Refurbed launch trade-in service for old tech

Eight major manufacturers covered in new circular economy effort

Life

Kilian Kaminski, refurbed

Online tech secondary market refurbed has launched a new trade-in service, allowing customers to trade in their unwanted smartphones for up to €1,000.

The service is available for devices from eight manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, OnePlus, and Huawei.

To use the service, consumers can select the model they wish to sell on refurbed.ie and, based on the device’s condition, refurbed makes an offer within minutes. A free shipping label is then provided by the company, and the phone is dispatched to one of refurbed’s accredited refurbishers.

Kilian Kaminski, co-founder at refurbed (pictured), said: “Many households have a hidden stash of broken, unused, or unwanted electrical items. Irish consumers can play a key role in recycling these devices, helping give them a new purpose and recover the valuable raw materials they contain. Our production and consumption habits need to undergo serious change, and we hope this highlights to consumers how easy and beneficial it can be to participate in the circular economy.”

Research by WEEE Ireland highlights this significant issue: one in eight people in Ireland continue to dispose of small electrical items in household bins. Furthermore, an EPA study found that over two-thirds of recyclable waste, including valuable electronic components, are improperly discarded in general bins. With 84% of Irish households having an average of 15 to 20 broken or unused electrical items including countless phones left unused in households across Ireland, refurbed is making it more accessible for Irish consumers to responsibly dispose of their devices and receive quick compensation.

Elizabeth O’Reilly, head of environmental compliance, WEEE Ireland, said: “Addressing the e-waste challenge demands a collaborative effort to keep materials, parts and devices out of landfills and in use for as long as possible. Refurbishment is one of many positive solutions from the electronics eco-design, reuse and repair landscape that helps us work towards a more sustainable economy.”

Refurbed’s environmental strategy is founded on measuring their environmental impact, reducing their negative impact on the planet, and financing environmental protection projects. To measure its environmental impact and increase transparency, refurbed developed an ISO 14040/44 verified calculation model alongside the Fraunhofer Institute, enabling them to quantify the emissions and output of products sold via their marketplace.

On average, a refurbished smartphone saved 83% CO2 emissions, 89% virtual water and 77% of electronic waste.

TechCentral Reporters

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