The AI-era grid buildout will require substantial new utility infrastructure. It will also accelerate the flow of equipment, components, and materials leaving first service. Under the central AI-driven upgrade case developed in this paper, U.S. electric utilities could manage approximately $1.17 trillion in gross original-cost-equivalent retired-asset flow between 2026 and 2035, in constant 2026 dollars. Annual flow rises from $101 billion in 2026 to $132 billion in 2035.
This report provides an overview of the Industry Roundtable discussion held on July 6, 2026, at the
Fontainebleau Resort in Miami, in conjunction with the Mobile Disrupt Conference. All conference
participants were welcome to join the Roundtable discussion on the role of digital product passports
and the future of the mobile industry. Discussions were held under the Chatham House Rule,
meaning participants were free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the
affiliation of the speakers, nor that of any other participant, could be revealed.
Every year, hundreds of millions of electronic devices are retired while still functional. A smartphone retired after three years typically still works. A laptop retired after four years still runs most software. A server retired after five often holds components with real residual value.
This white paper examines the digital platforms that organize secondary electronics markets: the systems through which used, returned, off-lease, surplus, and end-of-life devices are assessed, repaired, resold, refurbished, harvested for parts, rented, or responsibly recovered. It focuses not on primary markets for new-device production and sale, but on the infrastructure that keeps electronics and their materials in use after first ownership ends.
A Financial Metric for Maximizing Residual Value Recovery This white paper series offers businesses practical guidance on scaling the circular economy for both environmental and economic benefit…
Why Every IOC and NOC Needs a Platform Strategy by Peter C. Evans, Vincenzo Nici, and Ashley Olsson, explores how international and national oil companies can unlock billions in value and reduce environmental impact by adopting circular economy principles. It introduces the concept of the “circularity delta” to measure lost value in asset disposition and outlines a phased approach—Pilot, Integrate, and Consolidate—to improve asset recovery through digital platforms, reverse logistics, and recommerce strategies. By examining industry challenges, technology enablers, and platform models, the paper demonstrates how circular platforms can extend asset lifecycles, reduce waste, enhance material security, and align with emerging regulations, positioning circularity as a strategic imperative for resilience and competitiveness in the oil and gas sector.
The white paper “How Platforms Are Transforming Electronic Asset Disposition: Unlocking Value Recovery, Compliance, and Environmental Responsibility” by Peter C. Evans provides a concise analysis of the shift from traditional Request for Proposal (RFP)-based e-waste management to dynamic, digital platform-driven solutions. The paper highlights how circular platforms, such as Recycle Global Exchange (RGX), are revolutionizing electronic asset disposition by efficiently connecting businesses with a vast network of local, specialized recyclers through competitive bidding. This approach reduces costs, minimizes environmental impact, and enhances compliance with regulatory standards, while also addressing the long-tail challenge of diverse and geographically dispersed electronic waste streams. By leveraging advanced technologies, real-time tracking, and automated compliance documentation, these platforms not only optimize resource recovery but also foster innovation and greater transparency in the recycling ecosystem. In sum, the paper argues that digital platforms are becoming essential infrastructure for sustainable, efficient, and responsible e-waste management.
This white paper, Scaling the Circular Economy for Electronics: Why Every Business Needs a Platform Strategy by Peter C. Evans and Guennaël “G” Delorme, explores how enterprises can shift from treating IT asset retirement as a cost sink to leveraging it as a source of value through circular economy practices. It introduces the concept of the circularity delta as a key metric to measure unrealized recovery value and explains how digital recommerce platforms can help reduce waste, enhance compliance, and unlock financial and ESG benefits. The paper provides a phased roadmap—Pilot, Integrate, Optimize—along with practical strategies, platform models, and regulatory insights to help companies maximize asset recovery, strengthen sustainability performance, and transform electronics lifecycle management into a competitive advantage.
“Not Circular Enough! The World Needs to Double Smartphone Reuse and Recycling by 2030” by Peter C. Evans and Seth Heine highlights the urgent need to address the growing issue of smartphone waste, noting that less than a quarter of the 1.34 billion smartphones sold globally in 2022 are processed through formal reuse and recycling programs. The authors argue that most used phones either remain idle in households or are discarded improperly, causing economic and environmental harm. They detail the current roles and challenges faced by manufacturers, telecom carriers, and online marketplaces in promoting a circular smartphone economy, and call for a doubling of formal device collection by 2030. Achieving this, they suggest, requires improved takeback programs, better consumer incentives, enhanced compatibility data, regulatory action, investment in repair infrastructure, and a shift in behavioral attitudes. Ultimately, they emphasize that coordinated, innovative action across industry and policy is essential to create a truly circular and sustainable smartphone ecosystem.