FAQs

The R2 Standard provides a common set of criteria to recognize responsible reuse and recycling practices, all along the used portion of the electronics lifecycle. R2 Certification is the formal program for evaluating and monitoring businesses in meeting the R2 Standard, protecting of the environment, the health and safety of workers, and communities, and positively impacting the movement toward a sustainable circular economy while, enriching the lives of people all around the world.

Recognizing the need in 2005 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 promoting best practices in electronics recycling. What emerged from that process was the “Responsible Recycling practices for Use in Accredited Certifications Programs” (R2) Standard, the precursor for SERI’s more recent versions of the R2 Sustainable Electronics Reuse and Recycling Standard.

SERI, a US based 501c3 non-profit organization is the housing body and ANSI-accredited Standards Development Organization for the R2 Standard. The R2 Consensus Body is the balanced multi-stakeholder group that includes: entities covered by the standard, customers of these entities, regulatory agencies/public interest groups, and others involved in implementation of the certification program. This all volunteer stakeholder group with the assistance of the broader R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) develop each iterative version of R2.

Evolving R2 is an ongoing, collaborative process between the TAC, Consensus Body, the electronics industry, SERI’s board, and the general public. The established process for revisiting and updating the R2 Standard is as follows:

1. The TAC discusses, identifies, and proposes revisions to the R2 standard based on changes in the marketplace, learning over time, and industry feedback.
2. The Consensus Body, in conjunction with the TAC, aggregates and organizes those proposed revisions into a new version of the Standard.
3. The Consensus Body then distributes those proposals for public comment.
4. After the public comment period has ended, the TAC and Consensus Body responds to comments, and amends the proposed revisions. If changes are made, the public comment process is repeated. In the case of R2v3, two rounds of public comment and revision were conducted.
5. When all public comments have concluded, the Consensus Body votes to approve the final draft standard submit the proposed version to the SERI Board for adoption.

If the proposed version is adopted by the SERI Board, it is submitted to ANSI for approval as an American National Standard.

Facilities began seeking and obtaining certification to R2v3 as early as 2021. However, facilities had until June 30, 2023, to transition to R2v3, the current and only active version of the R2 Standard.

The Code of Practices (COP) contains the requirements of certifying facilities that meet the requirements of the R2 Standard. The COP applies to the Certification Bodies who audit and grant R2 certifications, but can affect how facilities are certified.