Genelec has long been committed to reducing waste and utilising recycled materials, making circular economy principles a core element of its loudspeaker design. This commitment goes beyond manufacturing, extending to its Certified Pre-Owned programme. This initiative enables customers to return loudspeakers when they are looking to update their system or as a result of venue changes or renovations. These are then refurbished and rigorously tested by Genelec’s factory experts, ensuring they comply with the company’s high standards for sound quality and durability.

By doing so, Genelec helps to keep valuable materials in use while significantly reducing the amount of electronic waste that ends up in landfills. It’s estimated that purchasing pre-owned products helps to reduce electronic waste by 60-80% each year and cuts carbon emissions by approximately 50%, compared to the emissions produced through traditional manufacturing processes.

The Certified Pre-Owned programme not only promotes responsible consumption but also aligns with Genelec’s broader mission to design products that last far beyond industry expectations. This reflects the company’s ongoing dedication to sustainability and its vision for a more environmentally responsible future in the audio industry. Through such efforts, Genelec ensures that its products remain part of a circular economy, reducing waste and contributing to long-term sustainable benefits.

If you’re using injection moulded plastic, there’s a reasonable chance it’s ABS. The Focusrite Group found an 85% post-consumer recycled ABS grade four years ago now, and we now use this as the standard material for all our brands within the Group. It’s sourced from multiple countries and supplied to us in China, combining waste such as old office printers, computers, air conditioners and even refrigerators – relatively clean waste streams that can easily be turned back into injectable granules.

The largest moulding we have done to date has been the Martin Audio Adorn A80 loudspeaker, with the whole cabinet made from this grade. Cost wise, it’s a single digit percentage increase per kg of material, and we have found no technical issues with injection moulding recycled material compared to virgin material. It even drops into existing tools we have for running changes. Going further, we’ve even added glass fibre reinforcement, UV resistance and flammability ratings to the material without any mechanical issues.

It’s not even hard to find, we have four backup suppliers identified with some offering 100% recycled material now, and with the demand from automotive for recycled materials the supply chain is developing quickly.

For what is likely only at most a few dollars extra cost per product, you get an 83% reduction in the CO2e emissions (on 85% recycled material), and long term it’s my firm belief that it will be cheaper to recycle plastics than build another offshore oil rig.

Carbon accounting is how companies measure and manage their environmental footprint—and it’s quickly becoming a cornerstone of public and corporate sustainability strategies. Yet the most challenging part is often the biggest: calculating Scope 3 emissions, which cover everything a company buys, uses, and sells across its value chain. For most organizations, Scope 3 represents the largest share of their carbon footprint but remains the hardest to quantify because the data are often generic or incomplete.

AVI-SPL found a practical way forward by replacing estimated, spend-based data with supplier-verified Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) certified by third parties. Using this activity-based approach, AVI-SPL discovered that generic emissions factors for electronics hardware overestimated actual emissions by 2.7 times compared to verified product data. This small methodological change significantly increased the precision of AVI-SPL’s carbon inventory—coincidentally reducing its footprint— and strengthened supplier collaboration and transparency.

Key wins:

• Verified PCF data was 63% lower than generic emissions factors.
• Actionable Scope 3 data for procurement, solution engineering, and reporting.
• Catalyst for supplier transparency across the AV industry.

Let’s encourage manufacturers to publish PCFs so carbon accounting becomes more accessible, accurate, and actionable.

AVI-SPL’s global employee Green Team shows how meaningful change can start from within. Launched in mid-2025, the team brings together employees from across the company who share a passion for sustainability and a desire to make a difference through small, practical actions. In just a few months, more than 120 employees have joined, representing nearly every region and department.

Two early focus projects highlight the team’s approach. The first, called Sustainability Snapshots, involves visiting AVI-SPL offices to survey local sustainability practices, from recycling stations to food waste and energy-saving measures, and share best practices across the network. The second project partners with systems integration teams to reduce cardboard waste and promote recycling programs at AVI-SPL Quality Control Centers (QCCs), turning an operational challenge into a measurable environmental win. By starting small and learning together, the Green Team helps embed sustainability into everyday work life and reinforce AVI-SPL’s culture of shared responsibility.

• Over 120 employees engaged globally.
• Early projects reducing cardboard waste and mapping office sustainability practices. 
• A growing culture of sustainability led by passionate employees.
  

Professional signage displays are built for 24/7 operation, but leaving them running unnecessarily is a major sustainability challenge. Even when set to black or standby mode, the receiving cards, scan drivers, and power supplies remain active, continuing to draw significant power - 25% with the latest dvLED technology.

Installing a Remote Power Switch (RPS) offers an efficient and sustainable solution. It enables full shutdown during non-operational hours, eliminating standby power loss and delivering substantial energy and cost savings across large estates such as airports or shopping centres.

EXAMPLE: A Sharp LD-E121-108 (108-inch, 2000W max) consumes 500W when on standby (25% of full power). If it stays in standby for 14 hours a day, that wastes 2,555 kWh of energy per year which equates to roughly 1 tonne of CO₂ emissions and about £715 in electricity costs (28p/kWh). That’s just for one small display, this wastage multiples dramatically for larger walls across multiple sites. By simply installing an RPS for each display, the savings are substantial.

The RPS also manages inrush current by powering modules sequentially, preventing overloads and extending component lifespan. By cutting wasted energy and prolonging equipment lifetime, it delivers a practical, low-cost solution that reduces carbon footprint, minimises maintenance, and supports long-term operational efficiency.

To find out more about the Sharp LED-RPS-CL-R Remote Power Switch, contact Jack Wilders at Jack.Wilders@sharp.eu

At SCT, we genuinely believe that one of the most meaningful ways to support sustainability in AV is to help organizations get more life out of the equipment they already own. Many teams still use systems like the Poly G7500 or the Cisco Codec Plus. Even though these platforms are older, they continue to work well. Replacing them simply because they are aging often leads to unnecessary waste, higher costs, and perfectly good hardware ending up in storage rooms or landfills.

We try to take a different approach. Instead of pushing a full system swap, we focus on practical upgrades that bring modern capabilities to the technology already in place. The goal is simple. Keep the good parts, update what truly needs updating, and help organizations move forward without starting from scratch.

The RC-SDA4+ camera extension kit lets teams keep using the Poly EagleEye IV by making it USB-friendly, and the RC-SDA5+ brings that same modern update to the Cisco Precision HD.

These upgrades let organizations refresh their rooms, support new collaboration platforms, and improve the user experience while keeping cameras and codecs in service. It is a practical way to cut e-waste, avoid unnecessary manufacturing and shipping, and help teams meet their ESG goals. At the end of the day, our approach is simple and human.

Most AV gear has more life in it than people realize. We love helping customers make the most of what they already own and supporting a more thoughtful, sustainable way to upgrade technology.

From 2026, our global headquarters in Norfolk will begin generating its own clean energy through the new solar array installed across the building’s roof. This investment marks a major step forward in our transition to more sustainable operations and demonstrates our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint.

During the summer months, the solar system is expected to produce around 50% of the electricity required to power the entire HQ. By generating such a significant share of our own renewable energy, we can meaningfully reduce our dependence on grid electricity and lower associated emissions.

This project not only supports our long-term sustainability goals but also strengthens our resilience as an organisation by diversifying our energy sources. As we continue to adopt cleaner technologies, initiatives like this will play a crucial role in helping us operate more efficiently, reduce costs over time, and contribute to a greener future for our business and the communities we serve.

Across our UK and Ireland operations, 98% of all listed sites that consume electricity have now transitioned to renewable green energy tariffs. This marks a significant milestone in our efforts to lower Scope 2 emissions and reflects our continued commitment to responsible energy management.

By prioritising clean, low-carbon power sources, we are not only reducing our environmental impact but also strengthening our long-term sustainability strategy. This shift supports our broader climate goals, helps us operate more efficiently, and demonstrates meaningful progress toward building a more resilient and environmentally responsible organisation.

GivingBack.tech has been set up as a selfmanaging website to connect product donors from both the Commercial and Residential Audio Visual (AV) industries, and AV User organisations, with registered Charities and Community Interest Companies in order to repurpose second-hand, discontinued and B-stock AV equipment. We work with Manufacturers, Distributors, Integrators, Installers, Consultants, Corporates and Universities that have AV equipment to donate.

GivingBack.tech will:

• Repurpose excess equipment that might otherwise be landfilled. 
• Make excess AV equipment available to good causes, hence enhancing their day-to-day operation 
• Satisfy environmental conscience and social obligation
• Go some way to meet the United Nation’s 2030 directive for Sustainable Development Goals.

Currently in it’s test stage, the website will launch in March 2026.