'R2 Code of Practices' constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of

Answer: A. R2 (Responsible Recycling) Code of Practices promotes environmentally responsible practices in the ELECTRONICS RECYCLING industry. R2 stands for RESPONSIBLE RECYCLING. The R2 Standard is the most widely adopted CERTIFICATION for ELECTRONICS RECYCLERS globally, managed by SUSTAINABLE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING INTERNATIONAL (SERI), a US-based non-profit. What R2 covers: - Hierarchy of REUSE first (refurbishment, redeployment of working electronics). - Safe MATERIAL RECOVERY (separation of hazardous components like batteries, mercury, lead, beryllium). - Strict REQUIREMENTS for downstream vendors and tracking material chains. - DATA SECURITY for storage devices. - WORKER HEALTH AND SAFETY in handling e-waste. - ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT systems aligned with ISO 14001. - LEGAL COMPLIANCE for transboundary movement (Basel Convention). Why R2 matters in the Indian context: - India is one of the world's largest generators of e-waste (~3+ million tonnes annually as of 2021). - The E-Waste (Management) Rules 2016 (and 2022 update) require Extended Producer Responsibility. - R2 certification is often required of formal-sector recyclers handling exports. Distractors are unrelated: (B) Wetlands of International Importance — Ramsar Convention, not R2. (C) Cultivation on degraded lands — not e-waste-specific. (D) EIA — separate environmental compliance framework, not R2. Source: Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI) R2 Standard documentation / MoEFCC E-Waste Rules.