Naturally sustainable

Protecting the environment is behind everything we do. This is reflected in the environmental impact points saved through our work every year. We calculate this saving in our life cycle assessment. This is how eRecycling helps the environment. The figures are impressive!

2020 Life Cycle Assessment

150,000 billion environmental impact points saved over 30 years of eRecycling

SENS eRecycling has been actively committed to the environment through working together with partners for 30 years. With a life cycle assessment, the Foundation can show how effective the recycling of electrical and electronic appliances really is.

In 2019, around 16 kilograms of electronic waste was amassed per person in Switzerland. In the last 30 years, 1.2 million tonnes of electrical and electronic appliances were introduced to the SENS eRecycling cycle. Viewed in the context of the amount of waste produced, the level of utilisation of this professional, environmentally sound recycling system for electrical and electronic appliances is impressive. The figures from the 2020 Life Cycle Assessment demonstrate this.

Enough materials for 66 Eiffel Towers, 2.33 million bicycles and 40 million trumpets
Since SENS eRecycling was founded in 1990, we have recovered 830,000 tonnes of recyclable material through eRecycling. Steel and iron make up the largest portion of this, accounting for about 80 per cent. 660,000 tonnes out of this amount would be enough to build 66 Eiffel Towers. The 35,000 tonnes of aluminium would be enough to make 2.33 million bicycles and the 40,000 tonnes of copper would be enough to make 40 million trumpets. These are astounding quantities. They make it clear just how important it is to recover recyclable material.

Thousands of billions of environmental impact points saved
To protect the environment, it is also crucial to prevent pollution by ensuring that hazardous substances such as mercury, coolants, refrigerants and PCBs are disposed of correctly. Over 91 per cent of the environmental benefit is accounted for by the proper disposal of PCBs, which is commonly found in the capacitors of older electrical or electronic appliances and does not break down easily. In the life cycle assessment, this benefit is quantified in terms of the number environmental impact points (UBP) that were saved by the SENS take-back system. In total, this figure amounts to 150,000 billion. This corresponds to the annual environmental footprint of about 7.5 million Swiss citizens. 

Making environmental benefits tangible
Our digital life cycle assessment gives a clear picture of what we have achieved together in eRecycling and what we can do better in the future. You can use it to learn more about the benefits of eRecycling in a fun way and help to do something good for our environment. Together, we have already achieved a great deal over the last thirty years. Now let’s equip ourselves for the next thirty.