With the recent news that all of Mainstream Global’s facilities in North and Latin America are now fully R2-certified, this post will take a closer look at our certifications and how they can help you fulfill demanding ITAD requirements.

With over 18 years of experience in the reverse logistics space, we know what it takes to help companies like yours meet extensive ITAD requirements.

Our certifications show we have audited and internationally proven expertise in managing secure, high-volume data destruction and the disposition of IT equipment in an environmentally responsible manner.

Here’s why it matters to you.

Five certifications help meet demanding ITAD requirements

The R2 Standard

The R2 Standard emphasizes reuse and resource management over e-waste management, supporting the ITAD industry to be part of the circular economy rather than a contributor to the current e-waste epidemic.

Two main pillars of the R2 Standard are: maximum data security and maximum material recovery for end-of-life electronics.

R2-certified facilities like ours in North and Latin America go through rigorous independent audits on an annual basis by certified bodies to ensure, for example, that:

materials are clear of all confidential and personal residual data;
electronics for reuse are tracked throughout the supply chain;
downstream vendors are vetted in accordance with best industry practices and certification requirements;
and unusable products are responsibly recycled with the least environmental impact.

ISO 9001, ISO 14001…

These international standards are published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and apply to all types and sizes of organizations, not just the electronics reuse and recycling industry.

In conjunction, they facilitate integration of multiple management systems within an organization related to quality (ISO 9001), the environment (ISO 14001) and worker health and safety (OHSAS 18001, which is being replaced by ISO 45001).

ISO 9001 focuses on customer satisfaction and provides requirements for an organization’s Quality Management System (QMS). Since a QMS constantly improves and monitors all areas of the business, an ISO 9001 certification highlights a company’s ability to consistently measure and monitor quality, resulting in reliable, conforming products or services.
ISO 14001 provides requirements for an environmental management system (EMS), helping companies identify, manage, and improve their environmental impact through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste.
ISO 45001, just released in 2018, focuses on the occupational health and safety management system, monitoring occupational risks to workers and offering resources and objectives to support the safety needs of employees. Mainstream Global is in the process of transitioning from OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001.

Together, all three standards encourage continual improvement of an organization’s operational systems. A facility cannot attain an R2 Certification without first meeting the standards of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001.

NIST 800-88

Finally, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) certification provides a set of best practices for data destruction processes and techniques for secure disposal of information. The NIST 800 Series is designed to offer frameworks, like the widely adopted NIST Cybersecurity Framework, that spell out federal government computer security policies, procedures and guidelines, in order to optimize the security of information technology.

At Mainstream Global, our high-volume processing equipment — which can be deployed at your own site — meets NIST standards for maximum data security.

Partnering with a certified company to fulfill your ITAD requirements

At Mainstream, our certifications are our way of saying we are committed to best practices in the industry — for our clients, our workers, and the environment.

We weave the expectations of the certifications into daily operations of the business, creating standardized procedures that ensure environmental responsibility and top-notch data security, while staying true to our main goal of uncovering as much value as possible from your retired computer equipment.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: These certifications represent our company’s commitment to creating a business that adheres to best industry practices all day and every day.