3p Consortium (Cologne/Germany) is a leading independent system provider in the area of sustainable business practices. Activities focus on the areas of quality, environment and social responsibility. With tried and tested Management systems and web based Working Tools, 3p analyses the entire supply chain of various industrial sectors to eliminate weak points. Partners are industry, trade, development organisation, NGO and science.

AEA Technology is an international science and engineering services business solving technical, safety and environmental problems for governments and industries around the world. Our Environment business employs some 700 of the UK's foremost environmental scientists and consultants and offers a comprehensive package of environmental services, policy analysis and economic and technical assessments across a broad range of environmental and sustainable development issues. We are one of the UK's leading centres of expertise on waste management, recycling and resource use efficiency and have been actively involved in providing advice to international policymakers on the specific issues of Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment for many years.

AER Worldwide provides maximum asset recovery from your excess electronic component and e-waste stream and eliminates your downstream environmental liabilities. AER Worldwide has two core competencies: Electronic Component Redistribution and Electronic Waste Stream Recycling, which we perform on a global basis.

Ausmelt Limited is a Melbourne, Australia-based supplier and developer of top submerged lance metallurgical technology. It builds technology that can recycle metals, waste materials and residues (26 in operation, 11 being built and commissioned). •Ausmelt has built numerous plants in the world for copper production, the basis for e-waste recycling, and is presently building a plant for e-waste recycling in Japan. •Ausmelt is also engaged with RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) in an e-waste recycling project (Government Grant supporting a PhD student) •Ausmelt is presently investigating e-waste recycling activities together with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce, EPA, Sustainability Victoria, etc.

The Austrian Society for Systems Engineering and Automation was founded end of 1996 as a non-profit organisation, located in Vienna. Nowadays, the activities of the Austrian Society for Systems Engineering and Automation are mainly concentrated on WEEE recycling and sustainable development. The different activities embrace research, development and technology transfer projects with industry as well as organisation of national and international conferences and exhibitions. Current research topics are: · Prolongation of product use (Upgrade, Re-use, Refurbishment) · Intelligent disassembly/separation technologies · End-of-Life Management · Reverse Logistics · Design for environment · Compliance Management

The Centre for Environment and Development (CEDARE), is an international organization established in 1992, in response to the convention adopted by the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment, in Damascus 1991. CEDARE is based in Cairo, Egypt. Cedare is governed by a high-level Board of Trustees, comprising environmental policy and decision leaders from the Arab world, Europe and the international community. It works in close partnership with governments, United Nations entities, international organizations, governmental organizations, business, private sector, media, and civil society at large. In line with CEDARE's vision of Environment for Development, CEDARE promotes environmental economical E-waste management in the Arab region, in cooperation with the international community.

Cisco Systems is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Today, networks are essential to the successful operation of businesses of every size, and to service providers, governments, and homes around the world. Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make these networks possible - giving individuals, companies, and countries easy access to information anywhere, at any time. Legislative and environmental factors combined with the competitive drive to implement the latest technology present many companies with the challenge of managing technology surpluses. Cisco offers customers the 'Takeback and Recycle' program to properly dispose of surplus products that have reached their end of useful life. Equipment that is returned to Cisco through this program is disposed of in an environmentally safe manner using processes that comply with all environmental regulations.

Dataserv protects businesses in all major industries across Europe from the ecological, administrative and security liabilities of their unwanted IT resources. Our customers and blue-chip partners benefit from helping us to protect the environment from the harmful bi-products associated with technological equipment, peace of mind that all sensitive data has been eradicated, and satisfaction that all re-useable components are recycled - rather than broken down unnecessarily - either as an additional revenue stream for our customers, or for charitable donation. As part of our dedicated compliance scheme, Dataserv Compliance Limited partners with major manufacturers to provide advice and direction around sound ecological policy and practices, helping to ensure that initiatives like StEP are instrumental in resolving technology-related ecological issues across Europe.

Datec Technolgies Ltd., based in Kllwinning, Scotland, we are owned by Belmont Trading and Sipi Metals of the US who have excellent credentials in the fields of component recovery/remarketing and precious metal refining respectively. Datec’s core competence is in the recycling and asset management of redundant/excess/end-of-life electronics within EMEA. Within this core competence we include populated printed circuit board recycling where we recover value from the board precious metal content and remarket recoverable chips. Linked to this are our services for the recycling of complete from production waste to take back schemes, EOL products/systems, such as servers, PCs, monitors, telecommunication mainframes, mobile phones, batteries; down to component level (excess/surplus and inactive passive and active component inventories), stock evaluation and returns, serial number/item inclusive with comprehensive reporting. Environmental Excellence in the provision of wall-to-wall electronics recycling solutions is what we demonstrate to our customers. Datec also operates its own PCS WEEE scheme for the UK.

Delft University of Technology (TUD), Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Design for Sustainability Program, Education and Research on Basic Environmental Sciences (Bachelor level); Life Cycle Engineering & Design (Master level); Product Service Systems (Master level); Applied Environmental Design (Master level); Environment and Business (Master level); Technical Environmental Analysis (Master level). Co-Coordinator of Task Force Recycling; Researcher Eco-efficiency of Electronics Recycling (since 1999), Director Huisman Recycling Research (since 2004).

Dell is a leading worldwide computer systems company. Dell designs, builds and customizes products and services to satisfy a range of customer requirements, from the server, storage and professional services needs of the largest global corporations, to those of consumers at home. Dell does business directly with customers, one at a time, better than anyone the planet. Dell operates Global Take Back Programmes with third party audited professional recycling partners. A variety programs are available for all customer groups taking back any brand of equipment. Free take-back and recycling programs for any Dell branded products are available for consumers, information available at www.dell.com/recycling

Electrical and Electronics Institute (EEI) is an autonomous institute established by Thailand's Cabinet approval on July 7, 1988. Chairman of the Board of Directors is appointed by the Ministry of Industry to provide constructive guidance in policy, promotion, product standards and testing, technical service, information, research and development of electrical and electronic industry.

Effective end-of-life strategies for business-to-business products form a core part of Ericsson's drive to create a safe and clean environment. Customer and social responsibility, as well as legal requirements such as the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (2002/96/EC), have prompted Ericsson to develop a comprehensive solution for the end-of-life return of decommissioned products. Our global end-of-life treatment program is called Ecology Management Provision. Initiated three years before the WEEE requirements became law in the EU, this proactive approach gives Ericsson an effective tool to meet waste-management challenges in all our markets around the world.

EMPA is the materials science and technology institute of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH domain). EMPA's Technology and Society Lab (TSL) coordinates Task Force 5 on Knowledge Management & Capacity Building. Among other activities TSL is working on national and international projects in the field of e-waste recycling.

Flection International collects annually more than 300,000 surplus and obsolete IT units, and makes them suitable for re-use. With branches in The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Spain – employing a combined workforce of 100 highly skilled professionals – Flection is one of the largest enterprises of its type in Europe. Flection manages the transfer and recycling of used and obsolete IT equipment. Rated as one of the most reliable companies in its field, Flection provides a fast- and high-quality asset management service to IT asset owners.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM) is an internationally recognized center for applied research in the field of microelectronic packaging and microsystems integration. The main competencies are material science and characterization, design and simulation, high density interconnect and wafer level packaging technologies, vertical chip integration, micromechanical and optical systems, reliability and failure analysis. An important objective of the IZM is to assist companies in sustainable technological solutions and environmentally benign design of products.

GAIKER Technological Centre, member of IK4 Research Alliance, is devoted to the gathering of existing knowledge and to the development of new technologies to be later transferred to customers coming from sectors such as the Automotive/ Transportation, Household Electrical Appliances, Construction, Administrations or Engineering/ Consulting, among others.

Our work is international cooperation for sustainable development. In 2005, we celebrate 30 years of worldwide operation. GTZ provides viable, forward-looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and social development in a globalized world. We support complex reforms and change processes. All our activities are geared to improving people?s living conditions and prospects on a sustainable basis.

As one of the main outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005), the Global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF) is the only international financial organisation entirely dedicated to reducing the digital divide. Its objective is to equip the developing world with the means to access the knowledge society. Through access to ICT and valuable content, the DSF works at community level to promote the development of marginalised populations. The DSF collaborates with local and national authorities, the private sector, international organisations and NGOs, as well as civil society.

GOAB is a non-profit company, owned by the municipality of Offenbach am Main (Germany). With a qualified staff of 100 GOAB offers vocational training to 140 trainees, offers limited employment to 350 long-term-unemployed people and performs a number of innovative projects in matters of long-life-learning, e-learning and target-group-integration. GOAB’s largest department is the GOAB-Recycling-Center, which is engaged in recycling of all kinds of e-waste (material-throughput 8,000 tons p.a., including 65,000 refrigerators, 120,000 TVs/ monitors and others). A professional staff of 15 is supervising 180 long-term-unemployed participants of reintegration-schemes.Beside hand-fractioning of material, a high-tech plant of latest state of the art is used for recycling of refrigerators. In regard of its major goal (reintegration of participants) GOAB is specialized in all forms of personal training and development (counselling / training-concepts / training on the job / e-learning-systems). GOAB-Recycling-Center defines itself – besides being a leading member of German “social economy” - as a part of circular-economy with a strong emphasis on ecological aspects.

Griffith University’s E-waste Research Group is headed by Dr Sunil Herat, a leading researcher in the sustainable management of electronic waste worldwide. Widely regarded as one of Australia’s most innovative tertiary institutions and one of the Asia–Pacific region’s most influential universities, Griffith University hosts the largest group of environmental professionals in any university in Australia, and amongst the largest in the world. As a University focused on multidisciplinary teaching and research, Griffith has a strong focus on environmental management and engineering. It was recently selected as the headquarters of the Australian Government's National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, recognising the University’s leadership since establishing Australia’s first university School of Environmental Studies 30 years ago.

HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company?s offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. HP is committed to providing customers with inventive, high quality products and services that are environmentally sound and to conduct our operations in an environmentally responsible manner.

Institut für angewandte Ökologie ? Institute for Applied Ecology, a registered non-profit association) is the leading environmental research institute in the field of applied ecology. We elaborate scientific studies and advise politicians, institutions, environmental associations and companies. Established in 1977, the Institute has a wealth of experience in exploring and assessing environmental problems, pinpointing risks and developing solutions.

Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) is the leading institute contributing to the proper understanding of our earth, its conservation and the efficient utilization of its limited resources for the benefit of all the peoples inhabiting of our global village. KIGAM conducts geoscientific research, geological surveys, minerals and energy resources development and resources recycling. Its activities include collection and analysis of resource data from domestic and international sources, providing technical education for the industries and promoting research collaborations between the industrial and academic sectors. The Minerals and Materials Processing Division of KIGAM focuses on developing recycling technology to recover raw materials from e-waste, achieving environment and resource conservation in the global sustainable development.

The Materials Systems Laboratory (MSL) is an interdisciplinary group that studies the strategic implications of materials and materials processing choices by modeling the economic and environmental consequences of engineering decisions. It resides within the Department of Materials Science & Engineering and the Engineering Systems Division and includes researchers from the Center for Technology, Policy & Industrial Development and the Laboratory for Energy and the Environment. MSL is involved in research areas such as automotive lightweighting, electronics recycling, environmental pressures on supply chains and the cost-competitiveness of optoelectronics.

Micro Industries Development Assistance and Services (MIDAS) is a promotional organisation in the private sector. It was set up in 1982 with the objective of supporting the development of micro, small and medium enterprises. The main activities of MIDAS are- Study & Research, Training, Information and Counselling, Technology Transfer, Event Management etc.

MicroPro Computers is a wholly owned Irish Company with its headquarters in Dublin, carrying the Guaranteed Irish Logo, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certifications and is established over 19 years. We have developed an eco-friendly computer (iameco) for which we hope to achieve the world’s first European Eco Label shortly.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Through our Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) programs and others such as Digital Pipeline (DP), Microsoft provides low-cost licenses for Microsoft software to help equipment refurbishers extend the useful life of over 500,000 computers per year.

The National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2005 that is dedicated to the development and enhancement of a national infrastructure for the recycling of used electronics in the U.S. through 1) the coordination of initiatives targeting the recycling of used electronics in the United States, 2) participation in pilot projects to advance and encourage electronics recycling, and 3) the development of programs that reduce the burden of government through private management of electronics recycling systems. At the local level, the NCER has spearheaded an electronics recycling initiative in the state of West Virginia, which has increased awareness in the state, prevented hundreds of thousands of pounds of electronics from entering state landfills, and helped spur the local recycling industry.

Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people to each other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations. Nokia takes environmental efficiency into account in all stages of product lifecycle. We focus on substance management, energy efficiency, take back and recycling. This ensures minimal environmental impact from start to finish, beginning with the extraction of raw materials and ending with recycling, waste treatment, and the reintroduction of recovered materials into the economic system. In order for us to carry out our own responsibilities we need others in the value chain, like consumers and retailers, to commit to bring back obsolete mobile devices for reponsible recycling. Such co-operation eventually leads to a situation where significant drivers for environmentally optimized product desing enabling easier recycling would become commonplace, bringing further benefits for consumers, producers and the environment.

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is a global leader in healthcare, lifestyle and technology, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Sustainability is an integral part of the way Philips does business. Philips wants to be a company that simplifies solutions for complex issues like sustainable development. To do that, Philips seeks new innovations to improve people’s lives in all of the worlds markets.

promotion team wetzlar (ptw), founded 1990, is an advertising agency with focus on the electronic market. Co-founder of StEP. Among other activities, ptw supports companies and organizations in the realization of environmental recycling activities as well as market communication.

The REC is a not-for-profit, independent international organisation established in 1990 by Hungary, the United States and the Commission of the European Communities. Twenty-five governments have since joined these founding sponsors. The mission of the REC is "to assist in solving the environmental problems in new Member States, Candidate Countries, South Eastern Europe, EECCA (Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia) and Turkey through the promotion of cooperation among non-governmental organisations, governments, businesses and other environmental stakeholders, the free exchange of information and public participation in environmental decision-making."

The Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (RCEES-CAS), Key Laboratory of System Ecology, has been involved in the industrial ecology since 1997. The center?s study covers theory, methodology and application in context of industrial ecology. The focus is on life cycle assessment (LCA), planning and evaluation of ecological industrial park, urban material metabolism, sustainable consumption, e-waste assessment and management.

Sims Group is one of the World’s largest recyclers. Specialist Sims Mirec operations focus on electrical and electronic equipment and provide a wide range of solutions to ensure that, where suitable, this equipment can be reused or recycled to best effect for both the environment and client. Sims Group offers a comprehensive electronics recycling service that uses a blend of dismantling, dedicated mechanical recovery and innovative technology. Operating from a number of specialist sites across Europe, Sims maximise the recovery of materials from electronic equipment in line with targets from legislation. Where required, Sims can offer a comprehensive refurbishment service that extends the life cycle of products, whilst providing the client with valuable information on their product re-use. Sims Mirec is part of Sims Group’s Recycling Solutions division whose objective is to become the global provider for recycling end of life equipment. It currently has divisions in Europe, North America and Australasia.

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco) is the Swiss government's department in charge of economic policy. Its development cooperation division is the competence centre for sustainable economic development and the integration of developing and transition countries and their companies into the global economy. Its primary objective is to alleviate poverty through wealth creation.

Taizhou Chiho Tiande, Aluminium Foundry and Dismantler of Electric Engines in Haimen, China, is specialized in dismantling all types of scrap, esp. electrical scrap. All material is dismantled by hand, which means very clean qualities after sorting and minimum losses. After this manual process, we melt Aluminium into secondary ingots ourselves, mainly sold to the automotive industry. Other metals, ferrous and plastic materials are sold directly to various industries. Due to the thorough dismantling by hand, we are able to sort precisely in a range of quality grades, even including alloys. As the end-products are so clean and highly upgraded, there is no need for any further processing for re-use.

The department of Product- and Life-Cycle-Management at the Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology, Technical University Braunschweig focusses its research activities on a product- and process-related view on the entire life-cycle. Measures can show a rather strategic character (e.g. in developing a life cycle oriented product strategy), they can cause design changes in products and processes (e.g. product design suitable for assembly or dismantling), they can contain planning and organizational measures (e.g. Supply Chain Management), or they can enable the information- and knowledge exchange between product life cycle phases by IT-linking (e.g. product data management). Research related to e-waste has been part of the activities of the department for over a decade from the point of view of product assessment in the design stage as well as in terms of design, planning and management of processes and systems in the end-of-life phase.

The TELECOM & Management SudParis campus is located in Evry, 30 km south of Paris. Established in 1979 as INT it is a public institution under the supervision of the French Ministry of Industry and is part of the Groupe des Ecoles des Télécommunications. Made up of the seven major Graduate Schools of France in the field of Information Technology, the Groupe des Ecoles de Telecommunications (GET) brings together more than 450 researchers in 60 research labs, 450 PhD students, 2500 engineering and management students, 300 master's students. The GET is a major higher education group in France and one of the top level universities in the IT field in Europe.

Umicore is an international speciality materials group. It's business unit Umicore Precious Metals Refining offers eco-efficient recycling services for electronic scrap and other precious metal bearing materials to a global customer base. In its state-of-the-art integrated metals smelter and refinery at Hoboken/Belgium precious metals as well as base and special metals are recovered and brought back to the market as pure metals.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has recently created a Consultative Task Force (CTF) on Environmental Requirements and Market Access for Developing Countries. The CTF decided to focus part of its sectoral analysis on exchanging national experience among exporting developing countries on coping with new disposal and recycling requirements for electrical and electronic equipment in the European Union and Japan. In the context of this work, the CTF both reviews best practice on meeting requirements for exported electronic equipment and approaches to the management of nationally-generated e-waste in the main producing and exporting countries, namely China, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.

The Division of Technology, Industry and Economics of United Nations Environment Programme encourages decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and implement policies, strategies and practices that are cleaner and safer, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure environmentally sound management of chemicals, reduce pollution and risks for humans and the environment, enable implementation of conventions and international agreements, and incorporate environmental costs.

United Nations University (UNU), commenced its operation in 1975 as autonomous organ of the UN General Assembly and functions as the UN arm for research, postgraduate training and knowledge dissemination. UNU is a co-founder of StEP. Among other activities UNU works on strategic sustainable development such as sustainable societies, Zero Emissions and IT & environment.

Plug-In To eCycling is EPA’s voluntary program that partners with manufacturers, retailers, and state and local governments to create more opportunities for consumers to donate or safely recycle their usede electronics. The program provides the public with information about electronics reuse and recycling, facilitates partnerships with communities, manufacturers, and retailers to promote shared responsibility for safe electronics recycling, and establishes pilot projects to test innovative approaches to safe electronics recycling.

The University of Limerick (UL) was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and classified as the University of Limerick in 1989. UL is an independent, internationally focussed university with over 10,500 students and 1,200 staff. It is a young, energetic and enterprising university with a proud record of innovation in education and excellence in research and scholarship. Its mission is to promote and advance learning and knowledge through teaching, research and scholarship in an environment which encourages innovation and upholds the principals of free enquiry and expression. Particular attention is paid to the generation of knowledge which is relevant to the needs of Irelands continuing socio-economic development. The University is situated on a superb riverside campus of over 131 hectares with the River Shannon as a unifying focal point. Outstanding recreational, cultural and sporting facilities further enhance this exceptional learning and working environment.

The University of Melbourne is presently Australia's top ranked university. The engineering department has expertise in the field of process engineering relating to metal production and recycling. Expertise also exists in the field of recycling linked to product design with focus on the automotive industry but also on WEEE goods recycling. Various projects in Europe link this expertise to for example the European car industry as well as the WEEE recycling industry. Our book "The metrics of material and metal ecology: Harmonzing the resource, technology and environmental cycles" (Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 2005, 706 p) summarizes our work.