Mercedes-Benz response to allegation on Raja Ampat nickel mining
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Nickel is one of the 24 raw materials that Mercedes-Benz has classified as critical, for which we carried out a risk-orientated raw material assessment based on the logic and methodology of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The aim is to identify and mitigate risks in our raw material supply chains. Specific information on the methodology aligned with the UNGP can be found on our website. The results can be found in the Mercedes-Benz Raw Material Report – page 122.
The assessment essentially consists of three steps:
- Increasing transparency along raw material supply chains – especially with regard to certain key components such as battery cells. To this end, Mercedes-Benz, for example, contacts the suppliers of the relevant components and asks them to disclose their deeper supply chain.
- Identification of risk hotspots in these supply chains, e.g. based on the specific risks in the individual mining countries
- Defining and implementing measures for the risk hotspots and review their long-term effectiveness.
Based on our raw material assessment, we address environmental and human rights risks in our supply chain and follow them up. This includes regular dialogues with our suppliers and on-site assessments. Our clear goal is to make supply chains more transparent, to enable close cooperation as well as to improve a common understanding of local conditions. This enables us to better identify human rights and environmental risks and counteract them in cooperation with our suppliers.
We currently don’t source Nickel directly. However, we map our Nickel supply chains in great detail in an ongoing process, as they are dynamic and very complex with many tier stages. Following our approach of empowerment before withdrawal, we see the strong need for a collaborative effort to mitigate against adverse impacts of nickel mining and processing on human rights and the environment.
That is why we are currently in contact with other OEMs to form alliances for effective measures to protect human rights in the production of nickel in Indonesia in the long term. The aim is to work together on concrete solutions for the local people.
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