• Start Buying
  • Login
Menu
  • About Us
      • What We Do
          • We Offer Consistent Inventory, Accurately Graded

            WeSellCellular is your trusted source to buy cell phones in bulk at wholesale prices. We understand that your business depends on consistent supply. That’s why we have designed two different programs to ensure that we always have the inventory you need
      • Who We Are
          • The Most Trusted Supplier in the Industry

            WeSellCellular has built a platform to connect small buyers with large scale inventory. For 20 years, our brand has been synonymous with accurate grading and reliability. Our reps have decades of combined experience in the industry.
  • Inventory
      • Buy Used iPhones Wholesale
      • Buy Used Android Wholesale
      • Buy Used Samsung Wholesale
  • Grading Scale
      • We Sell Cellular
          • We Sell Cellular Direct

            We purchase directly from major carriers, manufacturers, and big box retailers. We test, grade, and warehouse these devices in our facility in Edgewood, New York. Our grading scale is transparent and is considered one of the most stringent in the industry.
  • Blog
      • Shipping Best Practices for Used Device Wholesalers
      • The Most Common iPhone Problems Found in Used iPhones and How to Fix Them
      • Resale Certificates: Everything You Need to Know
  • Menu
  • About
  • Inventory
  • Grading Scale
  • Contact Us
Blog
News

Why Many Carriers Require R2 Certification

Why Many Carriers Require R2 Certification

Anyone operating in the used mobile phone ecosystem has heard of R2 certification (responsible recycling certification). R2 certification is a company-wide certification that follows the industry-recognized R2 standard seat by the R2 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). It deals with the responsible and ethical handling of used electronics. Companies that meet compliance requirements use best practices for disposing of e-waste in ways that protect customer data and the environment.

R2 certification covers end-of-life electronics, parts, components, and e-waste. R2 certification is considered by many to be the gold standard when it comes to upholding and demonstrating the ability to properly handle and manage e-waste. Many large corporations and enterprises selling or disposing of used electronics will not do business with companies that are not R2 certified. Most mobile carriers require buyers of their used mobile devices to have  R2 certification. 

What Areas Are Covered by R2 Certification?

R2 certification is a dual-pronged certification that deals with two very important elements of handling e-waste: data security and environmental sustainability. The strength of R2 certification is how it creates a “clean slate” from both a data and environmental perspective. 

How Wholesalers with R2 Certification Reduce Liability for Mobile Carriers

Wholesalers with R2 certification enable mobile carriers to monetize used devices while preventing data exposure for customers that have traded in devices. The R2 mandated methods for handling post-usage data are designed to prevent customer and user data from being accessed and used. These guidelines are essential to preventing liability from the mishandling of data. Any enterprise that is caught mishandling data in a way that leaves its customers vulnerable could face very serious legal, financial, and reputation-related consequences.

Another benefit of selling to wholesalers with R2 certification is that such wholesalers have committed to e-waste disposal practices that protect the environment. When carriers sell to wholesalers with R2 certification, they minimize the risk of liability issues related to the mishandling of materials or the generation of pollutants.

The Data Security Imperative

Recent examples of expensive data breaches have left enterprises with little choice but to take better measures to protect devices. The Equifax data breach that exposed information belonging to 143 million people and cost nearly $1.4 billion was a recent example. The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) found that 40% of personal electronic devices still contained personally identifiable information (PII) after disposal. That same study found that personal and corporate financial data, contact information, passwords, and tax records were still accessible on 13% of the examined mobile phones. IBM’s 2019 Data Breach Report shows that the average cost of a data breach for an American company is $8.19 million, with the average data breach involving 25,575 records. IBM also found that around 25% of American data breaches can be attributed to negligence, including people’s failure to properly erase data from old devices. This is troubling, but wholesalers with R2 certification help to reverse improper practices.

R2 compliance fits with the agenda to render discarded devices “diffused,” as it requires the destruction of all data embedded within used electronics. Certification offers a “clean-slate” strategy that won’t allow people to reanimate data on discarded devices. This is important because many enterprises are reluctant to “recycle” devices out of fear of possible data breaches. R2 certification removes that obstacle and allows enterprises a way to clear out e-waste for the sake of reducing liability, making room, or recovering costs.

The Environmental Side of R2 

R2 certification also places a deep focus on the sustainable disposal of electronic waste generated when items become obsolete. R2 certification’s environmental approach is primarily about keeping materials out of landfills. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly encourages all electronics recyclers to get this certification.

Approved and vetted R2 standards assess factors like environmental impact and, the health of workers while reselling or disposing of electronics. Best practices don’t end when materials leave the hands of a certified enterprise. R2 certification should be thought of as a full-cycle tool for accountability, as it requires full visibility into downstream recycling processes. 

The Bottom Line on R2

R2 certification is either preferred or required across the industry because of the need for strong and complete data security. Certified handlers know how to minimize risks related to personal information being captured from discarded or sold devices. Environmental concerns are also contributing factors, as major carriers don’t want to associate with buyers that improperly dispose of electronics. R2 certification effectively reduces environmental damage and health consequences that arise from improper recycling practices.

Why R2 Is Important to Us

We Sell Cellular‘s facility in New York is R2 certified. We value sustainable practices that can prevent environmental degredation, and we take data sanitation seriously. Our adherence to R2 policies ensures that each device offers a “clean slate” that makes a previous user’s data unrecoverable. 

Furthermore, our company mission of “Improving Wealth and Well-Being by Unlocking Value from Waste” is in line with R2’s philosophy of increasing sustainability. The resale of secondhand phones in effect finds a second home for used mobile devices, thus reducing overall waste in the ecosystem..

Learn more about our company’s grading scale, one of our other check marks for ensuring quality inventory.

January 21, 2020/by phonexinc
Tags: e-waste, environment, R2, r2 certiffication, recycle, sustainability
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Google+
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail

About WeSellCellular

WeSellCellular.com is the premier online platform where wholesalers, retailers, refurbishers, and distributors can buy new and used cell phones wholesale.

Learn More About Us

  • What We Do
  • Wholesale Used Phones
  • Phone Grading Scale
View Our Inventory Contact Us

About Us

  • What We Do
  • Contact Us

Buy

  • Used iPhones
  • Used Android Phones
  • Used Samsung Phones

Support

  • Help Center
Follow Us
  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
© 2023 We Sell Cellular. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • Shipping Policy
  • Return Policy
  • QEH&S Policy
What Rumors About Apple’s 5G Release in 2020 Could Mean for Resellers What Rumors About Apple's 5G Release in 2020 Could Mean for Resellers What to Consider When Sourcing Devices from Abroad What to Consider When Sourcing Devices from Abroad
Scroll to top