R2 responds to BAN in open letter

By Editorial Staff, Resource Recycling

R2 Solutions has issued an open letter regarding the recent announcement that the e-Stewards standard would incorporate R2 practices into its certification.

"This move does not make R2 and this other standard equivalent or interchangeable," writes R2 Solutions executive director John Lingelbach, in the letter. "The R2 standard remains an independent standard administered by R2 Solutions. Nor does either standard somehow become a subset of the other, except in this sense: Other ANAB-accredited standards may use the R2 standard to help define their EHS requirements for the electronics recycling industry. This is already happening with R2/RIOS."

The letter attempts to clarify confusion regarding the earlier announcement by the Basel Action Network, which advertised "three electronics recycling certifications (ISO 14001, R2 and e-Stewards) for the price of one."

Additionally, BAN's earlier release quoted BAN executive director Jim Puckett as saying "By itself, R2 is inadequate to the task of ensuring a high degree of responsible recycling, but we have seen that many recyclers are getting both R2 and e-Stewards certifications due to market demands. To make things very cost effective for recyclers, we will now ensure that R2 certification is provided as long as the more rigorous e-Stewards Standard requirements are met at the same time."

While the incorporation of R2 practices into e-Stewards simplifies the conformance process for firms pursuing multiple certifications, certifying to the e-Stewards standard does not automatically certify firms to R2. Firms are still required to go through R2 channels to obtain R2 certification.

"BAN is surprised by the angry tone and misinformation found in the letter from R2 Solutions," said Puckett, in a statement to E-Scrap News. "To be very clear, we have not changed R2 Practices nor threatened its governance in any way. We have simply added it as being part of the requirements of being an e-Stewards recycler for the convenience of the market place and value to recyclers that this brings.

"Rest assured that we notified CBs, ANAB and R2 Solutions, our Leadership Council and several other e-Stewards Recyclers prior to making the announcement," Puckett continued. "And we wish to continue any dialogue needed to work out any concerns between parties."

In his letter, Lingelbach says BAN's earlier announcement was made without open consultation with R2 Solutions, ANAB, processors and certification bodies. Stakeholders that received advance copies for comment on the revised e-Stewards standard were made to sign a non-disclosure agreement, according to Lingelbach.

To return to the E-Scrap News newsletter, click here