A slightly increased cost of raw materials would not have that impact, whatever you mean by that.
Apple stakeholders commenting on this story should disclose that, also. Lots of weird irrationality going on in these comments.
[0] https://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/pdf/Apple_Prog...
If phone manufacturers were to insure that the materials have no "human or environmental cost" attached to them, the price would have to increase significantly (unless I'm missing some key aspects of the manufacturing process). I am not sure consumers are ready to play their part and make up for that price increase. See fair-trade/organic food, which have not yet achieved the kind of scale that would drive the costs down. If you know for a fact that changing the process in a more humane/responsible/sustainable way doesn't have to mean dramatically increased end prices, please do share, it'd be good news for me.
Currently consumers in the Western world are doing it at the cost of child/third world labor. Apple's surely got some margin to cover some of it but why shouldn't prices go up to reflect it? Companies don't have a right to succeed. If the consumer won't play their part then Apple will have to adjust their devices and software to get to a price point consumers will pay. The yearly device model of business is incredibly wasteful and maybe it should go away.