Thank you to our 2024 Conference Sponsors 

e-Stewards Processors and Enterprises have shown incredible support by underwriting our presence at both the e-Scrap Conference in Orlando and the e-Summit in Austin. We want to extend a huge thank you to all our sponsors, whose generosity has made it possible for us to participate in these key industry events.

We especially want to thank Samsung Electronics America and Greenchip E-waste & ITAD Solutions for their Platinum Level sponsorships, as well as ERI and EPC for their Gold Level sponsorships. Your contributions have been instrumental in ensuring our presence.

Platinum Level

Gold Level

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to ARCOA and Cascade Asset Management for their contributions as Silver Level sponsors, and to all of our sponsors for supporting the e-Stewards mission.

We look forward to connecting and thanking everyone in person at both of these exciting events. 

e-Stewards at e-Scrap Conference 2024!

Thanks to our sponsors we’re excited to be part of the e-Scrap Conference in Orlando from September 30 to October 2. You’ll find us at Booth 620, where we’ll be connecting with attendees and sharing the latest updates on e-Stewards Certification.

On Monday, September 30^th, at 2:30 p.m. in Room Orange G, we’re hosting a workshop that covers two essential topics:

• Achieving Certification: A step-by-step guide to navigating the e-Stewards Certification process, including valuable insights and resources to help you succeed.
• Maximizing Your Certification: Proven tools and strategies to promote your certification, stand out in the RFP process, and drive business growth.

Then on Wednesday, October 2, at 11:15 a.m., Jim Puckett, Executive Director of the Basel Action Network, which administers e-Stewards, will participate in the “Basel Convention Panel: Navigating Regulatory Changes in Electronics Recycling.” This session will offer:

• Insights into upcoming regulatory changes impacting electronics recycling and IT asset management.
• The expected effects of these changes on the industry.
• Strategies to effectively navigate and adapt to evolving Basel Convention regulations.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Leadership Council Spotlight

e-Stewards wishes to highlight the two newest members of our illustrious Leadership Council.

Paul Baldwin is Vice President and Compliance Engineer at Secure Enterprise Asset Management, Inc. (SEAM), an e-scrap recycling and IT asset disposition leader based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With over 12 years in the industry, Paul ensures SEAM's compliance with all industry standards, including maintaining multiple voluntary certifications. His experience in project management, regulatory compliance, data security, and quality engineering makes him highly skilled at navigating the complexities of the industry. Outside of work, Paul enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling with his family to hike, explore and appreciate nature.

Clive Hess is currently the President of CompuCycle, a leading electronics recycling, processing, and plastics plant. With over 25 years of experience in the family business, Clive has been instrumental in driving industry change. He has recognized the need for comprehensive solutions in security, data destruction, and sustainability when handling corporate IT assets.

Under his leadership, CompuCycle manages the environmentally responsible disposal of approximately 120,000 reusable IT assets and 25 million pounds of potentially harmful electronic materials annually. Clive’s mission is to safeguard sensitive data and protect the environment by pushing for innovation in all processes.

His latest initiative aims to enhance CompuCycle’ s processing facility to handle plastics from electronic waste more effectively. This project will reduce the reliance on downstream entities, significantly lowering clients' carbon footprints by diverting thousands of materials from landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Lead Auditor Training

Are you interested in becoming an e-Stewards Lead Auditor? The e-Stewards Team is seeking participants for an e-Stewards Lead Auditor Training, in partnership with Green Eye Partners. This training is available to individuals, consultants, or Certifying Body auditors and is suitable for any that are looking to learn about specific aspects of the e-Stewards Standard and how to address e-Stewards requirements as an auditor.



Those interested must hold a valid ISO 14001 Lead Auditor certification to qualify. Please contact Selena Turnock, Certification Director, selena@e-stewards.org, if you have interest. A date will be scheduled based on participation. 

We’ve Moved!

e-Stewards has recently moved offices in the Seattle area from 800 Yesler Way, Suite 300 to 600 1^st Ave, # 114, Seattle, WA 98104. Please update any contact information for our team to reflect this recent change. 

Dynamic ITAD Company of the Year

Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, an e-Stewards Certified processor, was recently named as the 2024 ITAD Company of the Year at the annual ITAD Summit held in Miami in July. The award recognizes companies that go above and beyond to strengthen the ITAD industry and support others in the space.

Last month, Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations published a press release detailing the specifics of the award and Dynamic’s unwavering commitment to the industry that led the organization to be nominated as a finalist in the ITAD Company of the Year category. Services Dynamic offers include “comprehensive solutions that manage the lifecycle of IT assets with a focus on data security, environmental sustainability, and cost efficiency.”

To see the remainder of Dynamic’s response to this accolade, and more information about services offered, please see the press release here. Congratulations to the 2024 ITAD Company of the Year!

Rising Backlash Against EU's Stringent ESG Rules

A growing backlash against the European Union's stringent Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) regulations is emerging across the continent, with critics arguing that the world's most rigorous ESG standards are imposing heavy burdens on businesses. The EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), set to expand disclosure requirements for over 50,000 companies by 2024, has faced opposition from industry groups and some member states, who claim that the new rules are overly complex and costly to implement. According to a report by the European Round Table for Industry, businesses are concerned about the lack of clarity and the administrative burdens that these regulations impose, potentially hampering their competitiveness on a global scale (European Round Table for Industry, 2023).



The pushback is not limited to industry voices. Several EU member states, including Poland and Hungary, have raised concerns about the economic implications of the stringent ESG mandates, arguing that the regulations could slow economic growth and lead to job losses in critical sectors (Financial Times, 2024). Meanwhile, proponents of the ESG rules, such as the European Commission, assert that these measures are crucial for achieving the EU's ambitious climate and sustainability goals, and that they provide necessary transparency for investors and stakeholders. A recent study by the European Investment Bank supports this view, highlighting that strong ESG compliance could enhance long-term financial performance and resilience for companies (European Investment Bank, 2023). As the debate intensifies, it remains to be seen whether the EU will adjust its stance in response to these growing pressures or double down on its commitment to sustainability.

e-Stewards Standard Tip

Top Management Buy-In: As a central theme to the e-Stewards Standard, it is imperative that Top Management be consistently and routinely involved and committed to the proper implementation of an organization’s Stewardship Management System. e-Stewards Certification requirements are based on the principle that responsible management of e-waste requires consistent top management commitment to best practices and ethics in all locations of an organization.

One area this is especially important is the Management Review. Top Management, among other relevant representatives in the organization, must review the SMS at least annually ensuring review of risk assessments and associated actions taken, compliance obligations, information generated by the SMS and operations, results of audits and inspections, and industrial hygiene monitoring results to ensure employee’s adequate protections. A “top-down” approach to implementation of the SMS helps to ensure support for relative staff and a responsible, ethical operation for end-of-life electronic equipment processing.

Documented information must be retained as evidence of the Management Review, resulting actions, and any resource provisions.

For any further questions on the e-Stewards Standard, please contact Selena Turnock, Certification Director, at selena@e-stewards.org.

e-Scrap Conference

September 30 – October 2, 2024: Orlando, FL

e-Stewards will be attending with a booth and workshop. Please stop by and visit us at Booth #620 and join our workshop on Monday, September 30, from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm in Room Orange G.

Jim Puckett, Executive Director of the Basel Action Network, will also be participating in a panel session titled “Basel Convention Panel: Navigating Regulatory Changes in Electronics Recycling” on Wednesday, October 2 from 11:15 am – 12:15 pm.

eSummit

October 22 – 24, 2024: Austin, Texas

e-Stewards will be attending with a booth and workshop. Please stop by and visit us at Booth #225 and join our workshop on Tuesday, October 22 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm.



Jim Puckett, Executive Director of the Basel Action Network, will also be participating in a panel session titled "Navigating International Trade in a Circular Economy" on Wednesday, October 23. 

About e-Stewards:

The e-Stewards® Initiative is a market-based solution to help individuals and organizations identify and promote electronics recyclers who ensure that used electronics are managed with the highest environmental and social responsibility standards. e-Stewards Certified Recyclers and Refurbishers are audited and certified to ensure the highest levels of responsibility. e-Stewards Enterprises are major corporations, municipalities, nonprofits, or institutions that agree to make their best efforts to use e-Stewards Certified Recyclers. e-Stewards is a program established by the environmental advocacy organization Basel Action Network. See e-Stewards Video.

Do you have news, photos, or videos about your company? We welcome submissions and invite you to share ideas with info@e-stewards.org. Thank you for reading!