Ahead of the release of a full year-end report, SERI provided a preview of the outcomes from its Assurance activities in 2025.
The information release was part of an effort to improve confidence in the organization’s R2 certification process following a report from the nonprofit Basel Action Network that attributes surging US e-scrap exports to unscrupulous shippers. In the report, BAN urged regulatory and certification reviews to address the issue.
“As is true with certifications in other industries, there will always be bad actors attempting to use R2 Certification to mask their true actions, as well as facilities that either can’t or won’t meet the high bar set by R2 but still want the benefits,” SERI said in a newsletter. “We also know that the value of R2 Certification lies in the confidence that it separates the facilities that follow best practices and embrace continuous improvement from all the rest.”
The electronics recycling certification organization attributed its accomplishments to increased scrutiny of license applications, package reviews, spot inspections, auditor reviews and investigations originating from outside tips via its tip line.
So far in 2025, SERI has:
- Declined 8 license applications
- Terminated 5 licenses
- Revoked 51 R2 certificates via certification bodies (CB)
- Removed 5 auditors from the R2 pool
- Issued 23 1(d) letters to stop non-certified companies from advertising R2 certification
- Added 3 companies to the 1(d) list
The organization noted that the best way to check a facility’s status is with the R2 Directory, which is updated continuously.
“The numbers demonstrate that the R2 Assurance program is delivering real, tangible results, but the work doesn’t stop here, and we will continue working to improve confidence in the R2 Network,” SERI added.
