Member Area

Organisation

The Step Inititiative - Always stay informed

StEP envisions being an agent and steward of change, uniquely leading global thinking, knowledge, awareness and innovation in the management and development of environmentally, economically and ethically-sound e-waste resource recovery, re-use and prevention.


 

The Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP) Initiative emerged in 2004 as an independent, multi-stakeholder platform for designing strategies that address all dimensions of electronics in an increasingly digitized world. StEP applies an integrated, science-rooted approach to create salient solutions to global e-waste challenges along the entire electronics life cycle.

In this respect StEP addresses especially UN Sustainable Development Goals 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production”.

 

StEPs five Founding Principles


1. Scientific basis

StEP's work is founded on scientific assessments and incorporates a comprehensive view of the social, environmental and economic aspects of e-waste.

2. Life cycle approach

StEP conducts research on the entire life-cycle of electronic and electrical equipment and their corresponding global supply, process and materials flow.

3. Solution oriented

StEP's research and pilot projects are meant to contribute to the solution of e-waste problems.

4. Legal compliance

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. Socially responsible

StEP seeks to foster safe and eco/energy-efficient reuse and recycling practices around the globe in a socially responsible manner.


StEP Members

StEP facilitates research, analysis and dialogue among more than 35 members drawn from business, international organizations, governments, NGO’s and academic institutions around the world.

 

 

Milestones 2004 - 2019

  • 2004

    Initiation to develop the StEP Initiative

  • 2007

    Formal Launch of Step at UN Secretariat in New York

  • 2009

    1st StEP E-Waste Summer School

  • 2012

    1st E-Waste Academy Management Edition (EWAM) in Ghana

  • 2013

    Publication of StEP E-Waste World Map

  • 2018

    New membership structure and New MoU

  • 2019

    StEP got registered as a standalone entity