Having just wrapped up this year’s E-Waste World Conference in Frankfurt, Germany, I’m inspired to share some post-conference thinking and key highlights. This marked SERI’s second year organizing the Circular Electronics programming, with 30 different speakers covering 25 sessions over two full days. The conference itself continues to grow, and the leap of the Circular Electronics programming in year two has been truly remarkable with participation from an even wider range of perspectives and businesses, more engaging content, and a significant boost in attendee participation.  

The event offered us another fantastic opportunity to help shift the thinking beyond traditional e-waste management and toward a whole lifecycle approach. By aligning the two days of content with the product lifecycle from first use, to reuse, and then end of life, and exploring how design, repair, returns, ITAD, AI, data sanitization, and policy can all enable circularity, attendees gained insights from a very wide range of perspectives. The conversations deepened our understanding of sustainability’s complexities and opportunities for both the audience and panelists alike.  

What was really special about E-Waste World was how it united diverse organizations and individuals bound by a critical thread: a passionate drive to make significant contributions toward electronics sustainability. The conversations were enriched by the active participation of renowned organizations, including: 

  • HMD
  • TCO
  • iFixit
  • HP
  • Google
  • SLR Consulting
  • Fraunhofer IZM
  • Circunomics GmbH
  • Global Battery Alliance
  • Reverse Logistics Association
  • SK tes
  • Sims Lifecycle Services
  • BitRaser
  • CTIA
  • Tiberius Consulting Services
  • Flex IT Distribution
  • Vangerow GmbH
  • Runder Tisch Reparatur
  • FixFirst
  • GET-IT
  • European Electronics Recyclers Association
  • European Battery Recycling Association
  • UNITAR-SCYCLE
  • ADISA
  • Lenovo
  • Bloom ESG
  • RREUSE
  • Logitech
  • Pezy Group

I want to thank the E-Waste World Conference for engaging SERI as a content partner again this year, as well as all the speakers who made this event a success. Your insights have been invaluable, and together, we continue to set a new standard for what is possible in sustainable electronics. And finally, thanks to all the participants who sat with us through 2 very full days of content. I leave Frankfurt a little tired, but very inspired!  

As we look ahead, the energy generated at E-Waste World has us even more excited to show you more of what we have in store for the eSummit this October in Austin, TX. These SERI successes benefit everyone, and I’m confident that our efforts to drive discussion and collaboration will continue to move us toward the shared goal of a circular, sustainable economy.  

 

See you in Austin,   

Jeff Seibert  

Chief Provocateur, SERI