AdobeStock_127682164.jpeg

ELECTRONIC WASTE

 

electronic waste / RIGHT TO REPAIR

According to the World Economic Forum, electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world. By 2040, the production and use of electronics including devices like personal computers, laptops, monitors, smartphones, and tablets will reach 14% of total global carbon emissions. To promote a circular economy for electronics – whereby minimize extraction of natural resources and devices are kept in use as long as possible – manufacturers must make devices easily repairable, a concept called “Right to Repair.”

In response to a 2021 shareholder resolution filed by As You Sow, Microsoft made one of the largest corporate commitments to promote device reparability, agreeing to increase consumers’ options to repair their devices by the end of 2022.

Read more about Microsoft’s Commitment:

As You Sow continues to work with Microsoft and additional device manufacturers to promote a circular economy for electronics through robust device repair and additional mechanisms.

 BACKGROUND

As You Sow began promoting a circular economy for electronics in the mid 2000s with our Electronic Waste Recycling initiative, working with companies like Dell, HP, and Apple to develop in-house take-back programs. Even with 25 state laws requiring that brands take responsibility for take back and collection of end-of-life electronics, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that less than 25% of electronic waste is recovered for recycling.

In 2009, As You Sow’s engagement with Best Buy resulted in the company providing used electronics take-back at all its U.S. stores.

In 2013, As You Sow continued to focus on electronics retailing giants, filing new resolutions with Amazon.com and Walmart. The shareholder resolutions filed with each company ask for development of an in-store program to take their customers’ used electronics.

 

 

 

RECENT POSTS

Featured
Agreements at Hormel, YUM! Highlight 2024 Circular Economy Proxy Season
Agreements at Hormel, YUM! Highlight 2024 Circular Economy Proxy Season

A busy proxy season for As You Sow’s Circular Economy program was highlighted by agreements with Hormel Foods to cut packaging use by 10 million pounds by 2030 and establish a new working group on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and by YUM! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company, to report on opportunities for switching to permanent reusable packaging.

Hershey Annual General Meeting
Hershey Annual General Meeting

This proposal asks our Company to evaluate extending our responsibility for our packaging beyond the point of sale and through to the packaging’s end-of-life. Some opportunities to achieve this could include using less plastic, exploring reusable and package-free alternatives, and making sure that the disposable packaging we do use is always collected and recycled.

As You Sow Heralds a Zero Waste Future with Rebranded Circular Economy Program
As You Sow Heralds a Zero Waste Future with Rebranded Circular Economy Program

In an embrace of a post-pollution future, As You Sow’s Waste Program has rebooted itself as the more aptly titled Circular Economy Program – and we couldn’t be more excited!

As You Sow Investor Call for a Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution
As You Sow Investor Call for a Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution

Without immediate and sustained action, the annual flow of plastic into world oceans could nearly triple from 11 million metric tons to 29 million metric tons by 2040.

Hooray! Maine Becomes First State to Enact Producer Responsibility for Packaging
Hooray! Maine Becomes First State to Enact Producer Responsibility for Packaging

The fight against plastic pollution just took an important step forward. We are thrilled to share the news that this week Maine became the first U.S. state to enact legislation forcing producers of packaging waste to pay for the collection and recycling of post-consumer packaging, a concept known as extended producer responsibility (EPR).

The world has a plastic pollution problem – What needs to change?
The world has a plastic pollution problem – What needs to change?

Plastic pollution is an international environmental crisis and has become a key issue for governments and citizens. Between 1950-2015, the global production of plastics skyrocketed – generating more than 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste.

As You Talk: There’s a Toxic Smog of Microplastic Polluting Our Oceans
As You Talk: There’s a Toxic Smog of Microplastic Polluting Our Oceans

In the latest episode of As You Sow's new series “As You Talk” on Clubhouse, Conrad MacKerron, senior VP of As You Sow and Marcus Eriksen Ph.D., author of “Junk Raft” and co-founder of Five Gyres Institute, discuss the ecological, social and economic impacts of plastic waste.

Amazon.com Annual Meeting - Reducing Use of Plastic Packaging
Amazon.com Annual Meeting - Reducing Use of Plastic Packaging

 The information requested will help investors assess the extent of the company’s exposure to plastic pollution and encourage it to step up and match its peers by committing to significant cuts in plastic use.

The U.S. is ramping up on climate action – Do plastics fit into a Paris-Aligned future?
The U.S. is ramping up on climate action – Do plastics fit into a Paris-Aligned future?

To make up for lost demand, Big Oil is allocating significant resources to boost production of petrochemicals – especially plastics. This Hail Mary movement to increase plastics production faces a significant and growing landscape of risks.

Waste & Opportunity Report Finds Corporate Leadership on Plastic Pollution Sorely Lacking
Waste & Opportunity Report Finds Corporate Leadership on Plastic Pollution Sorely Lacking

As You Sow has released Waste & Opportunity 2020: Searching for Corporate Leadership report analyzing the actions, or inactions, of 50 of the largest U.S. consumer-facing companies to reduce plastic pollution.