision process: gender equality, precarious work, worker voice/involvement, living wage, and access to remedy.

The Code revision process will run through 2023 and include deep-dive, interactive online sessions with members and stakeholders, a comment period on draft proposals, and a membership vote. Version 8.0 of the Code will go into effect in 2024.

VISIT THE MEMBER PORTAL

VISIT THE WEBSITE

VAP IMPROVEMENTS

The RBA implemented a wide range of initiatives in 2022 to improve the performance of the independent third-party audit firms approved by the RBA to execute the VAP protocol, streamline the assessment process, and provide a greater value to members.

The new scorecard system includes an algorithm to evaluate individual auditor performance. This system allows for continuous feedback between the RBA, the third-party audit firm, and their auditors, helping to improve performance over time.

Also, the development of a Customized Assessment, which is a flexible, modular approach to assessing a facility, allows members to better evaluate specific conditions and management systems for consistent implementation of sustainable practices in their supply chains. This offers a faster and less expensive way to have a third-party look into allegations or areas of concern, without conducting a full-scope assessment.

Additionally, the release of the RBA VAP Operations Manual 7.1.1 in Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese made that critical document more accessible to members and RBA-approved third-party auditors in 2022.

VAP ASSESSMENTS: BY THE NUMBERS

VAP Assessments Performed

Average Assessment Scores

The total number of VAP assessments conducted increased from 1,307 in 2021 to 1,622 in 2022 and average assessment scores increased slightly year over year.

2022 Assessments by Location

In 2022, factories in China continued to represent the majority (46 percent) of all assessments conducted, with the next highest percentages of assessments conducted in Chinese Taipei (8 percent), Vietnam (6 percent), Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and Thailand (5 percent each).

VAP ASSESSMENTS: BY THE NUMBERS

2022 VAP Findings By Section

VAP ASSESSMENTS: BY THE NUMBERS

Top VAP Findings by Location

VAP ASSESSMENTS: BY THE NUMBERS

Top 10 Average Weekly Working Hours in 2022

In 2022, Laos led with the highest number of average working hours per week (55.4), followed by China (54.4), Thailand (51.2), Philippines (49.0), and Singapore (48.9).

Working Hours at Member and Non-Member Facilities

On average, workers in RBA member facilities work 4.6 fewer hours per week than their counterparts in non-member facilities.

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH

The RBA’s membership experienced incredible growth in 2022, with 29 companies joining to bring the total number of core RBA members (not counting RLI, RMI and RFI member companies) to 225 by year end. The RBA saw continued growth from the U.S., Japan, Europe, South Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and China. Four new members were either parents or subsidiaries of existing members, and six were previously RMI members. The chart below displays distribution of all RBA members’ headquarters in 2022.

RBA Members’ Headquarters

VISIT

FY 2022 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

*The RBA’s fiscal year runs from January 1 through December 31. These numbers have not yet been audited.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF

Board of Directors 2022

Sue Slaughter

RBA Board Chair, and Global Director, Supply Base Sustainability, Ford Motor Company

Adam Schafer

RBA Board Vice Chair, and Director, Supply Chain Sustainability, Intel Corporation

Kathleen Shaver

RBA Board Treasurer, and Director, Environment and Supply Chain Innovation, Apple Inc.

Joan Motsinger

RBA Board Immediate Past Chair, and Senior Vice President, Business Sustainability and Transformation, Seagate Technology

Kristofer Clark

Head of Supply Chain Assurance, Dell Technologies

Joel Eurich

Vice President, Global Compliance and EH&S, Molex

HyeJu Lee

Vice President, Compliance, Amkor Technology, Inc.

Anna Meegan

Head of Sustainability, Google Hardware, Google

Susan Moore

Corporate Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Government Affairs, AMD

Eric-Paul Schat

Senior Director, Sustainability, Environmental Health & Safety, NXP Semiconductors

Mitsu Shippee

Senior General Manager, Head of Sustainability Dept., Sony Group Corporation

RBA Staff as of May 2023

Rob Lederer

Chief Executive Officer

Deborah Albers

Chief Operations Officer

Tyler Gillard

Chief Strategy Officer

Hamlin Metzger Senior Vice President, Impact

Jennifer Peyser

Senior Vice President, Responsible Sourcing

Anna Pienaar Executive Director of the Responsible Labor Initiative

Kenneth Anderson Vice President of Member Experience

Bart Devos

Vice President of Public Policy

Jarrett Bens

Senior Director of Communications

Jack Cutts

Senior Director of Data Analytics

Marianna Smirnova

Senior Director, RMI Standards and Training

Fabiana Di Lorenzo, Ph.D. Senior Director, RMI Impact and Innovation

Daniel Reid

Senior Director of Environment & Circularity

Juan Carlos Martinez

Senior Director of Operations

Bobby Terrell

Senior Director of IT Operations

Chee Keong Lai

Senior Director, Advisory Services

Laura Landrau

Director of Events and Internal Operations

Andy Chiu Director of Operations - Assurance

Alexandra Cech Director of Responsible Sourcing

Yakut Oktay Director of Operations – Automotive

Benjamyn Marks Director of Environment, Health & Safety

Chi Q. Do, Ph.D. Director of Asia Public Policy

Ka Ea Lim Director, Compliance

Sandra Carvalho Director of Operations - Minerals

Khai Yau Chua Senior Program Manager

Charmaine Nuguid Senior Program Manager

Mann Chyun Sim Senior Account Manager

Neil Humphrey Marketing Manager

Ross Landis Database Project Manager

Surya Herny Mahdzir VAP Program Manager

Mariana Osuna VAP Program Manager

Gavin Wu Manager of RMI Member Services

Diana Trigo Manager, RMI Training

Anna Stancher Senior Program Manager, RMI

Dana Battistello Manager, IT Projects

Kyle Rand Systems Administration Manager

Ronnie Tan

Asia Compliance Manager

Maggie Gabos

RMI Technical Manager

Madeleine Richter-Atkinson Manager, Membership

Whitney Chan Quality Assurance Manager

Olena Wiaderna Quality Assurance Manager

Tauqueer Alam Quality Assurance Manager

Zoul Pio

IT Service Manager

Adriana Escobar Events and Membership Coordinator

Shelita Bradshaw-Cortez Program Coordinator, RMI

Charles Teh

VAP Project Coordinator

Jordan Davis Environmental Specialist

Jacob Lee

Software Support Technician

Jim Cardillo Chief Financial Officer

Anastasiia Olvera Controller

Malcolm Boardley Senior Accountant

Alexis Holmes Accounting Clerk

RBA MEMBERS AS OF

MAY 2023

The RBA has four membership categories: Full, Regular, Affiliate, and Supporter. View the requirements of each category on our website. Full and Regular members as of May 2023 are designated by an “F” or “R” following their company names below. The most current list can be found on our member page

AcBel Polytech Inc. - R

Acer Inc. - R

Advanced Micro Devices - F

Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc.

China

Advania AB - R

Allegro MicroSystems

Alphabet Inc. - R

Altria Client Services LLC

Amazon.com Inc. - R

Amkor Technology, Inc. - R

Amphenol Corporation

ams OSRAM

Analog Devices, Inc. - R

Apple Inc. - F

Applied Materials - R

Arista Networks, Inc. - R

ARRIS Group - F

Arrow Electronics

ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.

ASM International - F

ASML Holding - R

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - F

Atea ASA - R

Avaya

Belden

Best Buy - F

Beyondsoft International (Singapore)

PTE LTD

Block, Inc.

BMW Group

Bosch Sensortec GmbH - R

Bose Corporation - R

Broadcom Inc.

Brother Industries Ltd.

BT plc

Bullitt Group Ltd

Cadence Design Systems

Canon Inc. - R

CECONOMY AG

Celestica - R

ChargePoint, Inc.

Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd. - R

Ciena - R

Cirrus Logic, Inc.

Cisco - F

Citrix Systems

Comcast Corporation

Compal Electronics, Inc. - R

Continental AG

Currys PLC

Dell Technologies - F

Dexcom Malaysia - R

Dustin AB

Dysons Operations

Easee - R

Eaton Corporation

ecobee, Inc.

Edwards Ltd - R

EIZO Corporation

Element Solutions Inc

Element TV Company, LP

Ericsson - R

Fabrinet - R

Fairphone B.V.

F5 Networks

First Solar Inc. - R

Flex - R

FLSmidth A/S

Ford Motor Company - R

Foxconn - R

FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.

Fujitsu Limited

Funai Electric Co., Ltd. - R

Generac Power Systems

General Motors Company

GlobalFoundries - R

GN Audio A/S

HARMAN International

Hasbro, Inc. - F

Hewlett Packard Enterprise - F

Hexagon AB

Hisense USA Corporation - R

HP Inc. - F

HTC Corporation

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - R

Hypertechnology Ciara Inc.

Hyve Solutions - R

IBM Corporation - R

Ichor Systems

Impinj

Infineon Technologies AG - R

Insulet Corporation

Intel Corporation - F

Inventec Corporation - R

iRobot Corporation

Jabil - F

JB HI-FI Limited

JK Imaging Ltd. - R

JT International SA

Juniper Networks - R

Keurig Dr Pepper - F

Key Foundry Co., Ltd.

Keysight Technologies, Inc.

Kingston Technology

Kioxia Holdings Corporation - R

KLA Tencor - R

Konica Minolta, Inc. - R

Kyndryl

KYOCERA AVX Components Corp.

KYOCERA Corporation

KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc. - R

Lam Research Corporation

Lenovo - R

RBA MEMBERS AS OF

Lexmark - R

LG Chem Ltd

LG Display

LG Electronics - R

LG Energy Solution

Logitech Inc. - R

Longwell Company - R

Lumentum Holdings Inc. - F

Marvell Technology Group Ltd - R

Meta

Microchip Technology Incorporated - F

Micron Technology, Inc. - R

Microsoft - R

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

ModusLink

Molex - R

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

Motorola Solutions, Inc. - R

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - R

Navico

NetApp - R

Netgear - R

New H3C Group

New Kinpo Group - R

Nexperia

Nielsen

Nikon Corporation

Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy

Nordic Semiconductor ASA

Nvidia Corporation - F

NXP Semiconductors - F

onsemi - F

Onto Innovation Inc.

Oracle America, Inc.

Palo Alto Networks

Panasonic Holdings Corporation

Pegatron - R

Philips - R

Philip Morris International - R

Plexus Corp. - R

Polestar Performance AB

MAY 2023

Poly

Positivo Tecnologia S.A.

Powertech Technology Inc. - F

Pure Storage, Inc.

Qorvo, Inc. - R

Qualcomm - F

Quanta Computer Inc. - R

Quest Global

Rambus, Inc. - R

Renesas Electronics Corporation - R

Ricoh Company Ltd.

Roku, Inc.

Sagemcom - R

Samsung Display

Samsung Electronics - R

Sanmina - R

Schneider Electric

Seagate Technology - F

Seiko Epson Corporation - R

Semtech Corporation

Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd. - R

Sharp Corporation

Sierra Wireless, Inc. - R

Signify - R

Silicon Motion Technology Corp.

Siltronic AG

Simatelex Manufactory Co. Ltd.

Simplo Technology Co., Ltd

SK hynix Inc. - R

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. - F

SMART Global Holdings - R

Snap, Inc. - R

Solidigm - R

Sonos, Inc.

Sony Group Corporation - F

STMicroelectronics - F

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.

Symantec

Synopsys, Inc.

Taiwan Chinsan Electronics Industrial Co., Ltd. - R

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (TSMC) - F

TCL North America - R

TDK Group

Techtronic Industries Company Limited

Teradyne, Inc.

Tesla, Inc.

Texas Instruments - R

The LEGO Group

3M Electronics and Energy Business Group

Tokyo Electron Limited

Toshiba Corp. - R

TPV Technology Ltd

Trimble Inc. - R

TT Electronics Plc

United Group B.V. - R

Universal Electronics, Inc. - R

Vantiva SA - F

Veritas - R

Versuni

VIAVI Solutions Inc.

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. - R

Vitesco Technologies GmbH

VIZIO Inc. - R

Volvo Car Group

V.S. Industry Berhad

Walmart

Western Digital - R

Wistron Corp. - R

Xerox - R

XP Power - R

Zebra Technologies Corporation - R

Zhen Ding Technology Holding Ltd

ZT Systems