“StEP as it is an important vehicle for Datec to understand how the legislators, industry and academia see the reuse market, too much is wrongly perceived and therefore wrongly legislated; it allows developing good business protocols for our industry.”
- Jeff Bormann, Datec Technologies Ltd., UK
“StEP is one of the world's most relevant initiatives paving the ground for a future with sustainable ICT. Empa as a materials science and technology institute of the ETH domain is proud to be part of this initiative.”
- Lorenz M. Hilty, Professor, Technology and Society Lab, Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Switzerland
“Griffith University recognises that while dealing with e-waste as a local and regional issue, it is a global problem that needs a global solution and StEP is by far the most effective global initiative developed to solve the E-waste problem. ”
- Sunil Herath, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Engineering, Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University, Australia
“A problem as broad, complex and important as e-waste cannot be tackled in isolation. The University of Limerick became involved with StEP because this multi-stakeholder approach offers the best opportunity to find sustainable solutions.”
- Colin Fitzpatrick, University of Limerick, Ireland
“The issues around electronics re-use are sensitive and complex. AER Worldwide joined StEP in order to work cross-sector in a global team to promote environmental, social and economically sound electronics reuse models.”
- John Dickenson, Vice-President Business Development, AER Worldwide
“Partnership and knowledge transfer are the two key issues for joining the StEP Initiative There is a need to apply an environmental and economical sound E-waste management system in the Middle East & North Africa in cooperation with the StEP members.”
- Hossam Allam, Regional Programme Manager, CEDARE - Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region & Europe, Egypt
“E-waste issues now become global and require cooperations & supports from all key stakeholders. I have the confidence that StEP Initiative can serve as the neutral focal point to exchange experience and expertise to provide the appropriate solutions”
- Charuek Hengrasmee, President, Electrical and Electronics Institute, Thailand
“When much of WEEE generated in the world is still exported to developing countries despite the Basel Convention, StEP is a unique network to find new ideas and project partners to solve the ewaste problem in the world and in France.”
- Cédric Gossart, Associate Professor, TELECOM & Management SudParis, France
“We are always aware of the issue of e-waste disposal when dealing as an advertising agency with our international electronics customers. We are glad being an active part of StEP since its foundation and contributing to the success of this initiative.”
- Axel Schneider, Executive Director, promotionteam wetzlar, Germany
“The NCER values the forum that StEP provides for international information exchange and problem solving, such as lessons learned from the implementation of other e-waste policies around the world as we move forward with new state systems in the U.S.”
- Jason Linnell, Executive Director, National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER), USA
“The vision of Öko-Institut is a way of life that is environmentally and socially sustainable throughout the world. As a leading European research institute we expect that StEP will contribute to solve the global E-waste problem.”
- Matthias Buchert, Head of the Infrastructure and Enterprises Division, Öko-Institut e.V. , Germany
“Dataserv became involved in STEP because we feel as a company that there needs to be more direct involvement in the setting up of responsible practices for the disposal of E waste in the developing world.”
- Neal Saunders, Group Managing Director, Dataserv, UK
“MIT’s MSL is participating in StEP because we believe it is an effective mechanism for collaborating on important research topics with a broad range of stakeholders. StEP is structured in a manner to insure that its research has impact.”
- Joel P. Clark, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Engineering System, Founder and Director of the Materials Systems Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“Philips perceives StEP as an international stakeholder platform that results in a better understanding of e-waste management for all parties involved and creates improvement opportunities for recycling systems worldwide. ”
- Theo Schoenmakers, Senior Director Sustainability, Philips Consumer Lifestyle
“SECO initiated the Swiss program for global partnerships in e-waste recycling in the wake of first alarming news about dangerous e-waste recycling. StEP as a global platform for efficient knowledge exchange is supporting this country based program.”
- Hans-Peter Egler, Head of Unit, Trade Promotion, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland
“FHG/IZM values the international outlook and broad coverage of recycling and re-use within StEP. Our work on electronics recycling and ecodesign in the past has repeatedly highlighted, that not only a national or EU wide cooperation, but a global one”
- Nils F. Nissen, Head of Department Environmental Engineering, Fraunhofer-Institut fuer Zuverlaessigkeit und Mikrointegration (FHG/IZM), Germany
“At our Chiho Tiande treatment centre, all e-waste ends up as a reservoir of valuable materials. The treatment of obsolete electronic appliances is reversed assembling. I believe in exchange of our expertise, with mutual benefits for all stakeholders.”
- Stephan van Ooyen, Chiho Tiande
“Dell recognises that the solution for E-Waste problems are bigger than just one company and has joined StEP to participate in a globally represented multi stakeholder group working on different aspects of the e-waste challenge.”
- Jean Cox-Kearns, Senior Dell EMEA Take Back Manager, Asset Recovery & Producer Responsibility Programmes
“We strongly believe in the goals and activities of StEP to solve the global challenge of e-Waste and to close the resource cycles. We contribute through our international network, projects and our more than 15 years of hands-on experiences.”
- Bernd Kopacek, Austrian Society for Systems Engineering and Automation (SAT), Austria
“As a member of StEP, Cisco values collaborating with a broad cross-section of stakeholders and using a scientific approach to find solutions to the global challenges and opportunities posed by e-waste.”
- Duncan McCann, Manager, Environmental Affairs, Cisco
“Governments need to develop effective regulatory regimes that empower the market to respond positively to the challenge of e-waste. By partnering with private sector and civil society, they can promote value chains that allow for a circular economy.”
- Guido Sonnemann, Programme Officer for Innovation and Life Cycle Management, Sustainable Consumption and Production Branch, UNEP/DTIE
“Flection International joined StEP since this is the platform & knowledgebase for best practices, ideas and future developments concerning ICT recycling and re-use”
- Joep van Loon, Managing Director Flection International b.v.
“StEP is for Delft University an inspiring forum to exchange idea's and knowledge. Even more important, it is a platform for action . StEP is the perfect way to put engineering into a societal perspective!”
- Ab Stevels, Professor, Design for Sustainability Lab, Delft University of Technology
“At Nokia, we are continuously looking for innovative and sustainable ways to improve and expand our recycling programs. We joined StEP for the opportunity to share information and develop best practices with others that have the same vision.”
- Markus Terho, Director, Environmental Affairs, Nokia
“Stakeholders involved in StEP will benefit through globally standardized, safe and environmentally-proven processes for disposal, reduction or reuse and recycling of e-scrap.”
- Konrad Osterwalder, UN Under Secretary-General and UNU Rector
“HP has joined StEP to help countries work through the many legal, scientific and practical issues involved in managing e-waste, treatment standards, and innovative design to maximize re-use and recycling.”
- Klaus Hieronymi, Environmental Business Manager Hewlett-Packard Europe, Middle East and Africa
“Ericsson recognizes StEP's valuable contribution to addressing climate change and sustainability issues within the industry and strongly support their initiatives on recycling, re-use and policy development.”
- Elaine Weidman Grunewald, Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, Ericsson
“We strongly support the StEP initiative as a way to foster cooperation among stakeholders, develop needed infrastructure at a global scale, optimize interfaces between manual, mechanical and metallurgical recycling and recovery processes.”
- Hugo Morel, Executive Vice President of Umicore Precious Metals Services
“Challenges related to EEE product and material flows require more and more a global and multi-disciplinary collaboration. The PLM research group at TU Braunschweig joins StEP to tackle these challenges with global partners in joint research projects.”
- Christoph Herrmann, Head of the research group Product- and Life-Cycle Management at the Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
1.
StEP's work is founded on scientific assessments and incorporates a comprehensive view of the social, environmental and economic aspects of e-waste.
2.
StEP conducts research on the entire life-cycle of electronic and electrical equipment and their corresponding global supply, process and material flows.
3.
StEP's research and pilot projects are meant to contribute to the solution of e-waste problems.
4.
StEP condemns all illegal activities related to e-waste including illegal shipments and reuse/ recycling practices that are harmful to the environment and human health.
5.
StEP seeks to foster safe and eco/energy-efficient reuse and recycling practices around the globe in a socially responsible manner.
In the spotlight: the global e-waste problem
Welcome to StEP – an initiative of various UN organizations with the overall aim to solve the e-waste problem. Together with prominent members from industry, governments, international organizations, NGOs and the science sector actively participating in StEP, we initiate and facilitate approaches towards the sustainable handling of e-waste. In five Task Forces feasible, just and environmentally safe solutions for the e-waste problem are developed through analysis, planning and pilot projects.
|
StEP – the initiativeAn overview of the main objectives and a brief look back at the history of StEP. More... |
|
StEP – the actorsGet to know the actors around StEP: contact persons and members. |
E-waste is a term used to cover almost all types of electrical and electronic equipment that has or could enter the waste stream. Although e-waste is a general term, it can be often considered to cover TV’s, computers, mobile phones, white goods (fridges, washing machines, dryers etc.), home entertainment and stereo systems, toys, toasters, kettles – almost any household or business item with circuitry or electrical components with power or battery supply. More...
 PolicyThe analysis of existing approaches and policies for e-waste in order to issue recommendations for future developments.Details |
ReDesignEfforts to support the design for better reuse, repair, refurbishment and recycling.Details |
ReUseThe development of a replicable and sustainable global reuse system to minimize environmental impacts.Details |
ReCycleThe enhancement of global recycling infrastructures to realize sustainable e-waste recycling systems.Details |
Capacity BuildingThe documentation of all results achieved by the Task Forces in order to make them globally accessible and increase awareness.Details |
