Updating from R2 to R2v3
R2-Responsible Recycling v3 Standard Update, June 2023: When it comes to electronics repair and recycling, R2 sets the gold standard. The latest version—R2v3—was released in 2021. Up until June 23, 2023, R2-certified companies could remain certified to the older version of the standard, R2:2013. But now the transition deadline has passed.
In other words: If you haven’t upgraded to R2v3, your R2 certificate has now expired.
But it’s not too late to update to the most recent version of R2. R2v3 certification can still bring many benefits to your business. If you’ve previously put the work into achieving R2:2013, it’s more than worth it to make the jump to R2v3. If you’ve never implemented R2 before, now is a great time to dive in.
Why Should I Update to R2v3?
Your old R2 certification might still bring some reputational benefits. But for business partners who require R2, it will no longer be sufficient. To reap the true benefits and opportunities of R2, you’ll need to update to R2v3. Otherwise, the hard work you put into your old certification will be null and void.
It’s also important to remember: The standard was updated for a reason. The world of electronics changes rapidly; the requirements for electronics recycling need to change with it. The new version of the standard puts a greater emphasis on increasingly essentia areas such as data protection. By meeting these new requirements, you show your customers that your processes are up-to-date and secure.
The new version of R2 is also more adaptable than R2:2013. You might find that some of R2v3’s requirements don’t actually fall within the scope of your business. The new standard might even fit your organization better than its older counterpart.
And finally, with a valid R2v3 certification, you can continue to see the standard’s full benefits. These include:
• Reduced environmental and human health impacts from improper recycling
• Increased access to quality reusable and refurbished equipment
• Reduced energy use and other environmental impacts associated with mining and processing of virgin materials, conserving our limited natural resources
• Continued business revenue and growth
Still on the fence about updating to R2v3? Contact us to learn more and find out just how simple and effective the process can be.
The R2v3 Update: Where Do I Start?
When facing the update to R2v3, you might wonder: Where do I even begin?
If you’ve already achieved certification to a previous version of the standard, your transition process will focus on two major areas:
1. Updating your required ISO certifications.
2. Implementing the new requirements of R2v3.
We’ll take a look at each of these elements in turn.
Updating Your ISO Certifications for R2v3
R2 certification requires certification to three separate ISO standards. These standards come from the International Organization for Standardization, and they set global industry benchmarks. Even apart from R2, these standards bring a wealth of benefits to your organization.
ISO 14001: Environmental Management
To achieve R2 certification, you must be certified to ISO 14001. This standard helps organizations manage their environmental responsibilities. The latest version was published in 2015. If you’re already certified to ISO 14001:2015, you can check this requirement off your list. If not, you can visit our ISO 14001 page to learn more about the standard.
ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety
You also must have an up-to-date ISO 45001 certification. Formerly known as OHSAS 18001, this standard helps organizations manage occupational health and safety. The latest version was published in 2018. Learn more about ISO 45001.
ISO 9001: Quality Management
If you previously underwent the R2 certification process, you may have not been required to achieve ISO 9001 certification. But now, all R2-certified organizations must have an up-to-date ISO 9001 certification. The most widely recognized ISO standard, ISO 9001 sets industry best practices for quality management systems. The latest version was released in 2015. Learn more about ISO 9001.
Remember: You must be certified to the most recent version of these standards. For example, companies certified to ISO 9001:2008 must update to ISO 9001:2015 before they can achieve an R2v3 certification.
If you’re starting from scratch, it might seem overwhelming to achieve three separate ISO certifications. But there’s good news: These ISO standards follow the same basic format. They are designed to integrate seamlessly together as an Integrated Management System (IMS). When implemented concurrently, you can treat them as a single management system that can save your company time and money.
Meeting The New Requirements of R2v3
The R2 standard itself has also undergone several changes. For a successful update, you’ll need to pay attention to what has changed and meet the new requirements.
Reuse and Protecting Data
R2v3 contains enhanced controls for the testing, repair, and reuse of electronics. It puts a greater emphasis on data protection than the previous version of the standard.
Stronger Requirements for Key Areas
R2 now contains stricter requirements in several key areas. These areas include data protection, flow-down of material to vendors, and environmental health and safety.
Core Requirements and Process Requirements
R2v3 now organizes its requirements into two broad categories:
Core Requirements. These apply to all R2-certified businesses.
Process Requirements. These apply only to facilities that perform specific processes.
Ultimately, this new categorization should make the standard more adaptable to a wider range of businesses. Smaller companies that don’t perform all the processes covered by R2 will not have to meet every requirement. But remember: If it’s a core requirement, you must meet it to receive certification.
Achieving R2v3 Certification: How Core Can Help
At Core Business Solutions, we specialize in helping small businesses achieve certification. Every year, we work with hundreds of organizations and see them achieve success with standards like R2v3 and ISO 9001.
Our unique approach combines hands-on consulting, cloud-based tools, and expert training to make certification simple and effective. We know the world of certification and we know small business. We’ve been there before. We know how daunting the certification process can feel.
We work with businesses to achieve R2v3 and all its required ISO certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001). We can also help you implement these systems together as an Integrated Management System (IMS) with a single, unified audit.
It’s not too late to make the jump to R2v3 and start seeing the benefits of your certification. Whether you’re updating from an older version or starting from scratch, we can help make this standard work for your business. Contact us today or give us a call at 866.354.0300 to learn more.
