December 8, 2008 – (HOSTSEARCH.COM) – Webroot, a leading provider of security solutions for the consumer, enterprise and SMB markets, has announced the launch of “Go Green,” a global program which offers businesses free, earth-friendly recycling of legacy security hardware. In partnership with Guaranteed Recycling Xperts (GRX), one of the leading recyclers of computers and electronics in the US, and Centillion, a global e-waste recycling leader in Europe and Asia, Webroot will properly dispose of any legacy security hardware replaced by the purchase of a Webroot® Security Software as a Service (SaaS) solution.
“When we realized that the tremendous success of security SaaS solutions would be making hardware-based security obsolete, we took steps to provide a socially responsible alternative for recycling this influx of electronic waste,” said Peter Watkins, CEO, Webroot. “In conjunction with GRX and Centillion, the leading e-waste recyclers in the world, this program is a natural fit with SaaS. The move to the software-as-a-service model will greatly reduce the need for on-premise hardware, which will help lower the amount of electronic waste and conserve energy.”
According to estimates by the US Environmental Protection Agency, 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones, and computer products have been discarded in the US over the last two years. Only 18 percent (414,000 tons) was collected for recycling and the remaining 1.84 million tons was sent to landfills in the US and to unregulated third world countries.
“Because electronic waste accounts for 80 percent of Americans’ toxic garbage, and is growing exponentially, we’re excited to be working with Webroot on their ‘Go Green’ initiative,” said Mike Wright, president and CEO of GRX. “GRX collects, disassembles and shreds or crushes material, and then distributes the end product to certified partners for reprocessing and recycling into new products or raw materials. We expect to see a sharp increase in demand for our services as more IT departments convert to the SaaS computing model.”
GRX does not export hazardous waste material, it does not land-fill or incinerate hazardous waste material, it audits its partners and has signed the Basel Action Network’s Pledge of True Stewardship which provides the most rigorous set of environmental business standards for electronics recyclers. After electronic waste material is collected, GRX invests in the labor-intensive process of de-manufacturing to divert greater than 95 percent of materials from landfills and incinerators.
“With only 20 percent of all electronic hardware getting properly recycled, the Webroot Go Green Program allows us to respond to the increased demand for comprehensive security while providing an earth-friendly approach,” added Watkins. “Webroot was an early adopter in the Green movement internally in our business practices and we have always led by example – now we can offer the market better protection for their networks and our planet.”
The Webroot Go Green Program is available to any customer who replaces a security appliance or an on-premise security solution with a Webroot Security SaaS solution. Webroot will send the customer a prepaid shipping label to transport the hardware to the closest GRX facility in the US or Centillion outside the US. Once the hardware has been properly recycled, the customer will receive a certificate of authentication suitable for framing and a Webroot “Go Green” logo which signifies they are a member of our program and have contributed to a cleaner planet. |
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