John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of ERI, the leading material resource recovery, ITAD, mobility and data destruction/processing provider and largest recycler of electronics in the US, was featured as an expert panelist on the latest advance practices in circularity yesterday at the World Remanufacturing Summit 2026 at Waseda University’s Nishi-Waseda Campus in Tokyo, Japan.

In a panel moderated by Kenichiro Chinen of California State University, Sacramento, Shegerian was an invited speaker alongside fellow experts Takayuki Nagai of Toyota Motor Corporation; Genichiro Matsuda of Panasonic Holdings; and Juan Torres‑Carot of Brother Industries.

The World Remanufacturing Summit brings together leaders from industry, academia, and research to exchange ideas, explore emerging approaches, and strengthen collaboration around the future of remanufacturing. Shegerian shared insights on the current state of rare earth material recovery and the tremendous promise of the above ground mine, established via the responsible recycling of electronic waste.

In his portion of the presentation, Shegerian provided an inside look at how innovation and collaboration are bringing the quest for rare earth materials beyond traditional mining, unlocking the value of end-of-life electronics and accelerating the transition to a truly circular economy.

“It was a great honor and privilege to be invited to present alongside my esteemed tech industry colleagues at the World Remanufacturing Summit in Tokyo, sharing information on one of the most critical and pressing issues in the industry today,” said Shegerian. “This event is vitally important because it gives thought leaders from all over the world the opportunity to share what they know and discuss vital best practices for efficient and impactful circularity. Communication and education are vital if we are to problem-solve and work together to create material circularity and sustainability solutions.”

ERI is the nation’s leading material resource recovery, ITAD and tech reuse and recycling company. ERI is certified at the highest level by all leading environmental and data security oversight organizations to de-manufacture, recycle, and refurbish every type of electronic device in an environmentally responsible manner. It is the first company in its industry to achieve ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certifications for security and data protection. ERI has the capacity to process more than a billion pounds of electronic waste annually at its eight certified locations, serving every zip code in the United States with international facilities and partners serving over 140 countries. ERI’s mission is to protect people, the planet and privacy. For more information about circularity, ITAD services and e-waste recycling at ERI, call 1-800-ERI-DIRECT or visit https://eridirect.com.

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Shegerian provided an inside look at how innovation and collaboration are bringing the quest for rare earth materials beyond traditional mining.