What Circular Electronics Partnership does

The Circular Electronics Partnership (CEP) is a Geneva-headquartered non-profit coordination partnership founded in 2021 to align the global electronics industry around circular-economy practices. It operates as a pre-competitive multi-stakeholder platform, with day-to-day hosting transferred to the Global Electronics Council in the United States in 2025. Its work is organized around five core publications and tools: a Circular Electronics System Map, a Circular Electronics Roadmap comprising 40 actions across 6 pathways, a Circular Electronics Design Guide, a Carbon Impact Report, and a Financial Landscape of E-waste Management report. CEP is governed jointly by six founding partners — ITU, WEF, WBCSD, RBA, GeSI and GEC — and counts among its corporate members Accenture, Amazon, Google, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, Dell, Cisco, Sony, Logitech, Currys, Seagate and ERI, spanning OEMs, cloud and software platforms, professional services, peripherals, retail and recycling.

Name

Circular Electronics Partnership

Legal name

Circular Electronics Partnership

Website

https://cep2030.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Circular Electronics Partnership is a Geneva-based non-profit that convenes electronics OEMs, tech platforms, retailers and recyclers to publish roadmaps, design guides and impact reports advancing circular-economy practices across the global electronics value chain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Coordination Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

Keywords

• Circular electronics coordination
• Industry collaboration platform
• Circular economy roadmaps
• Electronics sustainability partnerships
• E-waste management frameworks

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Partnership Fees: CEP generates revenue through a tiered membership structure with Community, Member, and Partner participation tiers. Partners have the highest level of engagement and leadership, playing a steering role in shaping strategic direction. Members actively engage in technical collaboration. The Community tier provides access to the practitioner community for information sharing.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Circular Electronics Partnership (CEP) is a coordination platform that unites leading companies, non-profits, and stakeholders to drive the electronics industry's transition to a circular economy by 2030. It provides strategic frameworks including the Circular Electronics System Map and Roadmap (40 actions across six pathways), the Circular Electronics Design Guide, and research reports on carbon impact and e-waste finance. The organization operates through a tiered participation model (Community, Member, Partner) for pre-competitive collaboration.

Product overview

The Circular Electronics Partnership (CEP) is a coordination platform offering a suite of strategic frameworks, guidance documents, and collaborative projects for the circular electronics industry. The core offerings include the Circular Electronics System Map (vision framework defining circular products and enabling systems), the Circular Electronics Roadmap (40-action strategic plan across six lifecycle pathways), and the Circular Electronics Design Guide (practical practitioner resource with the Circular Innovation Process Blueprint). These are supplemented by research reports on carbon impact and e-waste finance, plus active project working groups on ESG standards, measuring circularity, and data standards. The platform operates through a tiered community participation model (Partners, Members, Community) in pre-competitive collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circular Electronics System Map A strategic framework defining what constitutes a circular electronic product and the system required for change at scale, serving as the North Star vision for the circular electronics industry transition.
• Circular Electronics Roadmap An industry strategy outlining 40 actions across six pathways following the product lifecycle to enable the electronics sector's transition to a circular economy by 2030.
• Circular Electronics Design Guide A comprehensive practitioner resource guiding the electronics sector through embedding circularity into design, featuring the Circular Innovation Process Blueprint and transition maps for organizational change.
• Circular Electronics Design Guide Addendum A practical extension to the Design Guide providing the Circular Performance Framework to translate circularity goals into actionable design decisions.
• The Carbon Impact of Circular Electronics A report helping organizations identify where circular strategies deliver the greatest carbon reductions and how to align circular actions with climate targets for Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions reduction.
• Financial Landscape of E-waste Management A report analyzing financial mechanisms, investment flows, and market structures in e-waste recycling, highlighting that only 22.3% of e-waste is currently recycled.
• Electronic Waste Industry Practices and Needs A workshop summary addressing environmental and social assurance in e-waste management, with recommendations for collaboration and transparency in due diligence processes.
• CEP Projects Coordinated initiatives addressing industry-wide barriers across the 40 Roadmap actions, including E-Waste Finance, ESG Reporting Standards, Circular Design Guide, CTI Measuring Framework, and Secondary Materials Data Standards.
• CEP Community Participation Tiered participation structure (Community, Member, Partner) providing access to pre-competitive collaboration space, industry working groups, and influence over CEP strategic priorities.

Quantifiable outcome

• The partnership released Roadmap 2.0 in 2024, reaffirming the roadmap's clarity, accuracy and relevance in guiding the industry toward circular electronics vision
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• AccentureflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Partner tier member playing steering role in CEP's strategic direction. Led development of Circular Electronics Design Guide alongside CEP and Circular Design Forum. Advisory Committee member providing strategic insight on CEP's direction and priorities.
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies. One of six founding partners who established CEP in January 2019. ITU's global membership of 193 Member States and 900+ organizations provides regulatory expertise and connects CEP to government stakeholders worldwide.
• World Economic Forum (WEF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation providing a global platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders. One of six founding partners who established CEP, contributing credibility and multi-stakeholder facilitation expertise.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Global community of 225+ leading businesses driving systems transformation. One of six founding partners and original host organization of CEP from 2021-2025. Contributed Circular Transition Indicators framework and hosts CTI for Electronics guidance project.
• Responsible Business Alliance (RBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019World's largest industry coalition dedicated to responsible business conduct in global supply chains. One of six founding partners. RBA has 500+ members with combined revenues over $7.7 trillion, directly employing 21.5 million people.
• Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Leading source of impartial information and resources for achieving sustainability through ICT. One of six founding partners. Contributed to E-Waste Finance project leadership alongside Globant, producing the Financial Landscape of E-waste Report.
• Global Electronics Council (GEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Mission-driven nonprofit managing the EPEAT ecolabel. One of six founding partners. Became CEP host organization in 2025. Provides strategic guidance, operational support, and connects CEP to market-facing sustainability standards through EPEAT.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner tier member and Advisory Committee member. Contributed expertise to Circular Electronics Design Guide development. Provides circular economy thought leadership that informs CEP's strategic frameworks.
• AmazoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant engaged in deeper technical collaboration. Part of the problem solvers contributing to CEP's roadmap implementation and circular initiatives.
• GoogleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant and Advisory Committee member. Actively engaged in CEP initiatives including circular design and materials discussions. Contributed to Circular Electronics Design Guide development.
• HP Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant contributing to circular electronics collaboration. Contributed to Circular Electronics Design Guide development with expertise in circular design principles.
• LenovoflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant and Advisory Committee member. Pioneering work on SORPLAS material with 95-98% post-consumer recycled plastic content. Featured in System Map case study for collaborative material exploration with Sony Semiconductor Solutions.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity tier participant in CEP ecosystem. Contributed to Circular Electronics Design Guide development with circular design expertise.
• Dell TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity tier participant featured in System Map case study for PC-as-a-Service business model enabling circular product lifecycle management and secure device recovery.
• CiscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity tier participant featured in System Map case study for embedding circularity into product design process. Set public goal that 100% of new products will incorporate circular design principles by FY2025.
• SonycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity tier participant. Sony Semiconductor Solutions developed SORPLAS plastic material with 95% post-consumer recycled content, used by Lenovo in power adapters since 2021.
• LogitechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant. Contributed to Circular Electronics Design Guide development with expertise in circular product design and materials.
• CurryscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant. Featured in System Map case study for incentivized e-waste collection program that increased collection by 84% during month-long campaign.
• Seagate TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant in CEP ecosystem contributing to circular electronics initiatives.
• ERI (Electronic Recyclers International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant. Featured in System Map case study for collaboration with LS-Nikko Copper, Redwood Materials, and Alcoa to create end-to-end closed loop material recovery.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant. Co-hosted workshop with CEP at Electronics Sustainability Summit 2024 on e-waste management practices and needs. Leading work on ESG Reporting Standard for Electronics project.
• CircularitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant in CEP ecosystem contributing to circular electronics collaboration.
• DustincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant in CEP ecosystem, likely representing European B2B electronics retail market.
• MolgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember tier participant in CEP ecosystem working on circular manufacturing and supply chain solutions.
• GlobantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported development of Financial Landscape of E-waste Management report alongside GeSI. Contributed to CEP's e-waste finance analysis and financing gap research.
• Circular Design ForumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in developing the Circular Electronics Design Guide alongside CEP and Accenture. Contributed circular design expertise and process frameworks.
• SERI (Sustainable Electronics Roadmap International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading ESG Reporting Standard and Certification for Electronics project. Brings together stakeholders throughout electronics value chain to develop ESG standard for consistent and reliable metrics.
• Sims Lifecycle ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in System Map case study for developing scalable solution to extract chips from end-of-life equipment for reuse in new products during semiconductor supply chain crisis.
• Vodafone GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in System Map case study for waste compensation strategy with Closing the Loop, making devices waste-neutral by collecting one end-of-life device for each new device sold.
• Closing the LoopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Vodafone Germany implementing waste compensation strategy. Collects end-of-life devices in countries where waste is usually not processed, creating jobs and reducing pollution.
• Good Things FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CEP on Circular Economy for Digital Inclusion project. Exploring how circular approaches can deliver simultaneous environmental and social impact through IT equipment reuse.
• LS-Nikko CoppercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner of ERI receiving printed circuit boards and precious metals for smelting. Both downstream partner and investor sitting on ERI's board for transparent closed-loop material recovery.
• Redwood MaterialscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner of ERI receiving batteries and solar materials for beneficial reuse. Both downstream partner and investor sitting on ERI's board.
• AlcoacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner of ERI receiving aluminum for reuse applications. Both downstream partner and investor sitting on ERI's board establishing radically transparent closed-loop material recovery.
• Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped SORPLAS plastic material with 95% post-consumer recycled content. Collaborated with Lenovo on using SORPLAS in laptop components, establishing circular materials supply chain.
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITU contributes to Pathway 4 and 6 resources on e-waste management. Works with StEP and WEEE Forum on harmonizing definitions and reporting for WEEE take-back and collection.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• StEP (Solving the E-waste Problem): Multi-stakeholder initiative focused on solving the e-waste problem; works alongside ITU and the WEEE Forum on definitions, reporting, and take-back harmonization — the same agenda items that sit within CEP's Roadmap pathways 4 and 6.
• WEEE Forum: European association of 46 producer responsibility organizations for WEEE. Directly comparable convening role for electronics take-back and producer responsibility — overlaps with CEP's Pathway 4 (increase official collection rate).
• Sustainable Electronics Roadmap International (SERI): Leads the ESG Reporting Standard and Certification for Electronics project partnered with CEP. Operates in the same sustainable-electronics coordination space and competes for similar stakeholders across R2 recycler certification and adjacent standards.

Broad incumbents

• Global Electronics Council (GEC): Mission-driven nonprofit operating the EPEAT ecolabel and now the host organization of CEP since 2025. Comparable convening and standards-setting function in the electronics sustainability space and the most operationally intertwined peer.
• Responsible Business Alliance (RBA): One of CEP's six founding partners; world's largest industry coalition on responsible supply chain conduct in electronics with 500+ members and $7.7T combined revenues. Comparable multi-stakeholder convening across the same corporate base.
• Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI): CEP founding partner and source of impartial ICT sustainability intelligence. Comparable convening and thought-leadership function specifically within the ICT/electronics sector, especially on e-waste finance (co-led the Financial Landscape report).
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Leading global circular economy thought-leadership foundation and CEP Partner-tier member. Operates a broader circular-economy agenda but deeply comparable as a content-and-convening platform targeting the same corporate transformation audience.
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD): CEP's original host organization (2021–2025) and founding partner; global community of 225+ leading businesses driving systems transformation. Comparable as a multi-company sustainable-business convening platform at much larger scale.
• World Economic Forum (WEF): CEP founding partner; international organization for public-private cooperation providing multi-stakeholder convening including on circular economy and electronics. Comparable convening infrastructure though materially larger and broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Closing the Loop: Social enterprise collecting end-of-life devices in countries with limited processing — featured in CEP's System Map via its partnership with Vodafone Germany. Comparable niche e-waste take-back and circularity focus but operating as an implementation player rather than a coordination platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circular-electronics-partnership

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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