Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft accused of buying dirty gold
Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft have been accused in Brazil of buying illegally mined gold from local mines. The report was drawn up by the local newspaper Repórter Brasil; gold, explains the article, was mainly used for smartphones, computers (in the case of Apple and Microsoft) and servers (Google and Amazon). The gold allegedly came from mines located in the indigenous lands of the Amazon rainforest.
As you can imagine, these are not direct purchases, but there are several intermediary companies involved. apparently the four giants would have bought the precious metal from two mining companies called Chimet and Marsam between 2020 and 2021; both are under investigation by the Brazilian Federal Police for a series of crimes and irregularities, including illegal extraction of natural resources and various environmental damage.
It is certainly not new that the Amazon rainforest is being exploited illegally: reports of wild deforestation have been going on for decades. The source says that although the extraction of raw materials in that region is prohibited, there are several mining companies that practice it; in addition to the direct consequences (deforestation), mining processes pour large quantities of mercury into rivers. At the same time, the practice funds organized crime.
For the moment only Apple responded to the request for comment from the source, noting that it has already stopped buying gold from Marsam; however, he did not mention Chimet. La Mela has reiterated its high standards for partnerships with suppliers and notes that it is constantly looking for solutions to improve its sustainability (including a robot that improves the recycling processes of old devices). For now, no comment even from the US authorities, who are in any case aware of the Brazilian investigations; It is worth noting that both mining companies are still certified in both Europe and the US.