Why Refurbishing Our Devices Is Key To Saving The Planet

Each time a smartphone is thrown away, the cost goes far beyond the price tag. What is being thrown away isn’t just a gadget; it is precious metals, thousands of litres of water, megawatts of energy, and a tangible piece of the environment.

In 2022, global electronic waste exceeded 62 million tonnes, according to the Global E-Waste Monitor. That’s enough to fill 1.55 million 40-ton trucks, enough to circle the planet nearly twice. Alarmingly, only 22.3% of this e-waste was formally collected and recycled. The vast majority ends up in landfills, incinerators, or illegal dumpsites, releasing toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium into the soil and groundwater.

And yet, much of this waste is avoidable.

A study by Green Alliance UK shows that a smartphone that is used for one year longer can have a 31% lower carbon footprint.

We must remember that the life of a device is not restricted to the first person to use it. Many smartphones can be refurbished and offered for second-hand sale. A refurbished device, being cheaper, expands digital inclusion.

Sadly, the vast majority of devices do not go through a formal trade-in and refurbishment process, but instead languish in someone’s drawer while the new device is used. Over time, dust and age make the old device unusable. 

A survey conducted by UNITAR revealed that the average European household had 13 ‘hoarded’ devices – nine unused but working, four broken – lying around at home. Small consumer electronics, including headphones and smartphones, were among the most common items. A similar study in India revealed that 70% of Indians have 2-3 unused mobile phones lying in cupboards or drawers. In 2025, a study by SellCell showed that  76.3% of US consumers admitted to holding on to unused smartphones.

The window for refurbishing a phone is limited. Devices can be offered as second-hand for 3-4 years after they are first launched, at most; over time, the march of technology makes refurbishment unfeasible. Even then, the repair process itself presents an opportunity for sustainability: defective parts replaced during repair can be recycled, reused, or have valuable metals extracted and repurposed. This integration of Repair and Recycle ensures that every stage of a device’s life contributes to reducing waste and conserving resources.

However, consumers are rarely aware of this, and as a result, most of these old devices end up in landfills instead of helping those who might be on a budget while attempting to purchase a new phone.

When the benefits of refurbishing and recycling devices are so well known, why do customers hoard their old devices instead?

We have seen three major reasons for not trading in a device:

A feeling that the price offered for the device is too low, or not worth it.

A belief that they will keep the phone as a backup instead.

Data privacy concerns
To address data privacy concerns, the industry has established robust processes – every phone traded in through an authorised refurbishment process is factory reset, wiping all data, at multiple points in the journey, starting from when it is handed over to the retailer for trade-in. Data erasure is carried out in line with global erasure standards, such as the US DoD 5220.22-M for Android devices and the Secure Cryptographic Erase standard for iOS. 

Today, most major smartphone brands have established processes for the trade-in of old devices in collaboration with authorised recycling and refurbishment partners. Devices traded in at authorised stores are securely processed, refurbished devices are resold, while non-repairable ones are recycled responsibly. Through this ecosystem, both repair and recycling contribute to a circular economy that minimises waste and maximises material recovery.

What can we do as consumers? By repairing and reusing electronics instead of letting them lie in our cupboards, we can make a substantial dent in global emissions.

This does not mean that we need to use less effective technology or delay upgrades. It does mean that we give back to the ecosystem what we took from it – by trading in our old devices with responsible partners, and ensuring that they end up in new hands.

Refurbishment is a leap forward for both environmental responsibility and digital inclusion. It’s a way of honouring the resources already extracted, the energy already spent, and the communities already affected by manufacturing and disposal. Refurbishment gives technology a second life, people on a budget more choices, and our planet a second chance.

If sustainability is the goal, refurbishment and recycling must be at its core—giving devices and even their replaced parts a true second life.

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