Online shopping on Black Friday: yes, but fair

Black Friday is just around the corner - and with it the biggest shopping event of the year. According to current trends, electronic devices such as consoles, educational toys, kitchen appliances and smart home products are particularly popular. Even though price is the most important purchase criterion for many, SENS eRecycling is calling on consumers to take responsibility when bargain hunting and pay the advance recycling fee (ARF) when shopping online. After all, those who shop fairly and smartly also think about recycling later on.

According to a recent survey on the risks of online shopping conducted by HF Partners, a spin-off of ETH Zurich, 35% of Swiss respondents buy most of their electronic and electrical appliances from abroad. The decisive factor for most of them is the low price. However, very few people are aware that the advance recycling fee (ARF) is not included in the purchase price for many foreign online stores. This contribution is used to pay for the collection, transportation and recycling of electrical appliances in Switzerland. If the advance recycling fee is missing, there is a gap in the financing of this system.

The law stipulates that retailers and importers must take back electrical appliances similar to their product range free of charge and recycle them properly. This also applies to domestic online stores. However, it is virtually impossible for foreign online stores in particular to accept returns. This means that even electrical appliances without an advance recycling contribution end up in the SENS eRecycling take-back system.

The Swiss take-back system: a successful model organized by the private sector

This free take-back of appliances only works as long as the advance recycling fee is paid by the manufacturers and importers. "If this contribution is not included in the purchase price, the costs incurred for the collection, transportation and professional recycling of the electrical and electronic appliances can no longer be covered in the long term," explains Managing Director of SENS eRecycling Pasqual Zopp. "Unlike in many neighbouring countries, our take-back system for electrical and electronic appliances is not organized by the state. Instead, the SENS network is a privately organized industry standard that is financed by the participating partners via the advance recycling fee. The system is based on individual responsibility, is independent of state support and allows for flexible, practical solutions. We are very proud of this independence," explains Zopp, "but the system only works if everyone participates equally."

Clever and forward-looking shopping

On the occasion of Black Friday and the upcoming Christmas shopping season, SENS eRecycling is calling on consumers to take a close look despite the tempting prices on the internet and to check whether the supplier is affiliated to a Swiss recycling system and therefore actually pays the ARF. If not, you do not necessarily have to do without the offer. On the contrary, any consumer can still pay the ARF at a later date for CHF 5 on the SENS eRecycling website.

What you can do as a responsible consumer

1. check whether the provider is connected to the vRB system.

This applies to both Swiss and foreign stores. To the partner list

2. the retailer is on the list

Great. Then you can shop with a clear conscience - the recycling costs for electronic or electrical devices are already covered.

3. the retailer is NOT on the list

Then be fair and pay for the vRB yourself. It only costs CHF 5. By doing so, you are showing responsibility and acting sustainably.