The volume of global electronic waste (e-waste) has surged by 60% over the last decade, yet the United States recycles only ~15% of its discarded tech. E-waste contains a toxic cocktail of lead, mercury, and arsenic that poses significant risks when it reaches landfills. Beyond the toxicity, the environmental cost of replacing these materials through virgin mining is significant. For example, recycling gold generates 16 times fewer CO2 emissions than mining it. Enterprises need infrastructure that can manage electronic waste at scale, securely, and sustainably. With this demand, the U.S. e-waste market is projected to grow from $27 billion to $39 billion by 2030.

Solution

Paladin EnviroTech is a platform that pairs IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), which provides secure data destruction and equipment refurbishment for enterprise clients, with large-scale commodity e-waste recycling in a “one-stop-shop” model. The company operates a growing network that already services most of the US and has recently expanded its reach into Europe via the acquisition of specialist recyclers in the Netherlands and Ireland. This international scale allows Paladin to serve global hyperscalers and OEM customers who require compliant, in-region solutions for their retired hardware.

Why We Invested

Our investment in Paladin is a bet on consolidation and growth in the e-waste industry, led by a management team with deep industry experience in e-waste recycling and ITAD. Their deep roots in the industry are complemented by an exclusive partnership with Daeheung M&T, South Korea's leading middle-market e-waste recycling company and strategic investor, which will provide Paladin with technical expertise and global supply chain connections built through 30+ years in the industry. We believe Paladin will offer superior tracking and sustainability reporting that many legacy incumbents struggle to provide.

Impact

Paladin’s impact is intrinsic to its business model, focusing on the circular economy and the mitigation of toxic waste. The company prevents hazardous materials from leaching into soil and groundwater and also creates a reliable stream of secondary raw materials, reducing the energy-intensive demand for virgin resources. By standardizing its facilities under rigorous R2v3 certifications, Paladin ensures that environmental health, safety, and data security are maintained at the highest industry standards across its entire platform.