R2 NEWSLETTER: MARCH 2025

R2 STANDARD: BEGINNING THE 5-YEAR REVIEW

THE ROAD AHEAD

It may be hard to believe, but the current version of R2 (R2v3) was released in 2020 and is now in its 5th year of publication. As an ANSI-Accredited Standards Developer, SERI is required to conduct a formal review of R2 at least once every 5 years to evaluate what changes, if any, are needed to keep R2 at the forefront of electronics sustainability, and the 5-year review of the standard is now officially underway.

This formal process relies on the volunteer R2 TAC to deliberate proposed changes to improve R2 for a wide range of stakeholders that rely on the standard. To ensure balance between all the perspectives and voices, the TAC is limited to 45 representatives across 3 stakeholder groups, but everyone has a voice in the process. All are welcome to observe in-person TAC meetings, offer input, and provide formal comments on published drafts for the TAC to consider. The first in-person TAC meeting in this process will be held at the eSummit in Minneapolis this September.  

Looking at how the landscape has changed since the publication of R2v3, the R2 TAC has identified areas for exploration during this review, including the following: 

• Global Harmonization: Expanding the standard to better align globally. Extended Producer Responsibility programs and laws around the world often contain “Electronic and Electrical Equipment.” R2 may expand the scope to include specific electrical equipment to better align with what most facilities see worldwide based on laws or programs.  

• Evolution of Electronics: Examining how IoT technology introduces data security considerations into more devices. Besides batteries being in a wider range of products nowadays, many everyday items are also ‘connected’ or part of IoT. These devices may connect to an app on a person’s phone or directly to the internet and can send and receive data, potentially putting private, personal, or financial information at risk. How do we handle this broader range of products and how can data be eradicated properly when there aren’t traditional sanitization software solutions for all these devices? The R2 TAC will be wrestling with these questions. 

As a part of the 5-year review process, SERI is looking to further diversify the R2 TAC representation to include expertise in these emerging technology areas and product categories. 

Committed to an open and transparent process, SERI will provide information and periodic updates on our R2 5-year review page on the SERI website.  

SERI COLLABORATES WITH INAUGURAL ITAD & CIRCULAR ELECTRONICS CONFERENCE

SERI is pleased to announce our collaboration with Trans-World Events to shape the agenda and content for the first-ever ITAD & Circular Electronics Conference & Expo, taking place June 11-12, 2025, at Messe Frankfurt, Germany. 

This new dedicated event is the continuing evolution of the E-Waste World Conference & Expo becoming the fourth conference co-located with the E-Waste World, Metals Recycling, and Battery Recycling Conferences & Expos. Expanding what was historically a track within E-Waste World into its own fourth conference for 2025 is an exciting advancement as the world continues to look beyond traditional electronics recycling and focus on the full spectrum of electronics sustainability. 

The conference will explore critical topics, including data security, repair and remarketing strategies, product design for longevity, and ITAD best practices, with special attention to European regulations and opportunities. SERI CEO Corey Dehmey will be among the featured speakers addressing how we can transform our approach to electronics to create sustainability throughout the entire value chain. 

The event includes a FREE Expo alongside the conference programming, providing access to technologies and solutions for electronics sustainability. We encourage the R2 community to attend and take advantage of networking opportunities with a wide range of new and existing partners. The SERI team will be present throughout the event and host a booth in the Expo (Stand K5). SERI welcomes the opportunity to connect with attendees about R2 and all our other SERI Programs in Frankfurt. 

eSUMMIT 2025 EXHIBITOR AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE

We're excited to announce the launch of exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities for the 2025 Electronics Sustainability Summit (eSummit), taking place September 8-11 in Minneapolis, MN!  

The eSummit brings together the brightest minds and the most forward-thinking companies to make every facet of the electronics industry more sustainable. No matter where you sit on the electronics value chain, the eSummit offers an unparalleled platform for learning, sharing, and networking. It’s the one event that brings all the stakeholders together in one place, which makes the eSummit the best opportunity of the year to engage with your current and future business partners and customers. 

Learn more about early bird exhibitor pricing and various sponsorship opportunities by visiting the eSummit site. Remember, booth selection begins in spring 2025 based on payment order, so secure your spot early for priority selection!  

R2 TIP: R2 REQUIRES DATA SANITIZATION, EVEN WHEN SUPPLIERS DO NOT

If an R2 Certified facility takes control of data-bearing equipment or components, then R2 requires the data on those devices/components to be sanitized, even when the supplier has not explicitly requested data sanitization. In fact, a lack of supplier insistence on sanitization does not matter – Core 7 requires data-bearing devices to be logically or physically sanitized in a timely and effective manner, either by the R2 Facility or a DSV that’s been qualified under Appendix A with the capabilities to sanitize the data on those type of devices/components. Every device. Every time.   

RECENTLY ADDED TO R2 KNOWLEDGE BASE

AVAILABLE R2 TRAINING CLASSES

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 multiple times per month and are offered to accommodate time zones on all continents.

Select a day and time the works best for you before, during, or after your normal workday.  

Find your region to see upcoming dates and register!

R2 AUDITOR TRAINING

While primarily created for Certification Body (CB) auditors and Accreditation Body (AB) assessors, SERI also offers a version tailored for facilities and consultants.

Learn more about Auditor Training and see upcoming courses

Each month, we let you know where we’re going and what conversations we’re having for two reasons. First, we simply hope you’ll catch up with us if you are planning to be in the same places. But even more importantly, we want everyone to know how and where we are sharing our message, talking about electronics sustainability for a global circular economy and, in many cases, how R2 fits as a part of the puzzle. We see educating all the decision-makers to make better choices as a big part of the journey to electronics sustainability. 

Where we're headed next:

• Commission on Science and Technology for Development (28th Session), April 7-11 – Chief Executive Officer, Corey Dehmey, will be at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, to share challenges and opportunities from the electronics value chain in bringing technology and digitalization to all corners of the world. Corey will join the in-person session, “Progress Made in the Implementation of and Follow-up to the Outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society at the Regional and International Levels, in Particular, WSIS+20 Review," taking place on Wednesday, April 9.
• IAITAM ACE 2025, Las Vegas, NV, April 22-24 – Chief of Global Standards Mike Easterbrook will be in Las Vegas to help IT Asset Managers understand the value proposition of SERI’s new ESG Standard in a session entitled “Measuring the Impact of IT Asset Management Decision Making.” 
• Circularity, Denver, CO, April 29-May 1 – Chief Provocateur Jeff Seibert will lead a panel discussion to help sustainability professionals understand the importance of their IT assets as part of their sustainability programs and how standards and certifications like R2 can make a big positive impact throughout their organizations.  
• ITAD & Circular Electronics Conference, Frankfurt, Germany, June 11-12 – SERI has partnered with the all-new ITAD & Circular Electronics Conference (previously a track within E-Waste World and co-located with the Battery Recycling, Metal Recycling, and E-Waste World Conferences & Expo). Topics in this conference will focus on enabling longer use of electronics to create a circular economy, including design, repair, ITAD & remarketing, and the rest of the electronics value chain. In addition to helping shape the discussions, SERI's CEO, Corey Dehmey, will be among the featured speakers at this gathering of over 3,500 industry professionals. In addition to 2 full days of great content, Frankfurt offers valuable networking opportunities for our R2 community to expand their European connections. We hope to see you there!

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