SERI board adopts revised R2 standard

SERI, the ANSI-accredited standards development organization and housing body for the R2 (Responsible Recycling) Standard, has announced via its “R2 Update” e-newsletter for May that R2v3, the most recent revision to the R2 Standard, has been adopted by the organization’s board of directors in a unanimous vote. The R2 Consensus Body unanimously approved the R2v3 draft earlier this month.

SERI says it plans to release the standard July 1, which is when it will be available for download on the SERI website.

The revision process began nearly five years ago, SERI notes, with Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members addressing more than 900 challenging and complex issues addressed by the standard, many of which were submitted by customers, industry members and the public. “The representation of many different stakeholder groups on the TAC, and the 660 comments received during two public comment periods, has resulted in a strong standard well-positioned to address the evolving needs of an increasingly diverse industry,” SERI adds.

Sean De Vries, R2 director who worked with the TAC on the revised standard, says in the newsletter, “While we all share the common goal of responsible reuse and recycling, there are different ideas about the best way to achieve the desired outcomes. It’s important to consider the concerns and insights of the recyclers and refurbishers who implement the R2 Standard while taking into account the needs of customers from different industry sectors and other stakeholders. The TAC has done an excellent job in effectively addressing these varied considerations.”

R2v3 features enhanced data security controls, traceability and downstream accountability; increased emphasis on reuse and a circular economy; and protection of the environment and human health and safety. SERI says R2’s full life cycle approach for managing electronics aligns with circular economy principles, extending the life of reusable electronics when feasible. “This approach not only benefits the environment by reducing the environmental footprint of electronics, [but] it [also] provides social and economic benefits to hundreds of millions of people worldwide by bridging the digital divide with affordable, refurbished devices for those without the resources to purchase new products,” the newsletter states.

SERI says many requirements in R2v3 are based on the current R2:2013 Standard but are clarified to achieve more consistent implementation, audits and outcomes.

A new structure for requirements is designed to accommodate specialization within the industry. Core Requirements apply to all R2 certified facilities, and more specialized Process Requirements apply only to facilities that are engaged in those specific processes, the organization says. “This modular approach better adapts to the specialization and diversity of facility types and the changing business models within the industry. Recognition of these specializations will give customers more clarity about the capabilities and expertise of each R2 facility,” the e-newsletter reads.

Requirements for data protection, managing the flow of material through the downstream and environmental, health and safety have been strengthened.

SERI says it plans to release a detailed transition plan July 1 “that is mindful of the challenging times.” The organization writes, “We recognize that many facilities are not fully staffed and are dealing with other pressing matters resulting from COVID-19. We would like to assure R2 certified facilities that no facility will be required to transition to the R2v3 Standard for at least 1.5 years from the July 1 release date, and we will continue to monitor the situation as we determine the final transition timeline.”

SERI says online training tools and other resources will be available to help facilities transition to R2v3.