16
June
2017
|
14:30
Europe/Amsterdam

Recycling phones through partnership with Closing the Loop

Royal Schiphol Group has partnered with Closing the Loop to extend the life cycle of used mobile phones and remove defective phones from landfills in developing countries. Initially, the joint effort will involve nearly 2,000 phones.

'We are aiming to be waste-free by 2030', said Denise Pronk, Corporate Responsibility programme manager at Schiphol. 'Working with Closing the Loop brings us a step closer to our goal. This partnership is one of the ways we help build a circular economy at Schiphol. We are fully committed because we want to contribute as little as possible to the shortage of raw materials through our growth'.

Joost de Kluijver, director of Closing the Loop: 'Mobile phones are fantastic products that play a major role in business activity and economic development. However, usage can be more sustainable and even circular. By cooperating with Schiphol, we are showing that business users can actually make a difference, too. A longer life cycle for mobile phones has advantages for everyone, as does increased recycling.'

One-for-One concept

Applying the One-for-One concept renders new telephones purchased by Schiphol raw material-neutral. Using this concept, for every new telephone that Schiphol buys, Closing the Loop retrieves a telephone from a landfill in a developing country. That is necessary because of the lack of sufficient recycling available at present. Doing so 'compensates' for the use of raw materials in short supply, such as gold, copper, silver and tin.

Extended life cycle for used telephones

The partnership extends the life cycle of Schiphol's used mobile phones. Closing the Loop sells the phones on the second hand market, after any necessary repairs have been made. Closing the Loop subsequently ensures that these telephones do not lead to more waste in landfills once they can no longer be used.

Corporate Responsibility at Schiphol

Sustainable and safe performance is one of Schiphol's five pillars. Corporate Responsibility is part of it. Schiphol fulfils this in various ways, such as CO2-neutral operations, the goal to be waste-free by 2030 and sustainable growth.