Second-Life Warranties: A path to sustainability and business success

Sustainability is often seen as a trade-off with technological progress, but that doesn't have to be the case. With Sharp/NEC's Second-Life Warranties, businesses can adopt the latest innovations while reducing electronic waste and aligning with environmental goals, including Scope 3 emissions reductions which account for the downstream use and end-of-life treatment of products.

Aligning sustainability with smart business

Many businesses depend on the latest technology to stay competitive. At the same time, responsible organisations must also consider their environmental impact. Regulations like the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) highlight the importance of tracking and reducing this impact.

Scope 3 emissions, which encompass all indirect emissions across a company's value chain including leased assets, product use, and disposal are becoming a focal point of these regulations. With global e-waste reaching over 62 million tons in 2022, taking action is imperative.

Second-Life Warranties offer a forward-thinking solution. By extending the useful life of electronic products, companies can maintain high performance standards while contributing to sustainability goals.

Extending product lifecycles and creating value

Second-Life Warranties support the circular economy by allowing refurbished products to be resold with full manufacturer confidence. This model helps extend the life of quality technology while reducing the environmental burden of electronic waste and carbon emissions, including the embedded emissions from manufacturing that are typically classified as Scope 3.

Manufacturers that refurbish and certify pre-owned products can reduce waste by keeping valuable equipment in use, make high-quality technology more affordable, and promote a sustainable ecosystem. With manufacturer-backed warranties, buyers gain peace of mind, knowing the products meet stringent quality standards.

Sharp/NEC stands out as the only display vendor to offer Second-Life Warranties on its display products. As Miguel Vieira, Service Portfolio Manager at Sharp NEC Display Solutions Europe GmbH, explains:

We believe in the uncompromising quality and reliability of our products, so much so that we stand behind them with a Second-Life Warranty. This initiative is combatting e-waste while delivering enhanced value to our customers and partners.

How Second-Life Warranties work

The Second-Life Warranty model brings benefits to every part of the leasing and resale cycle. Large organisations, such as corporations, public institutions, and educational bodies lease Sharp/NEC displays as part of their technology refresh programs. When these leases end, typically after three years, the displays are returned for refurbishment.

Leasing companies then collaborate with Sharp/NEC to inspect and categorise the returned devices. Once refurbished and certified, the products are reintroduced to the market, now backed by a Second-Life Warranty. This creates an opportunity for smaller businesses, startups, schools, and charities to purchase affordable, high-quality displays with the confidence of manufacturer support.

Every stage of this cycle contributes to lowering Scope 3 emissions by keeping products in circulation longer, reducing the demand for new manufacturing, and minimising landfill disposal.

The Leasing Lifecycle

Shared benefits across the ecosystem

For the original user, the lessee, this model helps reduce costs and downtime by relying on durable, high-performance technology. It also simplifies the transition to newer models and aligns well with sustainability objectives and regulatory requirements including efforts to map and cut Scope 3 emissions.

Leasing companies gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating a commitment to sustainability. They can increase the value of their leased equipment by offering second-life options, all while appealing to environmentally conscious clients and benefiting from reduced refurbishment costs through vendor support.

Second-life buyers, in turn, receive access to high-quality technology at significantly lower prices. They also support environmental initiatives by reducing waste and emissions, while enjoying the peace of mind of a manufacturer warranty. For many, this approach reinforces their corporate social responsibility goals.

A sustainable lifecycle

The process behind Sharp/NEC's Second-Life Warranties is designed to ensure quality and accountability at each stage. It begins when leasing companies collect returned equipment at the end of a lease. Devices are then inspected and assessed for their condition and performance. Depending on their condition, they are certified under one of three warranty tiers, Eco-Prime, Eco-Select, or Eco-Value+, which come with coverage ranging from one to three years or up to 35,000 hours of usage.

Once certified, the products are reintroduced into the market and sold with clear warranty terms. Additionally, environmental impact metrics, such as reduced electronic waste and Scope 3 emissions avoided, are tracked and reported helping companies demonstrate progress in their sustainability reports.

A smart and responsible choice

Adopting Second-Life Warranties allows businesses to lower their environmental footprint, reduce costs, and promote a circular economy. It's a powerful example of how innovation and sustainability can work together for the benefit of companies, their customers, and the planet.

To learn more about how Second-Life Warranties can support your sustainability initiatives and keep your business ahead, speak with your Sharp/NEC representative or email secondlife.sndse@sharp.eu

DOWNLOAD the Second-Life Warranty brochure VISIT the Sharp/NEC Green Vision web pages

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