i3 - May/June 2019 - 39

By Elliot Grimm

Policy

G R E E N P O L I CY

Tech Companies Step Up
to the Challenge

he combined efforts of companies participating in the
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Sustainable
Materials Management (SMM) Challenge achieved notable environmental results this year. By rethinking business and
committing to innovation and eco-friendly operations, companies
collectively diverted nearly 276,000 tons of end-of-life electronics
from the landfill (primarily via third-party certified recyclers) and
avoided the equivalent of more than 724,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. These reductions were the equivalent of taking more
than 140,000 passenger vehicles off the road for an entire year.
CTA supports EPA in its effort to highlight tech companies finding environmentally responsible ways to use product's
materials throughout its life cycle.
Through the SMM Electronics Challenge,
EPA recognizes companies that successfully commit to innovative and responsible end-of-life electronics management.
The 2018 award recipients were honored this past March during a special
ceremony at CTA's office in Arlington,
VA. Winners earned recognition for
completing tier-based requirements at
the bronze, silver or gold level, demonstrating strong leadership and commitment to reducing material waste.
Here are the tier-based SMM winners.

in the categories of Product, NonProduct and Cutting Edge to recognize
companies with strong leadership,
innovative processes and environmentally friendly products.
● The Product Award went to Dell for
its closed loop gold recycling program,
an initiative to reclaim gold from used
electronics in order to reduce demand
for mining of gold ore.
● The Non-Product Award was given
to Xerox for its strategy for take-back
and remanufacturing of their toner cartridges and other imaging products.

● The Cutting Edge Award was
given to Best Buy for partnering with certified electronics recyclers to create
TeenTech Centers, facilities helping contribute to Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM) education for underserved youth with the reuse
of older electronics and new equipment.
The consumer tech industry continues
to work to be more environmentally
friendly, in both its products and operations. According to one study by the
Rochester Institute of Technology's
(RIT) Golisano Center for Sustainability,
since 2001, recycling weights have
decreased because devices are becoming
smaller, thinner and lighter.
In addition to companies delivering
more sustainable products to consumers,
they are also focused on material selection to ensure higher recyclability.

Learn more about the
SMM Challenge and how
companies are extending
the lives of tech products by visiting
www.epa.gov/smm-electronics. And
for tips on living and buying green,
or to find your nearest recycling
facility, visit GreenerGadgets.org.

Courtesy of Best Buy

Challenge Winners:

● Gold:
● Dell
● HP
● LG Electronics USA
● Samsung Electronics
● Sony Electronics Inc.
● Sprint
● Staples
● TCL North America
● Xerox
● Silver:
● Best Buy VIZIO

Champion Awards

EPA presented its Champion Awards

C TA . t e c h / i 3

Best Buy won the
Cutting Edge Award for
partnering with certified electronics recyclers to create
TeenTech Centers.
MAY/JUNE 2019

http://www.epa.gov/smm-electronics http://www.GreenerGadgets.org http://CTA.tech/i3

i3 - May/June 2019

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