CEA 2010 Sustainability Report - Consumer Electronics Association

n Incorporating policies, innovative design,
and programs related to product stewardship
into core business strategies;
n Sponsoring the more than 5,000 permanent
collection sites nationwide to make it easier
for consumers to dispose of used products
in an environmentally responsible manner
(specific collection locations can be found
at DigitalTips.org);
n Developing and implementing electronics
recycling standards; and
n Investing in improving the availability of
collection sites nationwide.
Best Buy Launches First Nationwide
Retail eCycling Program
In 2009, Best Buy launched the first nationwide
retail CE recycling “take back” program
in the U.S. The program has received positive
feedback from consumers, illustrating the need
for a place to easily and responsibly recycle old
electronics. Using the slogan “no matter where
you bought it, we’ll recycle it”, Best Buy’s
in-store take back program accepts products
such as TVs, DVD players, computers, printers,
and other small products for recycling
regardless of where they were purchased,
what brand they are, or how old they are
(with some exceptions). Each store has also
set up free kiosks that accept additional items
including spent inkjet cartridges, rechargeable
batteries, CDs/DVDs and gift cards. In addition,
the company has started a trade-in program
that allows customers to trade their used
products for a Best Buy gift card worth the
value of the item. As a result of these efforts,
Best Buy has recycled more than 100 million
pounds of consumer electronics collected at
its more than 1,200 store locations.
Incorporating Product Stewardship
into Core Business Strategies
To promote best practice and consistency in
product stewardship approaches across the
industry, CEA has developed a set of guiding
principles related to the management of
used electronics:
1. Electronics should be recycled responsibly at
end-of-life. Recycling electronics is important
as a resource conservation and recovery issue.
2. A national initiative is needed to strengthen
and make sustainable the infrastructure
established in partnership with all parties
on a Federal, state and local level.
3. All parties must be held to high industry
practices, accountability and standards,
including strict, responsible controls that
protect human health and the environment.
4. Electronics recycling programs should be
convenient to encourage participation by
the public. Flexibility in the establishment
of programs is necessary.
Government bodies in the U.S. are also
driving the responsible management of used
electronics. To date, twenty-four states in the
U.S. have enacted various forms of electronics
recycling mandates. However, many leading
CE companies are moving beyond compliance
programs and are incorporating recycling and
take-back initiatives into their core business
models. Policies and programs that go above
and beyond regulatory compliance give companies
a competitive edge by enhancing their
brand reputations, strengthening partnerships
with stakeholders throughout the value chain
and creating new business opportunities.
More than 5,000 locations in the
U.S. have been established to collect
consumer electronics for recycling.
E N V I RO N M E NTA L
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABLE
PRODUCT DESIGN
SUSTAINABLE
PACKAGING DESIGN
SUSTAINABLE
FACILITIES
SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORT
& DELIVERY
ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
ECYCLING
SOCIAL
PERFORMANCE
SOCIAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
CORPORATE
SUSTAINABILITY
REPORTING
CE A 2010
SUSTAINABILIT Y
REPORT
36