A Partnership to Promote Sustainability
In recent news, CTIA, the wireless industry association, has revealed the alignment of its device grading standard with the globally recognized R2 Equipment Categorization (REC) by SERI. This significant adjustment will make it easier for service centers to refurbish and prolong the lifespan of secondhand wireless devices, ultimately promoting sustainability and reducing waste in the wireless device supply chain.
In 2019, CTIA’s RLSQ Working Group set a new benchmark in the wireless industry by creating a novel device grading standard. This standard not only marked a first in the industry but also brought together a diverse group of companies across the wireless ecosystem. These companies, ranging from device suppliers to repair organizations, collectively established a voluntary grading system to assess the condition of wireless devices.
By adhering to this standard, companies involved in repairing, refurbishing, or reselling mobile devices can enhance the overall experience for consumers and retailers alike, ensuring more consistent and reliable trade-in and repair processes.
“The wireless industry is committed to being a responsible environmental steward, and by better aligning the REC and the CTIA wireless industry device grading standard, we are improving the quality and consistency of device grading and repair, and ensuring responsible electronics reuse and recycling practices throughout the industry,” stated Michelle James, CTIA Vice President, Strategic Industry Programs. “Our grading standards have helped achieve consistency for consumers, and now, by keeping used devices in the marketplace, and for longer, we are helping companies meet their sustainability goals and reducing our environmental impact.”
The Simplified Process
Incorporating the CTIA wireless industry device grading standard with SERI’s REC simplifies the evaluation process for R2 Certified mobile refurbishers. The market for pre-owned devices continues to expand annually at a rate of 2.9 percent with smartphones being the preferred choice for second-hand buyers, making up 81 percent of the secondary market share.
“We appreciate CTIA and the wireless industry’s commitment to ensuring devices are responsibly tested, repaired or recycled,” Corey Dehmey, SERI’s CEO commented. “The cross-reference between the CTIA wireless device grading standard and the REC will help R2 Certified facilities differentiate functional wireless devices that can be freely traded from the BER devices that must be controlled for further processing by qualified buyers.”
SERI stands as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sustainable reuse and recycling of all electronics globally. At the forefront of used electronics standards is its renowned R2 Standard, which has set the benchmark for electronics recycling and reuse on a global scale. The most recent iteration, R2v3, continues to uphold this standard, ensuring that electronics are handled responsibly and sustainably.
“The CTIA grading standard is the result of close cooperation between industry members across the value chain,” concluded Guennael Delorme, Vice President/General Manager, Global Trade-In, Allstate. “By bringing consistency to the used device grading process, our goal is to reduce process waste and promote a predictable and quality customer experience. I am excited to see how the partnership with SERI can further strengthen our impact on the whole circular economy.”
