Miele continues its commitment to sustainability and circular economy. There are several projects the company has implemented to reduce the environmental impact of its products. Miele recently announced that it starts selling refurbished electronic parts. This initiative is intended to combat the increase in electronic waste.
As reported by Miele, according to a UN report 62 million tonnes of e-waste were produced in 2022. Compared with 2010, this means an increase of 82%. The electrical and electronic waste include washing machines, PCs, and mobile phones etc. In most cases, the electronic modules end up dumped along with the appliance. This not only causes the loss of valuable resources but also damages the environment. “Miele is tackling this problem head on by taking back and refurbishing an increasing number of damaged and broken components”, the company explains. Customers in five EU countries can now choose to have a refurbished electronic module fitted when their appliance requires repairs.
On average, only 22% of all electrical waste produced is recycled – Miele highlights. Most of the components that are not recycled end up on landfill sites or are burned. “We’re fighting back against electrical waste and giving used electronic components a new lease of life”, says Axel Kruse, SVP Customer Service at Miele.
Refurbished electronic parts are tested
If the electronic modules in a washing machine, a dishwasher or a coffee machine require replacing, Miele service technicians are now able to offer customers the choice of a new or a reconditioned spare part when they attend to make the necessary repairs.
Despite costing around a third less than the equivalent new parts, reconditioned parts are still tested to the same strict quality criteria. “Refurbished electronic modules – Miele explains – can also be used when carrying out repairs covered by warranties and contractual agreements. Including when these services are provided by Miele service partners”.
Encouraging results
Initially, the range of reconditioned parts on offer includes 12 of the most frequently used electronic module components. The service is available in Germany, Greece, Italy, Austria, and the Netherlands. More markets will follow.
“Circular value creation chains in which existing materials remain in circulation for as long as possible are still a work in progress, but demand for them is increasing”, says Axel Kruse.
In just the first few weeks after launching this new service, Miele sold more than 130 reconditioned electronic modules. “We’re convinced that this trend will continue”, the company comments.
The sale of refurbished electronic parts is one of a number of projects Miele is rolling out as part of its commitment to circularity. Another example is the green steel. In a pilot project, Miele will be sourcing green steel from its partner Salzgitter AG. With the use of this material the CO₂ emissions generated by the manufacturing process are reduced by more than 66% by harnessing climate-friendly energy sources and reusing steel scrap.
