Sustainability

Make ICT Fair project

The University collaborated with ten partners across Europe on an EU-funded project entitled ‘Make ICT Fair – Reforming Manufacture and Minerals Supply Chains through Policy, Finance and Public Procurement’ from November 2017 to January 2021.

Project aim

Make ICT Fair project partners at a project kick-off meeting in Vienna, November 2017. Credit: Karolien Burvenich.
Make ICT Fair project partners at a project kick-off meeting in Vienna, November 2017. Credit: Karolien Burvenich.

This project aimed to improve the lives of workers and those impacted along different stages of the ICT supply chain through research, campaigning, capacity building and advocacy. It built on the University’s affiliation to Electronics Watch, which carries out worker-based monitoring of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) factories on behalf of public sector members.

Make ICT Fair overview website

University of Edinburgh output: Human rights risks in the ICT supply chain

Project partners

Research

Make ICT fair logo

The School of Social Political Science, in collaboration with the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability, carried out research on labour, community, environmental and legal issues in electronics manufacturing, and collaborated with Swedwatch, CATAPA and CEE Bankwatch Network who researched similar issues in mining. The team is worked to map ICT supply chains, carry out field research in sites of mining and manufacture, and develop recommendation reports and policy briefings, as well as academic papers.

Human rights risks in the ICT supply chain

Make ICT Fair stylised supply chain graphic from mines, to factories, to disposal
A collection of articles by Make ICT Fair, published 2021.

Green technologies for people and planet

The La Paloma Glacier located in the Yerba Loca Park, about 50km from Santiago, Chile's capital
An article from CATAPA and War on Want, published January 2021.

Circular fair smartphones - Joint Statement of Demand

Man on a smartphone
The statement is supported by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, Electronics Watch and the Procura+ European Sustainable Procurement Network, published in January 2021.

Hazardous chemicals in ICT manufacturing and the impacts on female workers in the Philippines

Electronics factory workers
A Swedwatch investigation, published in January 2021, supported by Make ICT Fair.

Linking the Bolivian Minerals to the European Industry

Zinc, lead, silver and indium: Linking the Bolivian minerals to the European industry
Project partners were Make ICT Fair, CATAPA and Oblaten - Solidaridad Nación Uru (SNU). Published in November 2020.

Occupational poisoning in ICT manufacturing

A Swedwatch investigation, published in June 2020, supported by Make ICT Fair.

Towards a fairer ICT supply chain

Wall art of the miners
A CATAPA and SNU investigation, published in May 2020, supported by Make ICT Fair.

Devices draining the desert: lithium mining in Chile

A Danwatch investigation, published in December 2019, supported by Make ICT Fair.

Forced labour behind your screen

Forced labour behind your screen - Make ICT Fair
A Danwatch investigation, published in June 2019, supported by Make ICT Fair.

The link between employment conditions and suicide: a study of the electronics sector in China

The link between employment conditions and suicide: a study of the electronics sector in China November 2018.
This report is the product of the combined efforts of the Economic Rights Institute and Electronics Watch, published in November 2018.

The Rivers are Bleeding: British mining in Latin America

Landscape from 'The Rivers are Bleeding: British mining in Latin America', by War on Want, co-financed by CATAPA
This report is by War on Want and was co-financed by CATAPA, published in October 2018.

Living Under Risk: Copper, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Human Rights in Chile

'Living Under Risk: Copper, Information and Communication Technologies' report image of sign in Chile
Report by Sebastian Smart with support from CATAPA and War on Want, published in January 2019.

General enquiries

  • Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Contact details

Address

Street

Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability
The Boilerhouse
High School Yards

City
Edinburgh
Post Code
EH1 1LT

Disclaimer: This project is organised with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this web page is the sole responsibility of the University of Edinburgh and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

Some of the research reports shared on this website have been produced by the University of Edinburgh's partners on the EU-funded Make ICT Fair project. These reports do not reflect the views of the University of Edinburgh, and any queries regarding their content should be addressed to the authors identified within each report.