Vizio becomes an e-Stewards Enterprise

Irvine, California-based Vizio, a leading manufacturer of high-definition televisions, has become the latest e-Stewards Enterprise company, committing to use e-Stewards certified electronics recyclers.

Vizio has committed to the green design of their product lines, including ensuring easy and responsible ways to refurbish, reuse and recycle their electronics, the company says in a news release. In the past five years, Vizio has recycled more than 200 million pounds of electronic scrap.

"Vizio has had a long-standing commitment to using third-party certified recyclers and collaborating with other organizations to protect the environment through the responsible recycling of electronic waste," remarks Caitlin Sanchez, senior counsel of social responsibility and regulatory affairs for Vizio. "Joining e-Stewards as an enterprise organization aligns perfectly with Vizio's goal of improving the overall global landscape for responsible recycling by working in tandem with other brands and stakeholders who are equally as environmentally conscious."

Created by the Seattle-based nonprofit Basel Action Network (BAN), the e-Stewards certification is an electronic scrap recycling and refurbishment standard designed to prevent the export of electronic scrap to developing countries and employ “rigorous criteria” to prevent data breaches from discarded hardware, BAN says in the news release.

"We are thrilled to have Vizio fully embrace our efforts to foster a new ethical circular economy," says Jim Puckett, founder and executive director of BAN and the creator of e-Stewards. "They are clearly one of the electronics industry's leaders and we have been impressed to see that market role translate to leadership in maintaining the highest levels of environmental and social standards as well."

In addition, Sanchez has been elected to serve on the e-Stewards Leadership Council alongside other e-Stewards Enterprise partners, including Samsung, LG, Sony and Wells Fargo Bank.