Posted to News on 28th Apr 2014, 00:00
RS Components wins 'Environment Product/Service Award'
RS Components has won the 'Environment Product/Service Award' at the Environment and Energy Awards 2014. The award was presented for its development of a new LED product, innovative business model and service that encourages the purchase of energy-efficient lighting whilst also eradicating all waste at the end of the product's life.
The award recognises a company that has launched a product or service that can demonstrably offer significant environmental impact reduction benefits. Working with sustainability experts, and supply chain partner Dialight, RS combined the best energy-efficient LED technology with a buyback scheme for customers' old lighting units and a closed-loop waste management service. This ensures that there is zero waste at the end of the product's life, since it is repurposed or refurbished and resold or all the materials used in its manufacture are recovered.
The buyback scheme removes the barrier created by the product's high purchase price, accelerating the take-up of the energy-efficient LEDs that reduce energy use by up to 80% and offer customers maximum longevity. The project has been a great success since the product was launched last November, with sales rising significantly.
Anne Bruggink, Global Head of Service Delivery & Operations at Electrocomponents, said: "This award is a fantastic achievement that recognises a real team effort across our business and a project that is an industry-first; no one else is doing this. We have successfully removed the barriers to purchasing a great and resource-efficient product and have closed the loop in terms of waste volume, rare-earth materials and value. Our aspiration is to roll this out across our entire business worldwide."
