Euronics International Officially Launches LIFE-EPICS Project at President's Dinner in Istanbul

AMSTERDAM, 3rd of December 2024 – On the 20th of November 2024, EURONICS INTERNATIONAL GEIE officially launched the LIFE EPICS project during the prestigious President’s Dinner held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Istanbul. The event was attended by over 80 local and global industry leaders and Euronics members, establishing a strong project Stakeholder Committee. The evening began with a warm welcome from Hans Carpels, President of Euronics GEIE, and Sitare Sezgin, CEO of Teknosa Turkey, who emphasized the effort behind this groundbreaking initiative.

In his address, Mr. Carpels underscored the critical importance of sustainability, environmental protection, and decarbonization as core values guiding Euronics’ global operations. “These values are not only integral to our identity as a company but are also reflected in our commitment to supporting the European Union’s Green Deal objectives,” he stated.

The LIFE EPICS project is part of the EU’s LIFE Programme, which is financed under the European Financial Framework 2021-2027. This initiative focuses on sustainability, environmental, and climate issues and serves as a vital instrument to advance the EU’s Green Deal goals, particularly on decarbonization and climate neutrality. Mr. Carpels provided an overview of the LIFE Programme, detailing its values, tools, and funding mechanisms that empower high-impact, innovative projects like LIFE-EPICS. The first phase of the project starts as a collaboration between EURONICS GEIE and 5 Euronics members, namely Boulanger (France), Euronics Germany, Sinersis (Spain), Euronics Baltic and Euronics Austria.

The second part of the presentation focused on the journey of LIFE EPICS, from its drafting in March 2023 to its official start in September 2024. The project’s primary objective is to address the growing challenge of electronic waste by promoting circular economy practices through:

Staff Training: Raising awareness and improving skills among Euronics employees.

Repair Corners: Establishing dedicated repair and reuse spaces to extend product lifecycles.

Sustainability Index: Developing a green index that evaluates products on repairability, recyclability, connectivity, and energy consumption.

These actions aim to reduce waste, improve circularity, and empower consumers to make informed, sustainable purchasing decisions.

Looking beyond its official end date in December 2027, Euronics has established a Scale-Up Committee to ensure the project’s replicability and expansion across Europe and internationally. This effort will involve introducing LIFE EPICS activities in additional countries, amplifying its impact far beyond the initial consortium.

The LIFE-EPICS project represents Euronics’ unwavering commitment to aligning its operations with the EU’s sustainability objectives while driving meaningful change in the electronics retail industry. “We believe that sustainability is not just a goal—it is a responsibility,” said Mr. Carpels. “Through LIFE EPICS, we aim to pave the way for a greener, more circular future for our industry and beyond.”