RECOSI – SOCIAL FRANCHISE FOR SMARTER ICT CONSUMPTION

The amount of electrical and electronic equipment category 3 (ICT) at European level placed on the market in 2014 totaled over 1.27 million tones. In that same year, 621,000 tons of ICT waste was collected. In other words, the 28,000 tons shipped for reuse or repair represents only 2.2% of ICT placed on the market, and 4.5% of the e-waste collected. The current state of reuse across Europe is very low, as reuse companies are usually a small scale and city based social enterprises with sustainability difficulties. RECOSI is reinventing and extending the life-cycle of ICT products by creating an innovative business concept for professional refurbishment processes and standards which enable high quality and safe products put back to the market and create job opportunity for disadvantaged people. Since the establishment in 2014 we have integrated in excess of 100 disadvantaged people and reused & recycled more than 150.000 products.

With only a few notable exceptions, the current state of reuse across Europe is very low. Reuse as an activity must be regulated as it needs to take a place in a sustainable fashion. It is essential that “sham-reuse” is eradicated. This can only be done by setting standards which refurbishers must achieve before they can gain access to equipment with potential for reuse. RECOSI has achieved the current most appropriate standard for reuse PAS 141:2011 and is professionalising reuse activities by developing training packages going beyond identified best practices including innovative approaches to reliability analysis of used electronics. RECOSI is therefore employing process innovation to overcome mentioned challenges, providing a business model for rapid replication. The overarching goal of RECOSI is to provide a template that can be adopted across the world to unlock the potential for waste reduction, job creation and enable access to low cost ICT equipment that reuse offers. Unlike for‐profit businesses which operate primarily to deliver (or distribute) economic value, however, RECOSI distributes additionally to economic also environmental and social value.

RECOSI is selling refurbished ICT equipment (laptops, PCs, monitors, tablets, mobile phones) to its main target markets: educational – schools & colleges, training centres, charities & non-profit organizations, local authorities and others with green public procurement mandates, students, trade & international brokerage markets, B2B and B2C via E-Commerce - directly to end users, and consolidated sale of scrap material - maximise revenue through volume of the RECOSI facilities. RECOSI is also donating some of the equipment to charities or low income households and helping to bridge the digital divide. Current customers are located in Ireland, UK, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia. According the Rreuse environmental impact calculator https://reuse-network.org.uk/i...  we helped so far 120.000 households, created 1.500.000 £ household savings and created 10.350.000 kg CO2 savings. REcosi has also integrated back to work in excess of 100 jobless disadvantaged people and therefore provide them real job in social economy.

Compared just to recycling, RECOSI with its innovative model in ICT reuse conserves the embodied energy and water which are consumed in vast quantities in electronics manufacturing. Reuse is the only way to conserve the many critical raw materials they contain for which no recycling technologies exist (there is currently no recovery of high-tech elements Antimony, Arsenic, Beryllium, Silicon, Gallium, Germanium, Rare Earth Elements, and close to zero recovery rates for Tantalum, Lithium, Magnesium). RECOSI has achieved the current most appropriate standard for ICT reuse PAS 141:2011 and is professionalising reuse activities by developing training packages going beyond identified best practices including innovative approaches to reliability analysis of used electronics. 

 RECOSI is also employing process innovation through a mutual learning programme leading to a service co-design involving key groups that make up the urban metabolism for waste ICT (retailers, waste regulators, local authority, producer compliance organisations and citizens). Innovation in service co-design is overcoming existing barriers (collection systems often do not allow for the proper handling of products which are reusable, consumers often store products for long periods before returning them and thus any potential economic value is lost, access to the waste stream can be restricted by vested interests, permitting and licensing arrangements can be restrictive for small operators, training and up-skilling for employees is inaccessible, full VAT rate on refurbished products make social enterprises non-competitive, the activities of illegal operators gives the business a bad reputation). From the social perspective, RECOSI with its innovative model for smarter ICT consumption makes high quality equipment available to low income households helping to bridge the “digital divide” and provide access to the benefits of ICT across society. Therefore, the overarching goal of RECOSI is to provide a template that can be adopted across the world to unlock the potential for waste reduction, job creation and access to low cost IT equipment that reuse offers.

RECOSI solution is innovative in going further than state-of-the-art by

• Developing, piloting and demonstrating a template/model for the operation of a professional ICT reuse centre.
• Getting access to a suitable supply of products in a timely fashion by developing, piloting and demonstrating a service co-design involving local authorities, citizens, repair cafés, retailers, recyclers, producer responsibility organisations, regulators and others.
• Providing a franchising mechanism for replication that is able to initiate, promote, network, and support ICT reuse centres at an EU level to overcome administrative barriers and create economies of scale.

RECOSI is transforming waste from a cost and burden, into a source of valuable resources by implementing eco-innovative solutions with demonstrating and qualifying a technical and business model that is ecologically, socially and economically innovative, that integrates best practices in the sector and is allowing a measurable increase in the rate of ICT waste that is reused. RECOSI is currently operating in Ireland and Slovenia with 2 ICT reuse centers which operate to technical standards with respect to operational protocols & standards and product quality & reliability. RECOSI is professionalising reuse activities by developing training packages going beyond identified best practices including innovative approaches to reliability analysis of used electronics. RECOSI is also developing a new quality label for reused equipment, focusing on life cycle impacts, testing methods and quality standards for parts and components. Innovation of the business model is also development of social franchise including a support network to promote, disseminate and support this model at a European level, working in partnership with local authorities and local SMEs and identifying resources, providing training and technical support to ICT reuse centres.

RECOSI has achieved the current most appropriate standard for reuse PAS 141:2011 and  demonstrates an innovative circular economy business model with process innovation in the ICT reuse sector and is helping to solve ever-changing problems for the environment by decreasing CO2 emissions, conserving raw materials, energy and water related to the manufacture of ICT items such as computers, tablets and smartphones. From the social perspective, with reuse and refurbishment of ICT, RECOSI makes available high quality equipment to low income households, help to bridge the digital divide and create jobs in social economy. Therefore, the overarching goal of RECOSI is to provide a template that can be adopted across Europe to unlock the potential for waste reduction, job creation and access to low cost IT equipment that reuse offers. Unlike for‐profit businesses which operate primarily to deliver (or distribute) economic value to shareholders, however, RECOSI distributes the value it creates within the local environment.

We are currently reaching in excess of 9000 customers in Europe via our own channels such different e-commerce websites, social media, phone calls; and indirectly via Techsoup partnership, where we address nonprofit organisations in Ireland, UK, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia.

In one year we are going to serve 20.000 customers in Europe, in five years 100.000 customers. 

Number of beneficiaries (supported employment) in Ireland is 70 and number of beneficiaries (supported employment) in Slovenia is 30.  

So far we have donated 2000 units to socially disadvantaged families and schools in rural areas, which cannot afford to buy a computer or laptop.  

In the next year RECOSI is going to increase sale of refurbished ICT equipment through its own channels and to increase the network by setting up 1 more professional ICT reuse centre in Italy.

In the five years time RECOSI's goal is as social franchise operating in 5 countries in Europe. That means creation of another 75 jobs directly (1/3 will be disadvantaged people) and 200 supported employment (training services). 

Main challenge ahead is the right supply of the equipment, fast changing technology and finance for the development of our business model (expansion and scale). We have a partnership with large multinational companies to gain the right supply of the equipment. The other challenge is awareness of the refurbished equipment and not enough founds for promotion. We are constantly looking for the sponsors to help us promoting. One big challenge is a perception of people not wanting to buy refurbished equipment. Along with our core business which is refurbishment of ICT we also follow our social mission - integration of disadvantaged people. This is sometimes also a challenge, as you need to spend a lot of time to motivate a specific target group for work. With partnership with large multinationals, employment centres and more awareness we are trying to overcome these challenges.

With partnership with large multinationals, employment centres and more awareness we are trying to overcome these challenges. Also we are looking for funding opportunities to support and grow our model. In this way we can start creating large global social, environmental and economic impact.  

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Currently in Ireland and Slovenia is employed 35 people. 1/3 are disadvantaged people (mainly joung jobless women and older than 55 years old). 

There are also involved people in training - part time staff; in Ireland 15 and in Slovenia 8, in total 23 people. So currently with full time employees and part time staff we have in RECOSI of 63 people. 

RECOSI has a team of experienced professionals. The team is driven by Martin Reddy as a CEO of the company, who has more than 25 years of experience in ICT recycling and reuse of electronic equipment. Dr. Katja Zajko, who holds a PhD in social entrepreneurship and reuse of ICT. With more than 12 years of experiences in senior managment positions and working abroad is developing a social franchise network across Europe and is currently in charged for the development of facility in Slovenia.  Together team in RECOSI network is consisted of 35 full time employed people and 23 part-time staff who look after of supply of the material, refurbishment process and remarketing activities in Europe. 

We are in partnership with some large multinational companies, universities, local authorities, compliance schemes. It is an important partnership as they are crucial stakeholders for the successful operation of the ICT reuse center (in terms of promotion, e-waste regulation, studies, etc.) 

RECOSI has specialized in the sale of refurbished ICT and by advertising the E-commerce platform as a one-stop marketplace for refurbishers in Europe. RECOSI is providimg high quality refurbished ICT equipment to different segments of the customers across Europe, extending the lifespan of electrical and electronic equipment: 

• Laptops
• Desktops
• Tablets
• Monitors
• Smart phones
• Gaming Equipment 

Another services that RECOSI offers is a franchise fee for new members in the network. 

We are reaching financial sustainability with setting budget and sales targets along with marketing activities. We are offering a wide range of the products with 24 months warranty, so we can satisfy various ranges of customers. Other source of founding we get from local employment services for training of disadvantaged people.  Main challenges are as previously mentioned connected with fast changing technology and with the prices of hardware, which are changing daily. Important aspect is also to change people’s mind (in Slovenia are people less willing to buy refurbished than in Ireland, so we need much more promotion). Also we need funding to grow and scale our business model and create large global social, environmental and economic impact.

RECOSI seeks to recreate the benefits of operating at scale, but in a distributed fashion. The key success factors will be the development of a professional and trusted E-commerce platform, the ability to quickly adopt and supply new technology, providing client and user transparency on operations and effective marketing promotion.

RECOSI is seeking to get funding that will be invested in technology development (E-commerce European wide platform), PR, Marketing activities and staff with goal to increase sales to B2C customers in the European market. There has already been a huge investment of time and energy, which has been used towards developing the concept, networking, web redesign and market studies. With the development already undertaken, and capital already invested, having the funds to continue, expand and complete this exciting project will enable it. 

This will increase the availability of good quality refurbished ICT equipment across Europe which will greatly contribute to computer availability and literacy and help reduce the digital divide and employ disadvantaged people.

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We would like to partner with some large multinational companies who would help us grow through their CSR mission.  

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Yes, we would like to apply for the GM Prize on Circula Economy since we are providing the solution that help communities shift towards a more circular economy through zero waste and zero carbon we would spend the aword for the marketing and promotion and brand awarness and establishment of quality brand.

Yes, we would like to apply for the Innovation for women as RECOSI is providing jobs also to many jobless women and giving them opportunity to develop their career, so we would utilize the prize for marketing activities and brand awarness. 

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