Update Aligns CTIA Grading Standard to Meet
Requirements of SERI R2 Equipment Categorization
WASHINGTON, May 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- CTIA, the wireless industry association, today
announced that it has aligned its wireless industry device grading
standard to reflect the requirements of SERI's R2 Equipment
Categorization (REC), the world's most widely adopted standard for
responsible handling of used electronics. This change streamlines
the ability of service centers to repair and extend the lifecycle
of pre-owned wireless devices, reducing waste and enhancing the
sustainability of the wireless device supply chain.
Originally established by CTIA's RLSQ Working Group in 2019, the
voluntary wireless industry device grading standard was the first
of its kind to be developed by companies representing the full
wireless ecosystem, including device suppliers, wireless operators,
insurance companies, logistics, parts suppliers, and repair
organizations. Companies involved in repairing, refurbishing, or
redistributing wireless devices and their parts use the wireless
industry device grading standard to grade the condition of a mobile
device, creating more predictable device repair and trade-in
experiences for consumers and retailers alike.
"The wireless industry is committed to being a responsible
environmental steward, and by better aligning the REC and the CTIA
wireless industry device grading standard, we are improving the
quality and consistency of device grading and repair, and ensuring
responsible electronics reuse and recycling practices throughout
the industry," said Michelle James,
CTIA Vice President, Strategic Industry Programs. "Our grading
standards have helped achieve consistency for consumers, and now,
by keeping used devices in the marketplace, and for longer, we are
helping companies meet their sustainability goals and reducing our
environmental impact."
The effort to align the CTIA wireless industry device grading
standard to SERI's existing REC helps streamline the grading of
pre-owned devices by R2 Certified mobile refurbishers. The
pre-owned device market is growing by 2.9% year-on-year with
smartphones the most-popular device to purchase second-hand,
comprising 81% of the total secondary market.
"We appreciate CTIA and the wireless industry's commitment to
ensuring devices are responsibly tested, repaired or recycled,"
said Corey Dehmey, SERI CEO. "The cross-reference between the CTIA
wireless device grading standard and the REC will help R2 Certified
facilities differentiate functional wireless devices that can be
freely traded from the BER devices that must be controlled for
further processing by qualified buyers."
SERI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in the United
States with a mission to help create a world where all electronics
sustainably reused and recycled. Its R2 Standard is the most widely
adopted standard for used electronics, and the latest version,
R2v3, continues to set the standard for electronics reuse and
recycling worldwide.
"The CTIA grading standard is the result of close cooperation
between industry members across the value chain," said Guennael
Delorme, Vice President/General Manager, Global Trade-In, Allstate.
"By bringing consistency to the used device grading process, our
goal is to reduce process waste and promote a predictable and
quality customer experience. I am excited to see how the
partnership with SERI can further strengthen our impact on the
whole circular economy."
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SOURCE CTIA