In general, there are four core elements that make up a typical accredited certification program:
A specific standard that has value in the marketplace.
Multiple independent (third party) certification bodies who hire and oversee auditors qualified to audit to a specific standard, in order to provide a high level of confidence that a business operates in accordance with that standard.
An independent accreditation body(s) that is responsible for defining responsibilities for the certification bodies and oversees their work certifying to a particular standard.
Ownership of the standard, at a minimum, in order to interpret and maintain it. Some programs have additional oversight of the entire certification program, in order to protect the on-going integrity of certifications.
The e-Stewards certification program has all of these critical elements, unlike other electronics recycling certification programs, and is built with integrity at all levels, in order to provide a high level of confidence in service providers.
Thus, the e-Stewards certification process awards the e-Stewards designation only to those organizations that fully operate in conformance with the standard. No second-party declarations or self-declarations of conformance to the standard are allowed; only accredited, independent certification of conformity is possible.
Following are the overall steps and roles in the e-Stewards accreditation and certification process.
Accreditation of the e-Stewards/ISO 14001 certification bodies (CBs) by ANAB (or other designated accreditation body)
CBs employ trained and qualified e-Stewards/ISO 14001 auditors
Candidate e-Stewards recyclers receive initial on-site audits and on-going surveillance audits by CB on a 3 year audit cycle
Certified e-Stewards recyclers & processors are licensed by and listed in BAN registry
1. Accreditation of the Certifying Bodies
Accreditation of the e-Stewards certifying bodies is currently provided exclusively by the premier global accreditation body, ANSI/ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB), which is internationally recognized as the source for accreditation of certified management systems in the United States. Its recognition and accreditation services extend globally through its membership and leadership within the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and through bilateral and multi-cooperative agreements with other leading national accreditation bodies abroad. Additional IAF member accreditation bodies may be formally recognized in the future for providing e-Stewards accreditation services in additional countries. Meanwhile, ANAB provides accreditation services in many nations.
2. Certification bodies (CBs)
The certification bodies authorized to participate in the e-Stewards program must be fully accredited as both ISO 14001 and e-Stewards certification bodies. All e-Stewards CBs must qualify as meeting the rigorous e-Stewards accreditation requirements through a series of independent and ongoing reviews, audits, and witnessed assessments by an IAF member accreditation body approved by BAN. These include requirements for CBs to:
Have sufficient audit staff available who are trained and qualified according to a rigorous auditor training approved by BAN, and currently provided by SAI Global training division;
Operate the CB according to the global requirements for certification bodies that are providing audit and certification of management systems (ISO/IEC 17021);
Demonstrate competency and expertise in the electrical and electronics industries, as well as the recycling industry;
Have a working knowledge of the Basel Convention for Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal; and
Sign a licensing agreement with BAN for use of the e-Stewards name and logo.
The auditors utilized by e-Stewards Certification Bodies are individually certified to perform ISO 14001 environmental management system audits within the accredited third-party system. Furthermore, each one has been trained through an intensive e-Stewards Auditor Training course specially developed by SAI-Global — the premiere training organization in the industry. Having a single, consistent, and professional auditor training program is a critical differentiation between the e-Stewards and other e-recycler certification programs. In addition to this initial, intensive training, auditor participation in regular e-Stewards professional development courses assures that auditors remain abreast of recycling industry technical and operational advancements, and changes in the e-Stewards requirements. See the e-Stewards auditor section for specific auditor qualifications.
4. Recyclers
Recyclers, asset recovery companies, refiners, processors and others contract with one of the accredited e-Stewards certification bodies to engage trained auditors to perform annual on-site audits of their operations to the e-Stewards Standard. See our section for how to become an e-Stewards Recycler for more information. At this time, brokers, logistics companies and collectors are not eligible to become certified e-Stewards recyclers.
Geographic Scope of e-Stewards program
e-Stewards Certification is currently available in all developed countries as defined by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, European Union, and European Free Trade Association countries. In the future, the program will expand into other countries.
About certification
In general, there are four core elements that make up a typical accredited certification program:
The e-Stewards certification program has all of these critical elements, unlike other electronics recycling certification programs, and is built with integrity at all levels, in order to provide a high level of confidence in service providers.
Thus, the e-Stewards certification process awards the e-Stewards designation only to those organizations that fully operate in conformance with the standard. No second-party declarations or self-declarations of conformance to the standard are allowed; only accredited, independent certification of conformity is possible.
Following are the overall steps and roles in the e-Stewards accreditation and certification process.
1. Accreditation of the Certifying Bodies
Accreditation of the e-Stewards certifying bodies is currently provided exclusively by the premier global accreditation body, ANSI/ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB), which is internationally recognized as the source for accreditation of certified management systems in the United States. Its recognition and accreditation services extend globally through its membership and leadership within the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and through bilateral and multi-cooperative agreements with other leading national accreditation bodies abroad. Additional IAF member accreditation bodies may be formally recognized in the future for providing e-Stewards accreditation services in additional countries. Meanwhile, ANAB provides accreditation services in many nations.
2. Certification bodies (CBs)
The certification bodies authorized to participate in the e-Stewards program must be fully accredited as both ISO 14001 and e-Stewards certification bodies. All e-Stewards CBs must qualify as meeting the rigorous e-Stewards accreditation requirements through a series of independent and ongoing reviews, audits, and witnessed assessments by an IAF member accreditation body approved by BAN. These include requirements for CBs to:
For more information about e-Stewards certification bodies and their requirements, see the section on certification bodies.
3. Auditors
The auditors utilized by e-Stewards Certification Bodies are individually certified to perform ISO 14001 environmental management system audits within the accredited third-party system. Furthermore, each one has been trained through an intensive e-Stewards Auditor Training course specially developed by SAI-Global — the premiere training organization in the industry. Having a single, consistent, and professional auditor training program is a critical differentiation between the e-Stewards and other e-recycler certification programs. In addition to this initial, intensive training, auditor participation in regular e-Stewards professional development courses assures that auditors remain abreast of recycling industry technical and operational advancements, and changes in the e-Stewards requirements. See the e-Stewards auditor section for specific auditor qualifications.
4. Recyclers
Recyclers, asset recovery companies, refiners, processors and others contract with one of the accredited e-Stewards certification bodies to engage trained auditors to perform annual on-site audits of their operations to the e-Stewards Standard. See our section for how to become an e-Stewards Recycler for more information. At this time, brokers, logistics companies and collectors are not eligible to become certified e-Stewards recyclers.
Geographic Scope of e-Stewards program
e-Stewards Certification is currently available in all developed countries as defined by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, European Union, and European Free Trade Association countries. In the future, the program will expand into other countries.