R2v3 Standard Available for Download Now

Championing the fight against the growing challenges of e-waste and data security, SERI is proud to announce the launch of the latest R2 standard for electronics reuse and recycling, R2v3.

The electronics industry is constantly changing and our best practices and standards need to evolve as well. R2v3 incorporates our experience gained from more than a decade auditing and implementing the R2 Standard and reflects changes in the electronics landscape, customer demands, and the regulatory environment. In fact, many of the changes in v3 are a result of feedback submitted by customers, members of the industry, and the public. The result is an R2 Standard that’s more powerful, practical, and works even harder to protect data, people and the planet by:

Increasing emphasis on reuse and protecting data
Offering an adaptable and scalable approach for facilities
Strengthening requirements in key areas
While retaining much of what has made R2 such a potent tool for setting responsible reuse and recycling practices around the world.

Effective July 1, 2020, the new R2v3 Standard will be available for download from our newly launched website https://seriR2.org. In addition to offering the Standard for download, the new site provides a timeline for R2v3 as well as a FAQ section and an opportunity to register for a free intro to R2v3 webinar. Over the coming months, the new site will expand to include a variety of features including a new library of online training modules, courses for virtual users, consultant, and auditor training, and a “Knowledge Base” that will provide a robust library of searchable information related to R2v3 and guidance for those implementing and auditing the standard.

“Organizations want to know that they are making a responsible choice when disposing of their electronics” said Corey Dehmey, Executive Director of SERI, R2’s housing body. “Rather than just trusting self-made claims, R2v3 provides a new benchmark for accountability to increase confidence in electronics refurbishers and recyclers.”

Looking Forward
The full transition to the new R2v3 Standard won’t be completed until 2023. This is necessary to give all 950+ facilities an opportunity to update their operations to conform to the new requirements and provide time for each to be audited. SERI is building and testing transition plans with the Certification Bodies and expects the first R2v3 Certified facilities in early 2021.

About SERI
SERI is the housing body and ANSI-accredited Standards Development Organization for the R2 Standard. While development and oversight of the R2 certification program is one of SERI’s core activities, the 501c3 non-profit organization champions sustainable and responsible decision making all along the electronics lifecycle.

About R2
Recognizing the need for comprehensive best-practices that addressed the operational and environmental challenges in electronics recycling and repair, the US Environmental Protection Agency convened a multi-stakeholder process to create a voluntary, market-based mechanism for ensuring best practices in electronics recycling. What emerged from that process was the “Responsible Recycling practices for Use in Accredited Certifications” (R2) Standard, which was first released in 2008.

For more than 10 years, SERI has been recognizing responsible organizations that manage used electronics in a sustainable manner protective of the environment and the health and safety of workers and communities. Now in its third version, the R2 Standard continues to be the most widely adopted global electronics standard, with over 950 certified facilities in 32 different countries around the world. The new R2v3 Standard expands the circular economy model for used electronics to extend their useful life through reuse and to recover the materials at their end-of-life to manufacture new products.