e-Stewards updates Ethical Electronics Recycling and Refurbishment Standard

The e-Stewards Certification Program has published the most recent version of its Ethical Electronics Recycling and Refurbishment Standard, which it describes as “more streamlined.” A special drafting committee has been developing the revision to the standard since the summer of 2018. In the last few months, it underwent two lengthy open stakeholder comment periods that ended a month ago according to schedule, according to the program.

"The revision process was smooth and very constructive, and the result is a standard that is easier to read and execute and at the same time has probably become more rigorous in the areas that matter most—human health, export controls and data security,” says Jim Puckett, the founder and executive director of Seattle-based Basel Action Network (BAN), which created and administers the e-Stewards program. "At a time when ethical behavior continues to be challenging for some, and a time when the industry is getting more complicated by the day, this version should be a welcome tonic for all stakeholders."

The fourth version of the e-Stewards Standard has been shortened from 99 to 60 pages. The formerly incorporated ISO 14001 Environmental Management System language has been removed, but the standard still requires certification to the ISO standard separately. By July 1, 2022, it also will require the AAA data security certification from Phoenix-based NAID (National Association for Information Destruction).

Additionally, the e-Stewards program has a performance verification program that is designed to go beyond the yearly audits to make use of GPS trackers to randomly sample downstream destinations of equipment that passes through e-Stewards recycling facilities, as well as unannounced inspections.

e-Stewards processors can continue to use the current version V3.1 of the standard until Aug. 24, 2021, when it sunsets and the use of the updated version will be required. The e-Stewards Certification Program says some of the attributes of the new V4.0 of the e-Stewards standard include:

• design for international use and thus applicable in every country;
• copyrighted but available free (The previous version cost $195 to obtain.);
• requires the additional certifications to NAID AAA (data security) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) standards;
• a corporate standard that applies to all facilities and operations of a company within a country and not just certain select facilities;
• a more streamlined, less prescriptive text when compared with V3.1, resulting in a shorter and easier to read standard while retaining the same rigor;
• compliant with international waste trade laws, including the most recent amendments to the Basel Convention and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Council Decisions;
• containing best practices for environmental and health and safety management system norms, occupational health, social accountability and privacy protection; and
• to be accompanied by a comprehensive living Guidance Document scheduled for first version completion by April 30.

"The e-Stewards Certification is truly a one-stop shop for industry leaders in the ITAD (information technology asset disposition) space," says e-Stewards Program Manager Salomé Stähli. "Already we have attracted many of the world's largest companies as Enterprise partners, including electronics manufacturers such as Sony, LG, Vizio and Samsung. And, in the next 24 months, we are poised to expand our footprint to 11 more countries. The new e-Stewards Standard V4.0 will greatly enhance the industry's ability to offer gold-standard services from the smallest operators to transnational partners all over the globe."