CAFA and ICER Launch the Carbon Reduction Assessment & Verification Scheme for the WEEE Sector.

CAFA is excited to announce the launch of the ICER carbon reduction self-assessment scheme for the UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) sector in partnership with the Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling (ICER). The Scheme is a first-of-its-kind tool designed to help businesses in the industry, measure, understand, and reduce their climate impact.

What is the WEEE Sector?

The WEEE sector relates to electric and electronic equipment such as household appliances, smart devices, lighting equipment, and much more. It encompasses organisations involved in the lifecycle of these equipment including the manufacturers, collectors, and treatment facilities that handle them at the end of life.

It is also a sector seeing rapid growth. According to research from Material Focus, as demand for electrical items grows, more of these items are being held onto, thrown away, illegally exported, or stolen rather than recycled. If these lost electricals were recycled instead, valuable metals and materials could be recovered and climate impact reduced.

The WEEE sector is working hard to overcome this missed climate opportunity by addressing the lack of appropriate infrastructure and processes to create a circular system.

What is the Scheme?

The Carbon Reduction Assessment & Verification Scheme gives organisations in the UK WEEE industry a structured, accessible way to evaluate their sustainability progress. Designed for recyclers, compliance schemes, and producers of all sizes, it provides a common framework for understanding climate impact, identifying areas for improvement, and building climate momentum.

Crucially, the Scheme is not about benchmarking organisations against one another. Its purpose is to meet each participant where they are – recognising that businesses are at very different stages of their sustainability journeys – and equip them with the insight and guidance to take meaningful next steps. Results are kept confidential between the participant and the scheme partners, creating a safe environment for honest assessment.

Assessments are completed every two years as a minimum, with annual re-assessment encouraged to support continuous improvement over time.

What are the roles of CAFA and ICER?

ICER acts as the scheme’s administrator, managing onboarding, communications, and the register of participating organisations. CAFA serves as the verifier, supporting participants through the assessment process, reviewing evidence, and providing tailored feedback. Together, they have co-developed the scheme’s framework and the online portal through which it is delivered – combining ICER’s deep sector expertise with CAFA’s specialism in net zero strategy and sustainability programmes.

Why does it matter?

The WEEE industry plays a vital role in the circular economy – diverting electrical waste from landfill, recovering valuable materials, and reducing the environmental burden of electronics consumption. But the sector’s own operational emissions, from transport and logistics to energy-intensive recycling processes, have until now lacked a consistent framework for measurement and improvement.

The ICER Carbon Reduction Assessment & Verification Scheme changes that. By establishing a common language and practical methodology across the sector, it gives organisations – at whatever state of their sustainability journey – a credible way to begin taking action, demonstrate accountability to stakeholders, and contribute to the UK’s broader net zero goals.

CAFA is thrilled to be working with ICER to bring this scheme to life and accelerate best practice in the WEEE sector. CAFA exists to support membership bodies and industry representatives through the sustainability transition, and this scheme reflects our commitment perfectly. Join CAFA today.

If you have any questions regarding the scheme, please contact the CAFA team via netzeroteam@cafacollective.org.