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FEATURE STORY:
THE JOURNEY FROM ITAD TO SUSTAINABLE ITAD
Over the past few months, we’ve been talking a lot about ITAD and making the distinction between the way most companies go about their ITAD function and Sustainable ITAD, which should be the ultimate goal for every organization. We even just wrapped up production on a Sustainable ITAD video, which you can watch above.
Really, it all comes down to rethinking ITAD – reprioritizing, making different decisions, and ultimately, being more thoughtful about their choice of partners for ITAD to ensure their ITAD vendor is also aligned with Sustainable ITAD practices.
What is the easiest way to do that? Work with a partner who is Certified to R2v3 for Sustainable ITAD.
Learn more about Sustainable ITAD and how R2 supports the transition.
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ReTHINKING ELECTRONICS AND E-WASTE
One of the main themes that we’ve been talking about quite a bit in 2023 is ReThinking Electronics, where we challenge many different stakeholders to rethink the relationships they have with their electronics and the decisions they make all along the electronics lifecycle. In fact, we've got a new video that will debut in just a few days that is all about ReThinking (above is a sneak-peek preview image).
Just in the past month, we’ve delivered this topic in Austria at the CARE Innovation Conference, and in Nashville, Tennessee, at the IAITAM Ace Conference to IT Asset Managers. Next week we’ll be having rethinking conversations with sustainability professionals at the GreenBiz Circularity Conference in Seattle, Washington. Then in a grand example, SERI has been working with the E-Waste World Conference & Expo in Frankfurt, Germany, to deliver three days of rethinking at the end of June. What has traditionally been largely an end-of-life recycling-oriented conference, SERI has brought a whole-lifecycle approach to the e-waste discussion beginning with two pre-conference workshops and then the two-day Circular Electronics, Remanufacturing, & ITAD track within the conference.
In addition to hosting the track and delivering some rethinking ourselves, we’re excited to highlight a carefully curated lineup of speakers from HMD Global, Logitech, Fairphone, SIMS, TES, TCO, Carbon Mobile, IFIXIT, CTIA, ASCDI, iRiparo, ADISA, Global Resale, Iron Mountain, Back Market, and eBay among many others.
Read more about the ReThinking discussion and learn about the E-Waste World Conference & Expo.
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HOW SERI IS BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
SERI understands that pursuing our mission requires more than just assembling a series of best practices and maintaining the highest standard for electronics reuse and recycling. We must also continue to work to remove barriers so more facilities can reach R2’s high bar for Certification and move us closer to electronics sustainability in a true global circular economy.
Read more about how we’re breaking down barriers to R2 Certification including building a larger certification network, creating opportunities to reduce the cost of implementation, building skills and knowledge as well as our R2 Mentors program, and a pilot program just approved by the SERI board to create greater equity of SERI licensing fees for R2 Certification around the world.
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A HELPFUL R2v3 REMINDER
FROM THE R2 DIRECTOR
As we sit here at the end of May and just about 30 days from the end of the transition, 80% of R2 facilities have transitioned to R2v3, leaving approximately 200 in process at various stages. We recognize that for a variety of reasons, some of those R2 facilities still in-process will not complete the transition to R2v3 before the June 30 deadline. While CBs and auditors continue to push as hard as they can, at this point, if your facility doesn’t have your R2v3 Certificate in hand, there is a good chance you’ll end up with a gap in your Certification and an “expired” designation if your customers look you up on the R2 Directory.
If your facility finds itself in this situation, it’s best to communicate proactively and be transparent with your customers. Have a plan to fix any NCs and discuss this with auditors. Provide clients with a timeline for when you expect to finalize your Certification and keep them updated along the way.
Though this won’t be an ideal situation, having an open and honest dialogue with your customers and any upstream or downstream partners is still the best way to manage this time until your facility completes R2v3 Certification.
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AVAILABLE R2v3 TRAINING CLASSES | |
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NEW TO R2: INTRO TO R2 WEBINAR
If you want to learn more about R2, join us on our Intro to R2 Webinars. They are held 3-4 times per month and are offered to accommodate time zones on all continents.
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R2 AUDITOR TRAINING CLASSES
Looking for in-depth, online, and interactive training on R2v3? These classes are open to auditors, consultants, and facilities. Sign up for the class today!
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RESOURCE CENTER
CALLING ALL MARKETING TEAMS
Whether you are a marketing pro by trade, or it’s just one of the many plates you have to keep spinning, if you are charged with marketing for your R2 Certified organization, we want to talk to you!
We’re ramping up our resources to help R2 Certified Facilities market their R2 Certification to customers, and we’ll be releasing some cool new resources in the coming months, including an R2 Marketing Kit, videos, and more from the R2 Resource Center.
Please click below to add yourself to that email distribution list to make sure you don’t miss out on any R2 marketing support!
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THE POWER OF THE R2 KNOWLEDGE BASE:
The R2 Knowledge Base is filled with videos, implementation articles, podcasts, and more helpful resources, all built to support the R2 community through the R2 certification process.
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LAST CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON
PV MODULES ADDITION TO THE R2 STANDARD
Last month, the R2 Consensus Body released draft language to add photovoltaic (PV) modules to the R2 Standard. They are still accepting public comments on the proposed additions until June 12th. To submit comments about the draft additions of PV modules to the R2 Standard, please follow the link.
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ASK THE R2 GURU PODCAST
These podcasts are a series of short and helpful tips designed for electronics recyclers and refurbishers interested in the R2v3 Standard and the certification process.
Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and give them a listen today.
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EVENTS:
CHAMPIONING ELECTRONICS SUSTAINABILITY AROUND THE WORLD
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SERI’s mission is to create a world where electronic products are reused and recycled in a way that results in resource preservation, the well-being of the environment, and the health and safety of workers and communities. To accomplish our mission, we look for opportunities to engage with various stakeholders on electronics sustainability and the value of R2 Certification and working with R2 Certified partners.
This past month, Executive Director Corey Dehmey and Assistant to the Executive Director Macy Toal each presented and also promoted the value of R2 and R2 Certified Facilities in Europe at the Going Green CARE Innovation Conference in Vienna, Austria. R2 Guru Roger Greive was also busy promoting Sustainable ITAD at IAITAM Ace in Nashville, TN, and at the ASCDI disposITion virtual conference.
Here's where we're headed next:
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SERI is also coordinating other opportunities around the conference:
Both workshops are free to attend. See the preconference workshop page for more information.
- SERI will also exhibit at the conference.
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HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
Let us know what questions you have or what resources you would find valuable. The SERI Team is here to help!
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The R2 Update newsletter is a publication of SERI, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to create a world where electronic products are reused and recycled in a way that promotes resource preservation, the well-being of the natural environment, and the health and safety of workers and communities. | Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails. | | | | |
