R2v3
Specialty Process Requirements
that apply only to facilities that perform specific processes.
To better reflect today’s business environment and provide additional flexibility both for facilities and their clients, R2v3 now divides the R2 Standard into “Core” and specialized “Process” requirements. While all R2 certified facilities are held to the Core requirements, the Process requirements only apply to facilities that perform those processes.
Greater Flexibility
Process requirements now make R2 Certification more achievable and affordable for small and startup facilities that don’t engage in the full scope of R2 processes. This additional level of flexibility means more facilities have access to R2 Certification, which in turn, means we can have a greater positive impact on the world.
More Clarity
The addition of process requirements provides more clarity on the capabilities and expertise of each R2 facility, which helps facilities to right-size their certification, and helps businesses to find the right R2 partner for their specific needs.
Scalable
As facilities grow and expand their capabilities over time, they can add new elements to their R2 certification and have access to a wider range of customers and industry segments for their business. Likewise, should conditions change, facilities can remove certification to individual Appendices and still maintain R2 Core Certification.
Process Requirements
Apply only to the R2 Certified facilities that perform any of the specialized processes outlined below:
Appendix A
The capabilities of each R2 Certified facility will vary based on their specialty and where they are positioned in the recycling chain. Unless the facility is at the end of the recycling chain, such as a circuit board smelter, each R2 Facility will have a network of partners that specialize in processing or managing certain equipment and materials.
With the wide variety of types of equipment, age, condition, value, etc. the full management of all your various electronic devices requires a network of specialized vendors. We call this the “Downstream Recycling Chain.” Each facility in that recycling chain is called a “downstream vendor” (DSV). Appendix A includes requirements for verifying the downstream vendors in the recycling chain.
No matter the specialization of an R2 Facility as designated on their R2 Certificate, customers can be assured that all of their equipment will be responsibly processed through this pre-qualified and audited chain of DSVs. Each R2 Facility that manages a downstream recycling chain will be certified to Appendix A.
Appendix B
R2v3 no longer relies on external data security standards like NAID, ADISA, or NIST 800-88. The R2 Standard now internally controls data sanitization requirements to monitor for effective outcomes.
a. Physical Destruction
Core Requirement 7 covers the overall security of all R2 Certified Facilities to secure and protect electronic devices and any data they may contain while under the facility’s control. It also covers basic physical data destruction that is suitable for many situations, however, Appendix B offers enhanced services and controls for both physical and logical data destruction. Appendix B requires more robust security controls and enhanced traceability and record keeping. This provides the added assurances desired by many customers that need to comply with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR, or just want better data destruction services. R2v3 Appendix B Physical Destruction provides the option for customers to choose an additional level of data sanitization proficiency to fit their organizational needs.
b. Logical Sanitization
Appendix B Logical Sanitization sets forth requirements to ensure that data is not recoverable by commercial software. This is important in reuse of electronics, because we need to be assured that any residual user data has been properly sanitized to prevent others from accessing it. Sometimes customers require physical destruction of the device or data component because they worry that logical sanitization won’t be effective. While this is understandable, the unintended consequence is that destruction sacrifices the opportunity for good that comes when someone else can reuse your electronics. Appendix B provides a rigorous standard for performing sanitization and verifying that it is done right. It requires records created by data wiping software for proof of sanitization for each device. It no longer allows manual processing that is prone to human errors or falsification of records. Furthermore, Appendix B requires that cloud connections such as “Find my iPhone” are removed in the process so data cannot be repopulated later. Most importantly, Appendix B establishes enhanced controls to verify sanitization and validate the entire process.
Appendix B Specialization is recommended for ITAD, Returns, and Trade-Ins. It is not usually necessary for dedicated end-of-life or bulk consumer recycling programs.
Appendix C
Creates the opportunity to extend the useful life of electronics. Giving reusable electronics a second life provides opportunities for digital equity for lower income households and developing economies. Second-life devices provide working electronics at affordable prices.
The key is “working” because this is the difference between a used electronic device and e-waste. Appendix C sets forth the requirements to differentiate those facilities specializing in testing, repairing, and refurbishing electronics for reuse. Appendix C goes further than visually grading a device for physical defects or simply powering it on. R2 Facilities certified to Appendix C are testing all the key functions of the electronics to verify that they are actually working. With this knowledge and test results in-hand, electronics can move freely around the world as used electronics (UEEE), not as e-waste (WEEE).
R2 Facilities certified to Appendix C must also be certified to a Quality Management System like RIOS or ISO 9001. They must implement product safety verification to ensure the electronics are safe for reuse. And most importantly in today’s world, they must ensure that the residual user data on any used electronic is permanently destroyed in accordance with the stringent requirements of Appendix B for logical data sanitization.
Facilities certified to Appendix C produce functional electronics that are capable of reuse anywhere in the World.
Recommended for ITAD, Returns, Trade-Ins. This specialty is usually not necessary for recycling bulk consumer streams that are often end-of-life and where electronics that can be reused are sent to a downstream vendor qualified to Appendix C.
Appendix D
R2v3 recognizes the challenges in reuse of specialty electronics. These electronics are commercial grade devices that are not available at your local retailer. They are specialized in their purpose and typically include things like commercial telecom equipment, medical devices, and scientific equipment. Unlike typical IT equipment or consumer electronics, specialty electronics require highly sophisticated equipment to test the functionality of components.
This Appendix recognizes those facilities that specialize in reusing this specialty equipment in large scale, not those who happen upon a specialty device. It requires coordination within the channel with suppliers and customers to ensure legitimate reuse.
Recommended for specialized commercial and industrial equipment like network telecom and medical devices.
Appendix E
Recognizes those facilities that dismantle electronics to recover the materials contained in electronics, such as plastics, aluminum, steel, copper, gold, palladium, silver, lead, mercury, or components containing these materials such as circuit boards, batteries, power supplies, CRT glass, etc.
There are various types and degrees of facilities in the recycling chain specially equipped for the different types of electronics and the processes needed to recover these items. It may be as simple as manually dismantling with a hammer and screwdriver or it could be sophisticated lamp recycling, precious metal smelting, shredding, etc.
Appendix E recognizes those facilities capable of safely recovering materials in a manner protective of the environment, workers, and the community.
Recommended for dedicated end-of-life Recycling and bulk consumer collection programs. Not a necessary specialty for dedicated ITAD, Returns, Trade-Ins, or Specialty Electronics processors as these facilities would send the failed equipment to a downstream vendor specializing in Materials Recovery.
Appendix F
Sometimes it may be beneficial to work with a Broker who can manage the reverse logistics process from the customer’s facility directly to a downstream vendor. It is important that there’s transparency because the customer has risk anytime they are trusting a vendor in handling their used electronics.
The last thing a customer wants to find out is that their equipment never goes to the vendor’s facility, but is instead transported directly to somebody else, often overseas. Appendix F is included in R2v3 to bring transparency and assurance into the brokering process.
There is a need for brokering in parts of the recycling chain. The goal is to assure that brokering is done responsibly and that all streams are processed by qualified facilities in accordance with the R2 Standard. This appendix recognizes those Brokers who meet the R2 Standard. Brokers are often collection schemes that facilitate the collection and recycling of equipment to meet EPR mandates.
Recommended for EPR programs and other businesses that arrange shipments directly to a downstream vendor.
Appendix G
As solar energy production rapidly expands through commercial solar fields and residential panels, the need for proper management of decommissioned photovoltaic (PV) modules is also increasing. Appendix G expands the R2 Standard to include PV modules, ensuring responsible reuse and recycling of PV modules, which are commonly referred to as solar panels.
There are many reasons PV modules are decommissioned. As a result, removed PV modules may still have reuse potential. Reuse is important to reducing our carbon footprint and bringing affordable solar energy to remote parts of the world without the power infrastructure for reliable energy.
Appendix G applies to all R2-certified facilities that are handling, processing or brokering any amount of PV modules. Customers can be assured that R2v3-certified facilities with Appendix G will safely reuse or properly recycle their PV modules.
The availability of these Process Requirements allows R2-certified facilities to grow their businesses amid the growing volume of PV modules coming off-line around the world. Appendix G also allows non-R2 companies specializing only in PV module reuse and recycling to now certify to R2 and be recognized as a trusted processor of solar panels. R2 Certification opens many new opportunities for sources of used solar panels.
