Industry
Contributions
Industry
Contributions
Steering the Transition to Sustainability
The solar and energy storage industry is busy solving tomorrow’s problems today, instead of waiting until equipment enters waste streams in bulk. New industry standards increase transparency and accountability in the decommissioning process, helping to divert more material towards reuse and recycling. We report on advances in circular product design and the growing use of recycled materials in manufacturing.
Steering the Transition to Sustainability
The solar and energy storage industry is busy solving tomorrow’s problems today, instead of waiting until equipment enters waste streams in bulk. New industry standards increase transparency and accountability in the decommissioning process, helping to divert more material towards reuse and recycling. We report on advances in circular product design and the growing use of recycled materials in manufacturing.
Circular Product Design
In government and the private sector, leading institutions are highlighting the importance of circularity in solar and energy storage and opportunities to rethink the product lifecycle.
Recycled Content in Manufacturing
Solar panel recycling benefits from mature processes already in place for the recycling of key solar panel components, including aluminum, glass, and electronic materials, such as copper.
Industry
Standards
Proactive leadership in solar and energy storage and adjacent industries has brought about various initiatives to encourage sustainable business practices.
Circular Product Design
In government and the private sector, leading institutions are highlighting the importance of circularity in solar and energy storage and opportunities to rethink the product lifecycle.
Recycled Content in Manufacturing
Solar panel recycling benefits from mature processes already in place for the recycling of key solar panel components, including aluminum, glass, and electronic materials, such as copper.
Industry
Standards
Proactive leadership in solar and energy storage and adjacent industries has brought about various initiatives to encourage sustainable business practices.
Circular Product Design
Solar Energy Industries Association
Clean energy industries like solar are set to grow exponentially in the coming decade, and the way we manage that growth is critically important. Building a circular economy can benefit businesses, society, and the environment.
International Energy Agency
The photovoltaic (PV) industry has not yet fully reached a circular economy (CE), but it is on a path
towards increased circularity. In the further development of improved technologies, all CE
strategies and their economic, environmental and policy aspects should be considered.
International Renewable Energy Agency
Circular economy practices are one of the most important pillars for achieving emission reduction targets and accelerating the energy transition. They are expected to play a significant role in the pursuit of efficiency improvements over the medium and long term. A circular economy approach can avoid unnecessary adverse environmental impacts, build synergies and deliver economic and social benefits.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
NREL applies its long-standing expertise in modeling and analysis to photovoltaics (PV) in the circular economy, supporting the sustainability of PV technologies.
Through its circular economy modeling and analysis capabilities, NREL has led numerous path-breaking studies. For instance, it has systematically reviewed all PV circular economy literature, identified prioritized future R&D strategies for PV recycling, and analyzed circular economy outcomes of aggressive solar deployment scenarios for its Solar Futures Study.
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
This report looks at the challenges, opportunities and pathways to an improved circular economy for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in the EU. For this analysis, a circular economy is defined as a system that preserves the value of materials and minimises waste through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling.
Aluminum
Plastic
Copper
Silicon
Glass
Industry Standards
e-Stewards Standard for Ethical Reuse, Recycling & Disposition of Electronic Equipment and Information Technology
Now a pre-requisite to becoming e-Stewards Certified, the NAID AAA Certification holds our processors to some of the highest standards for data security in the industry. Recognizing this growing concern and importance, we rely on i-SIGMA’s NAID AAA Certification to not only provide the foundation for secure data destruction, but also for proper facility security, physical security of data-containing materials, and background checks of employees handling customer data. i-SIGMA furthermore provides their own auditors separate from the standard certifying bodies, which ensures that e-Stewards certified processors can be trusted and verified to properly handle data-containing equipment.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems Standard
Part of the ISO 14000 family of international standards, which provide guidelines for organizations looking to manage their environmental impact, ISO 14001 is the certification that helps you design and implement an environmental management system. The framework is designed to measure and improve how organizations use and dispose of natural resources and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
The standard is generic, meaning it applies to organizations of any size and industry. From a big factory hoping to reduce its waste to a small office that’s looking to cut down on gas and electricity use, the standard is suitable for all. An ISO 14001 certification shows an organizational commitment to the environment and a more efficient, conscious use of the earth’s resources.
NSF 457 Sustainability Leadership Standard for Photovoltaic Modules & Photovoltaic Inverters
Expands the scope of this Standard to include photovoltaic inverters, and also updates Sections 1 through 7 and Annex I-1.
Recycling Industry Operating Standards
The Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) is a comprehensive integrated quality, environmental, health, and safety system based on ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 and focusing on aspects relevant to the scrap recycling industries. The six components of RIOS cover general requirements, policy, planning, implementation, checking and corrective action, and management.
SERI R2v3 Electronics Sustainability Standard
Since the revision process began nearly five years ago, members of the R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) have devoted more than 5100 volunteer hours to addressing more than 900 challenging and complex issues, many of which, were submitted by customers, industry members and the public. The representation of many different stakeholder groups on the TAC, and the 660 comments received during two public comment periods has resulted in a strong standard well positioned to address the evolving needs of an increasingly diverse industry.
UL 3600 Standard for Sustainability for Measuring & Reporting Circular Economy Aspects of Products, Sites & Organizations
This Standard assists companies in evaluating circular economy efforts and measuring corporate sustainability at the site, product, and/or company level. The Standard also provides a gauge of circularity of a company’s material flows and social governance through a report with an overall score.
SEIA 601 Solar & Energy Storage Equipment Decommissioning Standard
Under Development
SEIA 602 Solar Equipment Minimum Requirements for Recyclers
Under Development
SEIA 603 Solar Equipment End-of-Performance/End-of-Life Management Standard
Under Development
Circular Product Design
Solar Energy Industries Association
Clean energy industries like solar are set to grow exponentially in the coming decade, and the way we manage that growth is critically important. Building a circular economy can benefit businesses, society, and the environment.
International Energy Agency
The photovoltaic (PV) industry has not yet fully reached a circular economy (CE), but it is on a path
towards increased circularity. In the further development of improved technologies, all CE
strategies and their economic, environmental and policy aspects should be considered.
International Renewable Energy Agency
Circular economy practices are one of the most important pillars for achieving emission reduction targets and accelerating the energy transition. They are expected to play a significant role in the pursuit of efficiency improvements over the medium and long term. A circular economy approach can avoid unnecessary adverse environmental impacts, build synergies and deliver economic and social benefits.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
NREL applies its long-standing expertise in modeling and analysis to photovoltaics (PV) in the circular economy, supporting the sustainability of PV technologies.
Through its circular economy modeling and analysis capabilities, NREL has led numerous path-breaking studies. For instance, it has systematically reviewed all PV circular economy literature, identified prioritized future R&D strategies for PV recycling, and analyzed circular economy outcomes of aggressive solar deployment scenarios for its Solar Futures Study.
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
This report looks at the challenges, opportunities and pathways to an improved circular economy for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in the EU. For this analysis, a circular economy is defined as a system that preserves the value of materials and minimises waste through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling.
Industry Standards
e-Stewards Standard for Ethical Reuse, Recycling & Disposition of Electronic Equipment and Information Technology
Now a pre-requisite to becoming e-Stewards Certified, the NAID AAA Certification holds our processors to some of the highest standards for data security in the industry. Recognizing this growing concern and importance, we rely on i-SIGMA’s NAID AAA Certification to not only provide the foundation for secure data destruction, but also for proper facility security, physical security of data-containing materials, and background checks of employees handling customer data. i-SIGMA furthermore provides their own auditors separate from the standard certifying bodies, which ensures that e-Stewards certified processors can be trusted and verified to properly handle data-containing equipment.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems Standard
Part of the ISO 14000 family of international standards, which provide guidelines for organizations looking to manage their environmental impact, ISO 14001 is the certification that helps you design and implement an environmental management system. The framework is designed to measure and improve how organizations use and dispose of natural resources and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
The standard is generic, meaning it applies to organizations of any size and industry. From a big factory hoping to reduce its waste to a small office that’s looking to cut down on gas and electricity use, the standard is suitable for all. An ISO 14001 certification shows an organizational commitment to the environment and a more efficient, conscious use of the earth’s resources.
NSF 457 Sustainability Leadership Standard for Photovoltaic Modules & Photovoltaic Inverters
Expands the scope of this Standard to include photovoltaic inverters, and also updates Sections 1 through 7 and Annex I-1.
Recycling Industry Operating Standards
The Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) is a comprehensive integrated quality, environmental, health, and safety system based on ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 and focusing on aspects relevant to the scrap recycling industries. The six components of RIOS cover general requirements, policy, planning, implementation, checking and corrective action, and management.
SERI R2v3 Electronics Sustainability Standard
Since the revision process began nearly five years ago, members of the R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) have devoted more than 5100 volunteer hours to addressing more than 900 challenging and complex issues, many of which, were submitted by customers, industry members and the public. The representation of many different stakeholder groups on the TAC, and the 660 comments received during two public comment periods has resulted in a strong standard well positioned to address the evolving needs of an increasingly diverse industry.
UL 3600 Standard for Sustainability for Measuring & Reporting Circular Economy Aspects of Products, Sites & Organizations
This Standard assists companies in evaluating circular economy efforts and measuring corporate sustainability at the site, product, and/or company level. The Standard also provides a gauge of circularity of a company’s material flows and social governance through a report with an overall score.
SEIA 601 Solar & Energy Storage Equipment Decommissioning Standard
Under Development
SEIA 602 Solar Equipment Minimum Requirements for Recyclers
Under Development
SEIA 603 Solar Equipment End-of-Performance/End-of-Life Management Standard
Under Development