Charcoal and Pig Iron Production in Brazil: An Example of Our
Efforts to Address Human Rights Abuses in Our Supply Chain
Ford’s efforts to address human rights abuses in the production
of charcoal and pig iron in Brazil illustrate our proactive
approach to addressing human rights issues deep in our raw
materials supply chain. In 2006, Ford discovered that charcoal
produced in Brazil with the use of slave labor had found its way
into our supply chain. Pig iron is a key ingredient in steel
production, and in Brazil, charcoal is often used as fuel in the
production of pig iron (see the Pig Iron Producers graphic
below). The charcoal is made from wood harvested in remote areas
of Brazil where instances of forced labor have been found to
occur. At the time this issue was brought to our attention in
2006, pig iron was purchased directly by Ford and used at our
Cleveland Casting Plant. When we learned of the situation, we
immediately stopped sourcing from the site that was identified
in the investigation, but we con