Circular Production and Recycled Materials | ACER ESG
Circular Production and Recycled Materials
With the development of the new business model of circular economy and sharing economy, we have also reduced the capital expenditure expenses of the Company's one-time purchase model by replacing the purchase of hardware equipment with the purchase of services (rental), and instead flexibly incorporating the required hardware, software and even maintenance services through contracts that can be adjusted according to demand. From the perspective of product design, we use modular design to achieve easy disassembly, easy maintenance or refurbishment, easy recycling, and even sharing of materials to effectively use resources to extend the product life cycle.
Circular Production Models
Acer established the “Earth Project” to promote global reuse and recycling in 2018. Acer can reduce resource exploitation through recycling; at the same time, the risk of data leakage is also reduced by physically destroying storage devices to protect privacy. Net income received from recycling in Taiwan is used to support the Taipei Orphan Welfare Foundation with the hope that more children who have lost their parents will be able to receive a good education. In this way we support the sustainable development of society and the environment at the same time.
To reduce exploitation of and dependence on raw materials and move toward a circular economy, this Taiwanese recycling activity works with professional recyclers. After the batteries have been sorted, lithium batteries undergo extraction and manufacturing to form raw materials for new products, reducing exploitation of upstream raw materials. The remainder undergoes final processing in line with detailed specifications of technologically outstanding Taiwanese processors to prevent waste from going to third world countries and jeopardize their land or people.
In 2022, Acer expanded its invitation to service partners to join the recycling of circular production, encouraged partner manufacturers to participate in charity through recycling and issuing certificates of appreciation. At the same time, Acer held recycling competitions in service centers across Taiwan and rewarded the top 3 recycling service center with the highest recycled volume. In October 2022, Acer supported the supplier Compal Computer to hold a company-wide physical recycling event, with a total of 114 participants. In December, Acer held a group- wide recycling event "2022 Love Recycle" and added second-hand cloth recycling to attract employees to participate in different aspects.
In 2022, the recycled waste batteries has reached 2 tonnes with about 2,700 units of consumer electronic products of any brand recycled and the earnings of a total of NT$150,000 were donated to the Taipei Orphan Welfare Foundation which is estimated to reduce about 13 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Physical Recycling Event
114 participants
Recycled Waste Batteries Has Reached
2 tonnes
Consumer Electronic Products Of Any Brand Recycled
2700 units
Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduced
13 tonnes
Post-consumer recycled plastics
More than 30 million products use post-consumer recycled plastics in 2020-2022
Acer not only supports the concept of resource recycling, but also actively uses post-consumer recycled (PCR) Plastics in its products.。
The Company determines the types and ratios to be used during product planning and carefully select vendors; For products using post-consumer recycled plastics, we ensure that the raw material formulation is as close as possible to the physical properties of the virgin plastic. When necessary, we add strength and reliability design to the product design process to ensure product quality. Users can not only enjoy the same quality of products as virgin plastic, but also support the reuse of resources together with Acer to strengthen the concept of circular economy. In 2022, 17% of post-consumer recycled plastics were used in computers and displays, and we extended the application to rojectors, computer peripherals and other products.
Ocean bound plastic (OBP)
In addition, Acer attached great importance to the issue of marine waste plastic pollution. Acer uses recycled ocean bound plastic (OBP) and converts it into recyclable materials. Starting from 2021, ocean bound plastics had been utilized in notebook products to make Ocean Glass touchpads, which are currently used in the Chrome, Swift, Aspire Vero, Travelmate P2 and other product series. At the same time, Acer conducts feasibility studies on the use of ocean bound plastics in other parts. Though the application to other parts do not have the economic benefits after evaluation, Acer will continue to explore opportunities to expand the use of ocean bound plastics in the future and emphasizes this issue together with consumers.