To reduce e-waste and expand its sustainability program, Seagate has now opened an official storefront on eBay to sell its re-certified hard drives. The storage drive manufacturer receives used hard drives through its Hard Drive Circularity Program, which evaluates them to determine whether they fit for re-certification. It will also undergo rigorous data sanitation, adhering to industry standards. Seagates assures its refurbished drives to be 'top quality.'
Seagate said that this would help to reduce waste as it reduces shredding. This becomes important as the rare earth materials used in mechanical hard drives cannot be re-used, making hard drive shredding a non-sustainable practice. Naturally, this would apply to drives that can be re-sold after stringent checks. However, it benefits Seagate by providing factory-level refurbishment and peace of mind and establishing trust over other second-hand hard drive sellers. While many might not be keen on buying used hard drives online, having an official re-certification from storage makers like Seagate gives the much-needed assurance many interested buyers need.
