This year's theme for Earth Day 2023 is: #InvestInOurPlanet. What does this motto mean, how can we make a contribution ourselves? And what role could refurbished smartphones play in this? The day is intended to encourage us as humans to recognize our responsibility for the planet we live on. Taking responsibility in this context means making a transition to a fairer and greener economy. With more than a billion participants - including institutions, governments and companies - Earth Day is one of the largest annual environmental campaigns. A variety of activities take place on this day, such as rallies, clean-ups and tree planting.
As a sustainable refurbished tech company, we have been making a contribution to the environment since our company was founded. Strictly speaking, our expertise in the area of circular economy enables us to avoid electronic waste and save valuable resources, for example by processing and reselling used smartphones. That's why on Earth Day we would like to appeal to everyone who wants to buy a smartphone: Buy refurbished!
But what actually is refurbished? And isn't refurbished just used goods?
The refurbishing process or general overhaul can be applied to numerous products. These are often refurbished smartphones, laptops, smartwatches and tablets. Premium products from Apple such as refurbished iPhones or refurbished iPads are particularly popular with consumers.
The process can proceed as follows: A customer returns her used iPad to the retailer within the 30-day cancellation period because she is not satisfied with the device. Since the tablet has hardly been used, it is in a condition that corresponds to a new device. However, since it has already been unpacked, the dealer cannot simply sell the tablet as a new device. This is where specialized companies – like us at Janado – come into play. We prepare the device, test its functionality and clean it. In the next step, we sell the now refurbished iPad in “like new” condition and thus avoid disposal of the product.
But functional electrical products that have already been in use for a certain period of time can also be refurbished. By refurbishing the fully functional smartphone, which might be two years old, it can continue to be used instead of throwing it away in the trash. This reuse reduces the amount of e-waste and avoids purchasing a new product. Such a smartphone may then have the status “very good” or “good”. To illustrate this: an iPhone 12 has been in use for approximately 24 months and has a defective battery. Otherwise everything works as usual. Refurbishing involves replacing all defective components - in this case it is the battery. The goal is to bring the device into a condition that is as close as possible to a new smartphone.
Why is refurbishing so important for the environment?
In a world where technology is constantly advancing, it's hard to resist the temptation to buy the latest and greatest smartphone. But what about all the old smartphones that are becoming obsolete as a result? There is a solution to this problem: refurbished smartphones. Because a remanufactured smartphone does not have to be manufactured again. In addition, the smartphone gets a new life with refurbishing and does not have to end up in the trash as electronic waste.
Benefits of refurbished smartphones for the environment
A big advantage of refurbished cell phones is that the step of mining rare earths and metals such as cobalt, gold and palladium is no longer necessary during production. Not only are these materials expensive, but the process of mining the finite resources is harmful to the environment. In addition, cobalt, for example, is largely mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there are poor working conditions and human rights are ignored. Purchasing a refurbished iPhone reduces the need to mine additional raw materials.
Another important advantage of refurbished smartphones is the fight against e-waste or electronic waste. In 2022, according to the International Waste Electrical And Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum, approximately 5.3 billion smartphones were thrown away, resulting in an immense amount of e-waste. It also prevents the valuable raw materials contained in smartphones from being recycled. By purchasing a refurbished used smartphone, you can help reduce the amount of e-waste and protect the environment.
Another important factor is the CO2 footprint. Refurbished smartphones have a positive effect on the CO2 emissions emitted by avoiding the emissions that arise when manufacturing a new smartphone. According to the United Nations Environment Program, purchasing a refurbished smartphone can save at least 48 kg of CO2.
Cheap smartphones: The price advantage of refurbished products
In addition to the environmental benefits, the financial advantages of buying refurbished smartphones are crucial for consumers. Refurbished iPhones are often much cheaper than completely new devices and offer the same quality as new models. This way you can save money while helping to protect the environment. So why not buy a used cell phone?
Overall, purchasing refurbished smartphones offers many advantages for the buyer and the environment. By reducing e-waste, reducing raw material extraction and saving CO2 emissions, refurbished cell phones make an important contribution to environmental protection. At the same time, they offer a cost-effective way to stay up to date with the latest technology.
For Earth Day today, we should all ask ourselves: Is it really necessary to own the latest iPhone? Is an iPhone 13 good enough and doesn't meet our needs just like a new device? A quick look and comparison of specifications shows the iPhone 13 and 14 difference: the same processor is used. So the answer is clear: a refurbished iPhone from the last generation is sufficient - and may make a contribution to environmental protection.
