R2v3 Recycling Certification
Jared Clark, Principal Consultant at Certify Consulting, breaks down what changed when R2v3 replaced R2:2013 — restructured core requirements, stricter data security, a new facility closure requirement, and what your facility needs to update to transition.
R2:2013 was a single unified set of provisions that applied uniformly to every certified facility, regardless of what services it actually performed. As the electronics recycling industry matured — with distinct specialists in data sanitization, reuse/repair, brokering, and multi-tier downstream recycling — that one-size-fits-all structure created audit inefficiency: facilities were assessed against requirements that had nothing to do with their actual operations. R2v3, published in 2020, restructured the standard into 12 universal core requirements plus seven process-specific Appendices, so each facility is audited against exactly the provisions relevant to its scope.
| Area | R2:2013 | R2v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Single unified provision set | 12 core requirements + 7 process-specific Appendices |
| Data Security | General data sanitization provisions | Detailed Appendix B with stricter chain-of-custody and verification requirements |
| Facility Closure | Not explicitly required | Appendix G requires a documented closure plan |
| Brokering | Limited coverage | Dedicated Appendix E for non-processing brokers |
| Downstream Due Diligence | General requirement | Expanded, tiered due diligence under core requirements + Appendix F |
| Certification Status | Expired | Current — required for all certified facilities |
Transitioning from R2:2013 to R2v3 starts with mapping your existing management system against the 12 core requirements to confirm nothing was lost in the restructuring, then determining which Appendices actually apply to your operations — most facilities need fewer than all seven. Data security procedures typically need the most substantive rework, since R2v3's Appendix B raises the bar on verification and chain-of-custody documentation. If you don't already have a documented facility closure plan, that's a net-new requirement under Appendix G. See our complete R2v3 requirements guide for the full breakdown of core requirements and Appendices.