New Cisco Partner Specialization Supports Transition to Circular Economy

PRESS RELEASE — CHANNEL PARTNERS CONFERENCE & EXPO, LAS VEGAS, April 12 — At Cisco (a CP Expo Channel Champion sponsor and signature MSP Summit sponsor), we are proud that more than 99% of the electronics we receive back from customers are reused or recycled.

We want to do even better. That means increasing the amount of equipment we receive to recycle or repurpose. And we know our partners can play a key role.

To spur more progress, today we launched our environmental sustainability specialization for partners. It gives partners tools, training, and incentives to participate in Cisco’s global initiative to responsibly repurpose or recycle end-of-use products.

The program provides partners:

• Incentives to swap out current products with equipment that is more environmentally friendly.
• Skills they need to educate customers on ways to reduce their carbon footprint and ensure that used equipment does not get thrown away or end up on the grey market.
• The opportunity to expand their service offerings and engage customers on how the latest technologies can help them achieve their sustainability goals.

“This initiative is a win-win-win opportunity for Cisco, its partners, distributors, customers, and the environment,” says Andrew Sage, VP of Global Distribution Sales at Cisco, and executive sponsor for sustainability within Cisco’s Global Partner Organization.

Partners that earn the specialization are provided a free digital marketing kit that includes a specialization logo, certificate, email signature graphic and website badge to help differentiate themselves among their competitors. Accredited partners also gain exclusive access to a Takeback Incentive.

The new initiative supports the 2018 Capital Equipment Pledge, led by the Platform for Accelerating Circular Economy. As part of the Pledge, Cisco committed to 100 percent product return upon request, at no cost to customers or partners. The new specialization also supports Cisco’s goal to reach net zero across global Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2040.

Returned equipment is a key component of Cisco Refresh, a program started in 2001 to extend the useful life of Cisco equipment. The program offers partners and customers certified Cisco remanufactured hardware with the same warranty and support options as new products.

Resources:
Environmental Sustainability Specialization
Takeback Incentive
Circular Economy
Cisco Refresh

Media contact:
Andrew Fletcher Cole
[email protected] | +1 647 612 2653