Circular economy when it comes to mobiles, computers and IT equipment

Over-consumption of computers, telephones, and other IT equipment is one of the biggest threats to the environment. By buying and selling used electronics, it is possible to move towards a more circular economy when it comes to electronics.

A survey from McMaster University in Canada shows that less than 1 percent of all cell phones are recycled. It is an extremely low figure given that it takes as much energy to produce a new phone as it does to own and charge a phone for ten years. By 2040, mobile phones are expected to account for 14 percent of the total carbon footprint.

What is the circular economy?

Circular economics is about models in which circular cycles are used rather than the linear process that has dominated business activities so far. The circular economy is inspired by industrial ecology and nature's cycles. The idea is that no waste should exist - instead, the "waste" should be seen as a raw material.

How do companies change to a more circular economy?

The products are designed so that they are easy to recycle. Ideally, they should be recyclable, in the second place recycled materials, and in the third, energy should be recovered from the products. Today, many companies are switching from a linear to a circular economy. This often involves measures such as eliminating environmentally hazardous substances, redesigning the products so that they can be disassembled into their constituents, and using renewable energy for production.

Benefits for the environment with used phones and computers

To solve the growing problem of the carbon footprint of telephones, computers and other IT equipment, recycling is needed, not least: recycling. Statistics show that there are tremendous benefits in extending the life of IT equipment by a few years. In the same way that it is more environmentally friendly to choose a used car, rather than a new hybrid, it is more sustainable in the long term to reuse used phones and computers, rather than to buy new ones.