March 2019

Background on Conflict Minerals

Conflict minerals refer to the mineral precursors of the metals tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold (3TG), which are found in small amounts in virtually all electronic products. Revenue from mining these minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and nine neighboring countries has been linked to funding for groups engaged in extreme violence and human rights atrocities.

Pursuant to the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, public companies in the US that make products for which 3TG metals (tantalum, tin, tungsten & gold) are necessary to the functionality or production of that product are required to assess their supply chains and report on the source of these materials. Corning Incorporated (“Corning”) is a public company, and therefore is committed to complying with this law.

At Corning, corporate social responsibility is a proactive commitment to preserving the trust of our stakeholders. The commitment contributes to sustainable economic and environmental development through all our business activities – how we operate, what we sell, how we give, and how we support our people, the communities in which we operate, and society at large. Any connection between the materials used in Corning products and armed violence or human rights abuses is unacceptable.

Corporate social responsibility is intrinsic to Corning’s heritage and it is integral to how we build value and trust in our company. It is also a demonstration of how we live our Values which represent the unchanging moral and ethical compass that guides everything we do. More information about Sustainability at Corning can be found here.

The 3TG supply chain is complex, typically including many stages between Corning and the smelters that purchase and process the ore into metals. The greatest risk of conflict minerals entering our supply chain is through these smelters’ ore purchasing practices. We require our suppliers to source 3TG for Corning products only from smelters that comply with the Responsible Minerals Initiative 's (RMI, formerly the Conflict Free Sourcing Initiative) Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP, formerly the Conflict-Free Smelter Program), which requires a third-party sourcing audit. To monitor 3TG suppliers’ performance, we assess their responses to the RMI’s Conflict Minerals Reporting Template, and request corrective action where needed, including the removal from our supply chain of smelters that pose a risk.

More information about the Responsible Minerals Initiative can be found here. Our due diligence measures implemented as part of our conflict minerals program have been designed to conform, in all material respects, with the framework in The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. 

Corning requires our suppliers to comply with our requests to provide complete and accurate Conflict Minerals Reporting Templates, and to perform further due diligence as required about the source of any conflict minerals in their products which are provided to us in order to ensure alignment throughout the supply chain. Failure to provide this information to Corning when requested may result in removal from active status as a Corning supplier. 

To review Corning’s previous conflict minerals reports to the SEC, please see the SEC Filings page on Corning’s website. To contact Corning questions, see our Contact Us information. 

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROVIDED IN GOOD FAITH AND IS DEEMED ACCURATE AT THE DATE OF THIS DECLARATION. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE APPLICABLE LAW, CORNING DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY WHATSOEVER, HOWSOEVER ARISING FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE INFORMATION INCLUDING ANY LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL AND SPECIAL DAMAGES.