Ángeles Pereira, University of Santiago de Compostela Do you know how many CO2 emissions you can save if your used computer were reused instead of directly sent to recycling? The Spanish company Revertia, a pioneer in the preparation of IT equipment for reuse, has calculated that a complete computer can save 191 kg of CO2eq
The Electronics sector is one of the first sectors to implement recycling and reusing as key elements in its manufacturing lines. Examples for such business models can be found in Canon’s closed loop recycling of cartridges which has been running for over 25 years. Another example can be found in Rolls- Royce’s “Power by the Hour” product services, which is a fixed cost per flying hour service that aligns the manufacturer’s interest with those of the operator and has been running since 1962. New innovative business models that followed such as Philips Healthcare’s product life extension, and Revertia’s remanufacturing and resale of computers and other electronic devices serve as study cases and lead the way in better waste management in an ever growing industry with an ever growing demand.
