Turning E-Waste Disposal into Measurable ESG Results

Many companies in Brazil send electronic waste to licensed recyclers, but only a fraction turn this into clear ESG numbers for boards, investors and clients. Operations are happening, but they don’t show up as meaningful metrics in sustainability reports.

Corporate e-waste is actually an efficient starting point for measurable ESG: it generates tangible data on tonnes processed, estimated CO₂ savings, recovered materials, social impact via digital inclusion, and governance indicators linked to PNRS compliance and data protection.

This guide explains how to transform e-waste disposal into measurable ESG outcomes and how Ecobraz provides structured, audit-ready data for sustainability and ESG reporting.

1. Why e-waste is a strong ESG lever

Compared to other ESG topics, e-waste has several advantages:

• It is tangible: physical equipment, weights, certificates and invoices;
• It is recurring: IT refresh cycles, site closures, equipment upgrades;
• It has clear environmental impact: recycling, diversion from landfill, material recovery;
• It links to governance and compliance: PNRS, data protection, public contracts;
• It can generate social impact: digital inclusion when equipment is safely refurbished.

With a structured approach, e-waste becomes a visible component of ESG instead of remaining a backend facility topic.

2. What “measurable ESG” means for e-waste

For e-waste, measurable ESG means having consistent, verifiable data that can be tracked over time:

• Environmental (E): tonnes of e-waste treated, estimated CO₂ avoidance, recovered materials;
• Social (S): devices refurbished and donated, beneficiaries, regions impacted;
• Governance (G): PNRS compliance, traceability, data-destruction evidence, use of licensed partners.

3. Environmental metrics: the core numbers

Basic environmental metrics for e-waste include:

• Total tonnes of e-waste processed per year, by legal entity (CNPJ);
• Breakdown by equipment categories (IT hardware, peripherals, cabling, etc.);
• Information on material recovery, when available;
• Estimated CO₂ emissions avoided based on recycling factors.

Ecobraz provides these metrics in consolidated reports that can be directly integrated into corporate ESG dashboards.

4. Social metrics: digital inclusion and community impact

When security and quality criteria are met, part of the hardware can be refurbished and redirected to:

• Schools and educational projects;
• Community centers and NGOs;
• Digital inclusion initiatives in underserved areas.

This generates social metrics such as:

• Number of refurbished devices per year;
• Number and type of institutions supported;
• Regions and communities reached;
• Stories and case studies that illustrate real-life impact.

Ecobraz can help structure such initiatives in alignment with corporate social responsibility goals.

5. Governance metrics: PNRS, data protection and compliance

E-waste also contributes to governance indicators, for example:

• Compliance with PNRS and local regulations, evidenced by final destination certificates and technical reports;
• Data-protection and security, via data-destruction certificates for IT assets;
• Use of licensed, traceable partners instead of informal or unregulated channels.

These elements are often reviewed in internal audits, client assessments and public tenders.

6. Standardizing data flows with Ecobraz

To consistently convert operations into ESG metrics, organizations should standardize the data they collect from Ecobraz for each batch:

• Site and CNPJ information;
• Collection and processing dates;
• Total e-waste volume (kg/tonnes);
• Breakdown by equipment category, where relevant;
• Certificates: final destination, data destruction, technical statements;
• Environmental and social information included in Ecobraz reports.

7. Integrating e-waste metrics into ESG and sustainability reports

E-waste data can be integrated into several sections of ESG and sustainability reports:

• Environmental: tonnes recycled, estimated CO₂ avoided, material recovery;
• Social: devices donated, programs supported, beneficiaries;
• Governance: compliance with PNRS, use of certified partners, data-security evidence.

Maintaining a multi-year time series (3–5 years) helps demonstrate progress and supports ESG ratings.

8. Example of an e-waste ESG dashboard

• Tonnes of e-waste processed (year-on-year);
• % of Brazilian sites integrated into the certified e-waste program;
• Estimated CO₂ equivalent avoided;
• Refurbished devices donated for digital inclusion;
• Number of data-destruction certificates issued;
• Number of final destination certificates per year, per CNPJ.

Ecobraz data feeds these dashboards, giving ESG teams a reliable source of evidence.

9. Linking e-waste to corporate ESG commitments

Companies that have public ESG commitments can connect them to e-waste performance, for example:

• “100% of e-waste in Brazil treated by licensed partners by 2027”;
• “X tonnes of electronic waste recycled annually through Ecobraz”;
• “Y devices refurbished and donated each year as part of digital inclusion programs.”

10. Checklist for turning e-waste into ESG results

• [ ] Defined internal policy linking e-waste to ESG goals;
• [ ] Standard use of Ecobraz as a licensed partner in Brazil;
• [ ] Clear metrics for environmental, social and governance aspects;
• [ ] Structured reports from Ecobraz integrated into ESG reporting;
• [ ] E-waste discussed regularly at ESG and sustainability committees.

To use Ecobraz data as a reliable source for ESG and sustainability reporting, visit https://ecobraz.org.