Rethinking Electronics for a Circular Future
As the world becomes increasingly electrified and digitalized, the volume and complexity of electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) continue to rise. What was once rather a question of disposal has now evolved into a global challenge of how to design, circulate, and recover electronic products sustainably. From smartphones to smart homes, electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is now embedded in nearly every aspect of daily life—yet circularity in that sector remains a real challenge.
The gap between policy ambition and real-world capacity is especially stark in the Global South, where informal recycling remains prevalent. These unregulated practices often expose workers to toxic substances and contribute to severe environmental degradation. Clearly, the e-waste crisis cannot be solved with technical fixes alone, it demands systemic changes across the entire lifecycle of electronic products.
About StEP Initiative
Created in 2004, the StEP initiative embodies this rethinking by offering a platform for the global electronics community to come together, exchange knowledge, and co-develop sustainable solutions towards circularity in the sector.
Historically, StEP has worked on one goal: the sustainable handling of electronics. It has addressed challenges posed by electronic waste in a world where digitalization and technology develop fast. Emerging as an independent, multi-stakeholder platform, StEP has brought together key stakeholders of the electronics sector such as producers, recyclers, scientific institutions, research bodies, and UN organisations always with the goal to solve the challenges inherent to the growing use of EEE. From production, to disposal and recovery of materials, StEP’s work included all stages of the value chain without forgetting to focus on the Global South, which bear the brunt of poor e-waste management.
Over the years, StEP evolved, and had to adapt to a changing landscape in e-waste management, with emerging international players and new challenges. In 2019, StEP underwent a transition from a UN-hosted project to a stand-alone association. In 2023, realizing the need to further adapt and innovate, StEP embarked on a strategic transformation, resulting in creation of a new alliance with the World Resources Forum Association. This new partnership promises to redefine StEP’s role in global sustainability for electrical and electronic equipment and is built on shared values of circularity and commitment to the Global South.
Purpose and Goals
This session will serve as a platform to reconnect with StEP’s mission and kick off its next phase of evolution. By including public voices in the shaping of the new strategy, the workshop aims to ensure that StEP’s revitalization reflects the needs of today’s global e-waste community. It also seeks to increase visibility for the initiative, building momentum and engagement around its new direction.
Topics for Discussion
- Reflection on StEP’s legacy with highlights of successes since its creation.
- Discovery of the new vision and strategic direction suggested for a revitalization of StEP under the World Resources Forum Association.
- Engagement in interactive discussions with the audience to gather insights on how StEP can best serve the global e-waste community.
- Witnessing of the official unveiling of StEP’s rebranding and new identity.
Perspectives from the Field
This partner-led session is organized by the StEP Initiative. It will bring together key stakeholders from industry, policy, science, and civil society to reflect on StEP’s legacy, share insights on future directions, and unveil its new identity. The session combines expert input with audience interaction to shape a collective vision for the future of e-waste solutions.
Panelist include:
Ruediger Kuehr, Senior Manager, UNITAR
Jitendra Sharma, Programme Management Officer, UN Environment Programme
Pascal Leroy, Director General, WEEE Forum
Dea Wehrli, Consultant & Co-Founder, Volutio and Research Associate, EMPA
Aysha Lotter, Legal & Policy Consultant, consultal
Adrien Specker, Project Manager, World Resources Forum
