R2 NEWSLETTER: FEBRUARY 2025

SERI IMPACT MEASUREMENT REPORT

ADDITIONAL IMPACT MEASUREMENT RESOURCES NOW AVAILABLE

We want to thank the facilities around the world that have already completed the required submissions in advance of the March 31, 2025, deadline. For those that haven’t yet begun working on the Impact Measurement requirements, we strongly recommend you start soon to provide ample time to utilize additional resources, get questions answered, and troubleshoot any challenges you may encounter. 

We have published a series of additional resources to help R2 Facilities as they gather and submit their operational data. Newly added resources, all available on the Impact Measurement webpage, include the following: 

• Impact Measurement Form Guidance Document 
• Impact Measurement Form Worksheet/Calculator 
• Word Document with all Questions Asked  

We’ve also expanded our list of FAQs to cover additional questions we’ve recently heard such as definitions of “suppliers” and “materials recovery,” challenges in identifying the R2 status of suppliers, and more. Click here to see the FAQs: SERI Impact Measurement - FAQ.

As always, if you have a question or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us at ImpactHelp@SustainableElectronics.org. Additionally, you can now schedule a one-on-one call with R2 Guru Roger Greive to receive assistance. 

We look forward to producing our first impact report later this year and sharing all the good that R2 Certified facilities are doing around the world. 

VERSION 2.4 OF THE COP HAS BEEN RELEASED

Version 2.4 of the R2 Code of Practices has been released! The COP is a normative document that governs how the R2 Certification program operates, establishing requirements for Certification Bodies (CBs) and auditors to maintain consistency, strengthen program quality, and support continuous improvement throughout the certification process. This update introduces several enhancements to strengthen the R2 Certification program, including: 

• Introduction of remote audits for virtual organizations  
• Streamlined certification timelines  
• Enhanced Focus Materials management oversight  
• Clearer criteria for suspension and withdrawal 

Though the COP is a document utilized by CBs and auditors, it can be downloaded for review from the Document Library.

SERI ESG TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) MEETING

The SERI ESG TAC is meeting in person to continue with the development of the new SERI ESG Reporting Standard for the Electronics Value Chain. This meeting is open to the public and observers are welcome to attend. TAC meetings provide a great opportunity to see the standards-development process in action, as well as participate through public comment periods that will be available during both days of the meeting. No registration necessary.

April 1-2, 2025 | Dallas, TX 

• Tuesday 8:00 am-5:00 pm 
• Wednesday 8:00 am-3:00 pm 

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Arlington DFW South, 

1507 North Watson Road 

Arlington, Texas 76006 USA 

R2 TIP: CONDUCTING AN EFFECTIVE LEGAL COMPLIANCE AUDIT

Core 4(d)(3) requires R2 Facilities to periodically audit their compliance with legal requirements. This essential exercise extends far beyond simply checking a box that asserts the facility is complying with a law. The legal compliance audit is a formal audit process, through which a competent auditor knowledgeable in the operations and applicable requirements must follow audit trails to obtain evidence demonstrating legal compliance.

Let’s look at the example of a facility subject to a stormwater permit. The legal compliance plan lists the applicable federal and/or state/provincial regulations, along with controls and monitoring for the permit conditions. The legal compliance auditor observes evidence of the controls - a sweeping log maintained prior to rainstorms - and evidence of monitoring, which in this example might entail observing laboratory reports of stormwater from the facility and comparing the results to the permit parameters.  

The auditor also observes stormwater sampling training records, which are evidence of the competency of the personnel who sampled the water. In this example, because all the evidence observed demonstrated compliance with the permit conditions, the auditor can note compliance with the stormwater permit.    

RECENTLY ADDED TO R2 KNOWLEDGE BASE

BASEL PLASTIC WASTE AND E-WASTE AMENDMENTS Q&A: In this Q&A, we discuss how two Amendments to the Basel Convention, an international treaty that regulates the global trade of waste, impact R2 Facilities. This is intended to offer further explanation of how to implement the Basel Amendments within the requirements in the R2 Standard, along with examples and audit recommendations. 

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:

• RLA Annual Conference & Expo, Las Vegas, NV, March 11-13 – Catch the SERI team in Las Vegas to learn about R2, the new ESG Standard, and what we have in store for eSummit in 2025.
• 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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