The Reuse Federation, Rcube, announces the arrival of Orange among its members. In 2023, Orange will become the first telecom operator to choose to list only refurbished suppliers that have obtained the RECQ label following an audit by DEKRA Certification.
Orange has asked all its suppliers of refurbished products to be audited by independent DEKRA auditors in accordance with the standards set by RCube. Suppliers who have been audited and meet the criteria have been awarded RECQ certification and will be distributed by Orange. See Orange's press release:
The RECQ label: Europe's first quality label dedicated to refurbished products
The "RECQ REConditionné de Qualité" label aims to guarantee, through audits carried out by independent auditors, the quality of second-hand products that are good for the planet and your wallet, reconditioned by professionals. The label currently covers the reconditioning of the following products: phones, computers, passenger vehicle tires, and industrial electrical equipment. It will soon be extended to other categories such as toys, gardening and DIY equipment, bicycles, and household appliances.
Why certify the refurbishment market?
The secondhand market is booming but is confronted with a very heterogeneous product quality, which fuels buyers' fears about the actual condition of the product and the lack of a quality guarantee.
The second-hand sector in France has more than 6,500 players who recondition, produce, or sell reconditioned items in stores, online, or via marketplaces.
For example, in 2019, the French Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) inspected 113 establishments and found violations in nearly 50% of them.
Control and therefore the quality of available products remain very uneven, especially for online sales and via marketplaces.Some of the causes identified include a lack of information on the origin and actual condition of the product, non-compliance with tax regulations (e.g., non-payment of VAT or eco-contribution), and the risk of technical non-compliance. In addition to these numerous problems, there is also the misuse of the terms "manufacturer's warranty" and "certification."
The Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Act (AGEC) has addressed the issues surrounding reconditioning by legislating on the conditions for using the term "reconditioned," on consumer information requirements, and by facilitating reuse and extending the life of products.
A demanding approach
Building on these regulatory developments, in order to offer additional guarantees and address shortcomings in the sector, RCUBE, with the support of DEKRA Certification, has created the "RecQ" label, which stands for "REConditionnement de Qualité" (Quality Refurbishment).
Inspired by the system established for the Organic Agriculture label (Label AB), the RecQ label promotes products and stakeholders that adhere to best practices, particularly in terms of collection, testing, cleaning, data removal, repair, and reconditioning for resale.
By combining the assessment of regulatory compliance with environmental issues and the rules of the Consumer Code, the RecQ "RECONDITIONNMENT DE QUALITÉ" label promotes the purchase of high-quality, durable products and provides consumers with transparent information.
This certification process enables pragmatic action to be taken against the depletion of resources and for the protection of the environment.
What guarantees does the "RECQ" label provide?
The label is based on compliance with a demanding set of specifications, comprising around thirty criteria that supplement the applicable regulations.
A product labeled "RecQ" offers guarantees on:
- Performing a comprehensive diagnosis of all the device's features and repairs carried out,
- The safety and quality of the reconditioned product,
- The conditions for returning the used product that respect the interests of the transferor, including the confidentiality of their data.
- Providing clear information on the actual condition of the product, its components, accessories, warranties, and associated after-sales services in order to reassure the consumer.
- The specific quality criteria for each product (for example, cell phone batteries must be at least 80% of their performance when new),
How to obtain the Label?
The RCUBE association is the entity that manages and administers the label and its standards.Candidates submit an application to the certification committee led by RCUBE.org, which is composed of independent experts. They must sign a charter of commitment to responsible reuse and provide administrative evidence to justify the admissibility of their application.
Following this preliminary review, DEKRA Certification, an independent certification and auditing body, carries out an assessment including a physical and technical visit to the reconditioning site, conducted by a qualified auditor, in order to verify the compliance of the applicant and the products with the standards.
Following this audit, any non-compliance issues identified must be corrected within six weeks. A final report will then be drawn up and sent to the applicant and to the certification committee, which will vote on whether to grant the right to use the label.The operator will be granted use of the label for a period of three years.
Candidates can complete their self-assessment in 5 minuteshere.
The specificationsandapplication formare also available.
Find us directly on theRcube.org website.
The label is therefore part of a continuous improvement process. The label, developed by RCube since 2016, helps to strengthen the refurbished market.
ABOUT
RCUBE
RCUBE brings together stakeholders involved in reuse, recycling, and repair. It now has over 100 members (associations, companies, freelancers, startups, distributors, manufacturers, stakeholder networks, etc.) from various commercial and non-commercial sectors, as well as the social and solidarity economy (SSE).
The federation has the following objectives:
– Creating a virtuous circular economy
– The development of sustainable consumption patterns
– Combating waste from used equipment that can be reused
– Promote cohesion and cooperation among stakeholders in the secondhand and reuse sector
– Reassure consumers by creating and developing best practices.
Its members work within numerous committees and working groups to jointly develop common projects, such as the "RECONDITIONNEMENT DE QUALITÉ" (Quality Reconditioning) label, the Inter-Industry Committee for Extended Producer Responsibility (CiFREP), the National Council for the Circular Economy, and other committees (litter, packaging, furniture, buildings, etc.).
contact@rcube.org
DEKRA Certification
DEKRA Certification is the certification subsidiary of the DEKRA Group, one of the world's leading providers of testing, inspection, and certification services.
Since 1999, DEKRA Certification has served more than 8,000 clients, offering a wide range of services in the areas of quality and performance, occupational health and safety, and supporting organizations in their social and environmental responsibility policies.
The numerous recognitions of its impartiality and expertise, both by institutions, accreditation bodies, and professional bodies, make Dekra Certification a truly trusted third party which, thanks to its extensive network of specialist auditors, is a major player in the auditing of management systems, products/processes/services, and skills, as well as in certification and labeling.
dcs.fr@dekra.com – www.dekra-certification.fr
Press contact
Rcube
Nadjib Renai – nadjib.renai@rcube.org
DEKRA
Frédéric Duvignaud – frederic.duvignaud@dekra.com
Link to the Rcube press release:
CP-Orange-label-RECQ-Qualité-Reconditionné-Rcube
