The Humanium Metal Initiative

  • Johan Pihl

The Humanium Metal Initiative

Humanium is a new metal made of destructed illegal firearms and available for commercial production.
The Humanium Initiative is world’s first supply chain distributing metal from destructed firearms. It is sanctioned and implemented in full cooperation with governments and local authorities.

Challenge
There are hundreds of millions illegal firearms in the world. As a result, someone is shot every minute. Armed violence is a global epidemic that hits developing countries especially hard.
The global cost of insecurity generated by armed violence is estimated at $400 billion annually, and it could decrease the GDP growth of an average economy by at least two per cent per year.
IM is a Swedish development organisation with over 50 years of experience from regions where illegal firearms stands in the way of aid, development and progress. To make sure more firearms are sized and destroyed, as well as mobilising the necessary resources to help victims of armed violence, new approaches are needed.

Our approach
An innovative approach was needed to break through political obstacles and red tape. The Humanium Metal Initiative has established a sustainable infrastructure that meet the production and investment demands of commercial partners.
The first established supply chain of metal made from destructed illegal firearms aimed at promoting weapon destruction programs in affected regions and much needed financial support to victims of armed violence.
The Humanium Metal Initiative contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals promoting human security:
• Mobilising resources to reinvest in social enterprises in countries afflicted by high levels of armed violence.
• Promoting financial sustainability and creating job opportunities for victims of armed violence
• Changing attitudes in local and global communities.
The Humanium Metal Initiative increase the socio-economic and political security for people living in areas affected by high levels of armed violence. It is also inspires consumers, businesses, authorities and civil society to join hands to find a solution to one of the world’s greatest problems.
Humanium is a new metal made of destructed illegal firearms and available for commercial production.
The Humanium Initiative is world’s first supply chain distributing metal from destructed firearms. It is sanctioned and implemented in full cooperation with governments and local authorities.
Brands, designer and artists are able to create products that carry the symbolic power of peace and the same time mobilise much needed resources to help victims of armed violence. Consumers who purchase Humanium Metal products, will be part of the solution to one of the world’s greatest problems.
”We believed [Humanium] showed innovation at every stage, from concept to procurement to the supply chain to the business model to the partnerships," said Cannes Lions Innovation Jury President Susan Lyne, president and managing partner, BBG Ventures.”

Deliverables
The Humanium Metal initiative is based on maintaining a close transparent involvement and cooperation with public authorities and local organisations.
The metal comes from seized firearms, controlled by relevant public authorities and cleared for destruction by local legal representatives.
As of March 2017, production has been initiated in Guatemala and El Salvador in cooperation with local governments and authorities. Negotiations are underway in additional Latin American countries.
Technical specification of metal can be provided for each single batch of melted firearms, in accordance with the documentation handed out by the industrial melting plant.
The estimated yearly out is 50 metric ton of Humanium Metal.
Endorsement has been received by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Hans Blix and other world leaders.

Results
As of March 2017, production has been initiated in Guatemala and El Salvador in cooperation with local governments and authorities. Negotiations are underway in additional Latin American countries.
Endorsement has been received by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Hans Blix and other world leaders.
Humanium Metal is a registered trademark and is produced under the control of relevant public authorities and cleared for destruction by competent legal representatives and have been destroyed in accordance with national legislation. All Humanium Metal production is guided by principles as formulated by the World Fair Trade Organisation.
The first weapons destruction program dedicated to Humanium was held in November 2016 in El Salvador, in close cooperation with the El Salvadorian authorities. The Humanium Initiative will be producing in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia during 2017. The estimated yearly output is 50 metric ton of Humanium metal.
Leading Swedish brands have entered a partnership in a commitment to using Humanium Metal in their future production. The initiative has won numerous prestigious awards such as the Innovation Grand Prix at Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity as well as a yellow pencil at D&AD.

Visit the website http://humanium-metal.com/