|
Find an R2 recycler
Choosing an R2 certified recycler takes the guess work out of hiring a reputable electronics recycler that adheres to the highest industry standards.
To find a certified R2 electronics recycler, click here.
|
|
Become R2 certified
R2 is the leading standard for the electronics recycling industry, setting a high bar for practices that protect the environment, human health, safety and the security of the recycling process. Show your customers that you are an industry leader.
To become an R2 certified recycler, please contact a certification body.
NSF
Orion Registrar, Inc.
Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc.
SGS
 | | SAI |
 | | TUV SUD |
|
|
|
Welcome to the R2 Update! This newsletter contains relevant industry information and news pertaining to R2 Solutions, and more importantly the R2 Standard, the leading certification program for the electronics recycling industry.
|
|
|
The R2 Solutions Board Met on April 29th
The R2 Solutions Board of Directors met in Washington, DC on April 29th. The entire Board participated: Brenda Pulley of Keep America Beautiful; Clare Lindsay, formerly of the United States Environmental Protection Agency; John Howard of Dell; John Lingelbach of R2 Solutions; Lynn Rubinstein of the Northeast Recycling Council; Rick Goss of the Information Technology Industry Council; and Robin Wiener of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.
The discussion during the day-long meeting focused primarily on the R2:2013 Program and its upcoming launch. The Board considered the draft R2:2013 Standard the R2 Technical Advisory Committee had recently forwarded. It plans to discuss the document further and potentially adopt it by mid-May. The Board also discussed and unanimously adopted the Transition Plan (see below). And it reviewed the progress the Technical Advisory Committee is making on the draft R2 Code of Practices, which will set forth the overall R2:2013 Program by way of requirements for Accreditation Bodies, Certification Bodies, and organizations seeking or certified to R2.
Interestingly, the Board strongly emphasized the importance of marketing, education, and outreach as an integral part of the R2:2013 Program. This will include work in a number of areas: communicating to the business community the value of working with an R2-certified service provider; educating consumers and consumer organizations about selecting R2-certified companies; and outreach about R2 in emerging-market regions of the world.
|
|
R2:2013 Program Elements -- Including an Annual Fee for Certified Companies
Much has been written in the R2 Update about the content of the draft R2:2013 Standard, and the draft is available at www.r2solutions.org. The broader changes that will be part of the R2:2013 Program also have been discussed, though to a lesser extent, and deserve further mention.
As stated above, marketing will be a key part of overall program. R2 Solutions will be aggressively marketing, and educating about, the R2:2013 Standard. R2:2013 will be the strongest standard available to electronics recyclers, and R2 Solutions needs to let the world know this through a variety of targeted and broad-based strategies; including direct communication with folks in a range of key markets, and education in schools, churches, libraries, and other community-based institutions that are involved in the collection of used electronic equipment.
An Annual Fee for Certified Companies
R2 Solutions, since its inception, has managed on a shoe-string budget with never more than 1 full-time employee. This must change in order to accomplish the ambitious goals - relating to marketing, quality assurance, international growth, etc. - that the Board of Directors has identified for the R2:2013 Program.
Consequently, R2 Solutions - a non-profit organization - will begin charging certified companies an annual fee beginning at the start of R2:2013 implementation, which is envisioned to be July 1 of this year. Starting then, R2-certified companies will need to pay a fee of $1,500 per facility each year at the time the facility is certified or has its surveillance audit.
This is a significant change in policy and certainly not one that the Board takes lightly. However, all other voluntary standards have fees of one sort or another and there is no way around the fact that for the R2 Standard to exist and thrive, a fee paid to R2 Solutions is necessary. It will lead directly to a better, increasingly visible and trusted R2:2013 Program.
Requirements for Certification Bodies
Certification Bodies also will be affected by a number of changes in the R2:2013 Program. Minimum audit-day requirements will be specified in more detail in order to promote greater quality auditing and a level playing field amongst Certification Bodies. Training sanctioned by R2 Solutions will be required of all auditors on an ongoing basis. And complaint and suspension policy, which has been working well to date, will be further enhanced.
All in all, the R2:2013 Program will entail changes for all parties; it will take R2 to a new, even higher level of quality, integrity, and visibility.
.
|
R2:2013 timing -- The Transition Plan
Most readers are familiar with the process through which R2 Solutions has developed the R2:2013 Program up to this point. The R2 Technical Advisory Committee worked hard for the last eighteen months on the revisions to the Standard. It requested and received public comments at two points in this process. These comments have played a significant role in shaping the version of the Standard that the Technical Advisory Committee unanimously approved and forwarded to the R2 Solutions Board of Directors for final adoption, which will occur over the next few weeks.
Over the next few months, R2 Solutions will be finalizing training materials and requirements for auditors, developing a "How to market your R2 certification" training for R2-certified companies, drafting the R2:2013 Guidance Document with the active involvement of the Technical Advisory Committee, and completing the R2 Code of Practices which contains the requirements for all parties that will be involved in the R2:2013 Program.
Set forth below is the Transition Plan that the R2 Solutions Board of Directors unanimously adopted on April 29th. It outlines the timeframes going forward: the anticipated effective date of the R2:2013 Standard and Code of Practices, the number of months thereafter during which companies can still obtain certification (and also surveillance audits) to R2:2008, and what needs to happen before R2:2013 certification can be issued:
R2 Solutions Transition Plan for Accredited Certification
From R2:2008 to R2:2013
April 30, 2013
The R2 Solutions Board of Directors has established the requirements for the transition to the revised version of the R2 Standard (R2:2013). R2:2013 will replace the original version of the R2 Standard, herein referred to as R2:2008.
A new R2 Code of Practices will govern the implementation of all matters relating to the R2 Standard (both R2:2013 and R2: 2008). The effective date for R2:2013 and the R2 Code of Practices is anticipated to be July 1, 2013. The effective date will not occur before this date.
For questions concerning this Transition Plan, contact John Lingelbach, Executive Director of R2 Solutions, at lingelbach@r2solutions.org or +1 303.443.3272; or Tina Garner, EHS Program Manager at ANAB, at tgarner@anab-aclass.org or +1 414.347.9858.
Licensing Agreement with R2 Solutions
This requirement applies to certifications and surveillance audits using either R2:2008 or R2:2013.
Beginning on the effective date of the R2 Code of Practices, accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) must verify that a certified electronics recycling organization has a licensing agreement in effect with R2 Solutions before certifying (including reassessing/recertifying) the organization to the relevant R2 Standard.
CBs also must confirm a valid licensing agreement while conducting an annual surveillance audit. If such a licensing agreement is not in effect between the organization and R2 Solutions at the time of the surveillance audit, the CB shall consider it a non-conformance which, if a licensing agreement is not established in a timely manner, shall require suspension of the certification.
Certifications to R2:2008
CBs shall no longer issue new certifications to R2:2008 beginning 6 months after the effective date of R2:2013.
R2:2008 certifications will no longer be valid eighteen months after the effective date of R2:2013. All renewals of existing certificates shall be based upon conformance to the R2:2013 Standard before the end of the eighteen-month transition period.
Certifications to R2:2013
A CB may begin the process of certifying to R2:2013 as soon after the effective date of the Standard as its Accreditation Body determines the CB has been accredited to conduct audits to R2:2013 and has satisfied all the applicable requirements of the R2 Code of Practices.
Transition for accredited CBs
CBs currently accredited by ANAB for R2:2008 certification services will be required to apply to ANAB for accreditation to the revised and new requirements of R2:2013 and the R2 Code of Practices. CBs will complete a transition application for processing and approval by ANAB. The transition application's requirements will include a plan to demonstrate that the CB is effectively managing the R2:2013 transition requirements within the required timeframes.
Once R2:2013 and the R2 Code of Practices are in effect, the transition application for ANAB accreditation will be available.
|
|
|
|
|
Canon Is First OEM to Achieve R2 Certification
Earlier this month, Canon U.S.A., Inc. became the first manufacturer to achieve R2 Certification. Canon's wholly-owned subsidiary, Canon Virginia, Inc. (CVI) achieved the certification for innovative equipment recycling which is performed on site. Now an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is among the organizations that have achieved R2 certification for responsible practices governing environmental, health, safety and security practices of recycling efforts.
CVI, located in Newport News, Va., produces new products using advanced manufacturing methodologies while also serving as a factory service center providing expert customer service in the repair and refurbishment of Canon cameras, video recorders and office products. Having production and refurbishment operations located in the same facility reduces the company's, and its products', environmental footprints. While OEMs typically partner with electronics recycling companies to manage refurbishment and end-of-life of products, Canon has made an effort to combine manufacturing and recycling efforts in single facilities.
Since 1992, it has worked to extend the life of its copiers by sending used units to CVI for full refurbishment, or parts reclamation, or responsible recycling. Thousands of customers have taken advantage of purchasing lower-cost, but high-quality, fully-refurbished Canon copiers through this program which extends the life of the copiers thereby reducing the use of raw materials in the manufacture of new equipment.
CVI employees with deep knowledge of Canon products work on the refurbishment and recycling efforts to make the recycling process more efficient, and a complement to manufacturing. The move is part of Canon's global commitment to reducing its environmental impact throughout the entire product lifecycle. CVI is one of seven facilities around the globe where this practice has been employed.
"Achieving R2 certification is a major accomplishment and supports our commitment to the environment," said Toru Nishizawa, president and chief executive officer, Canon Virginia. "We work very hard to ensure the recycling side of our business complements Canon's research and development efforts to help minimize the environmental impact of our products. As an OEM, Canon is combining manufacturing and recycling under one roof to strengthen our profile and offer a unique business value to our customers and society."
The certification is an important part of Canon's global environmental programs and commitment. Recently, Canon U.S.A., Inc. became one of the first electronic equipment manufacturers with qualifying products in the new imaging equipment category of EPEAT®, a global rating system for greener electronics. Canon U.S.A., Inc., and more than 700 additional Canon sites worldwide, adhere to the ISO 14001 standard which acts as a guideline for organizations to develop effective Environmental Management Systems. Canon has also been a long-time participant in the Energy Star program, and offers recycling solutions to both consumers and business for used toner cartridges.
"Many OEMs have deep knowledge and expertise about refurbishment and recycling, we hope Canon is the first of many OEMs to achieve R2 certification for their facilities. Combining production and refurbishment/recycling in one facility is helping share knowledge and reducing the environmental footprint of products at the same time. We're thrilled to welcome CVI on board," said John Lingelbach, Executive Director of R2 Solutions.
|
We want to hear from you! Please send along any R2 related news or information that you think would be important to share with the electronics recycling community.
Thank you!
|
|
|
|
