Conflict Minerals

Virtually all of GE’s products contain one or more of the minerals tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (3TG). The mining and trade of these materials from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and surrounding countries have gained international attention in recent years for the role that they can play as “conflict minerals,” financing deadly armed groups in the region. Because of this potential for association with conflict and human rights abuses, GE strives to ensure that our supply chains are ethical and sustainable, and that we are fulfilling our commitment to respect human rights through responsible sourcing practices.

As part of these efforts, GE has instituted a statement of principles on conflict minerals, and we have submitted a report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on our due diligence program. We support industry-wide due diligence mechanisms that enable conflict-free sourcing in general, such as the Responsible Minerals Initiative, and responsible sourcing of minerals from the DRC in particular.

We recognize that conflict is just one of the risks related to mineral sourcing in the DRC, and that critical issues such as poverty, environmental degradation, child labor and gender inequality must be addressed as well. Done ethically, production of 3TG in the DRC presents a unique opportunity to contribute to peace and stabilization as well as to local economic development and poverty alleviation. Faced with this reality, we support local development in the DRC mining communities through engagement and philanthropy, including GE Foundation sponsorship of an influential study released in 2014 by the NGO Pact entitled “Breaking the Chain: Child Mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

GE’s 2017 Conflict Minerals Report can be found here.

Supplier Diversity

The GE Supplier Diversity Program was launched in 1974 to ensure that we focus on doing what is right for our communities and our Company. We engage our pool of suppliers for best practices and high-quality goods and services, while enhancing economic opportunity. We believe that excellence in supplier diversity can result in excellence in supply chain management and lead to growth for all. We continually strive to grow our diverse supplier base, and annually, we recognize those in the Company who successfully support our Supplier Diversity Program.

Core components of the GE Supplier Diversity Program are as follows:

• The Extra Step Award Program, which recognizes and rewards GE employees in the United States for finding, developing and doing business with small, competitive women-, veteran-, LGBT- and minority-owned U.S. suppliers. We present the Extra Step Award to US based employees throughout all of the GE businesses, with senior executives participating in the ceremony. The award includes a trophy, and recognition across the Company, and has been given to more than 600 employees since 1976 for their efforts in finding, developing and doing business with diverse suppliers.
• Individual businesses also participate in regional and local supplier diversity activities to support their specific business needs.

Sourcing Contacts for Diverse Suppliers

Before submitting your company information, we encourage diverse suppliers to review the GE Business sections of www.ge.com so you can further enhance your understanding of GE and identify which GE businesses are suitable for your company’s products and/or services.

Diverse suppliers can submit company information as follows:

1. Ensure your company is certified as a diverse supplier. For instructions on how to do this, visit the National Minority Supplier Development Council website or Women’s Business Enterprise National Council website.
2. Once you have identified a GE business as a potential customer, you should go to that business’ website, follow the instructions on the site to register your company and make sure that, at a minimum, the following information is provided: Company name and description, brief explanation of why your company would be a good fit, supplier diversity certification and your contact information.