Rental, Reconditioned, Secondhand: Alternatives to Buying New That Give Smartphones a Second Life
Thinking of buying a new smartphone? Break away from the usual path: instead of getting a new device, there are alternatives available today that allow you to own a perfectly functional phone. And what about the model you want to replace? Don't let it linger at the bottom of a drawer anymore—there are solutions to grant it a second life.
How to Purchase a Phone Responsibly?
When considering getting a phone, it's essential to make responsible decisions to minimize the impact on the environment. Here are several options to consider:
Prioritize a Phone Model Designed to Last
Above all, it's crucial to choose a phone model designed for a long lifespan. To do this, find information about the phone's repairability index. This index, rated from 1 to 10, assesses how easily a phone can be repaired. The higher the score, the easier the device can be repaired (without spending a fortune).
This measure was introduced in France in January 2021 as part of the AGEC (anti-waste) law to raise awareness among buyers about the sustainability of electronic equipment.
Criteria include documentation availability, disassembly ease, access to tools and spare parts (availability and price), as well as specific criteria for each type of device.
For those having a dual use of their phone (personal and professional), some models are now equipped with dual SIM. This way, you can avoid multiplying devices.
Buy a Smartphone That Has Already Been Used
Choosing a used or reconditioned phone is an excellent way to extend the lifespan of a device. If you choose a reconditioned phone, it is factory restored, significantly reducing its environmental impact compared to a new phone.
Between 77 and 91% less carbon footprint
generated by a reconditioned phone, even after replacing the screen and battery
Source: ADEME
In 2022, about 37% of French people opted for the purchase of used or reconditioned smartphones.
Consider Renting
Renting can be an interesting option, especially for those who need recent smartphones occasionally, for example in a professional context.
Commown is a cooperative that offers this service to individuals and professionals. Its goal is to extend the lifespan of electronic devices by facilitating their transfer between individuals and repairing them when necessary.
What to Do with Our Old Phones?
When your phone no longer works, or if you're considering getting a new one, it's important to think about what you can do with the old one.
Over 100 million still functional phones
are sitting in drawers of French people, and only 20% think about giving, selling or recycling them.
Source: Ecosystem
Promote Reuse: Give or Sell
If you want to extend the life of your phone, you can give it to organizations (such as Emmaüs) dedicated to repairing it and putting it back on the market.
You can also sell it on second-hand / recondition platforms like Le Bon Coin or Back Market.
If you have doubts about its repairability, you can give it to Ateliers du Bocage. Your device will either be repaired or recycled depending on its condition.
Recycling
If your smartphone is completely out of service, consider recycling. Currently, only 5% of phones are recycled, mainly due to the complexity of their alloys that makes their separation difficult. It's estimated that about twenty materials can be recycled from a phone.
To facilitate recycling, collection points are available in supermarkets and waste disposal centers. You can also return it to the seller.
Encouraging this process is essential to reduce electronic waste and preserve the environment.
As modern society heavily relies on smartphones, it's imperative to be aware of their environmental and social impact. Prolonging the lifespan of our devices, opting for responsible alternatives such as buying reconditioned phones or repairing, and recycling appropriately are crucial steps toward more sustainable and planet-friendly consumption. Every action counts to reduce our digital footprint and contribute to a greener future.
The lifecycle of our phones deserves to be reassessed. By adopting responsible practices such as reuse, recycling or buying phones designed to last, we can reduce the environmental impact of our technological choices. Considering renting is also an option to be considered.
Every action counts to reduce electronic waste and preserve our environment. So let's rethink our relationship with our old phones for a more sustainable future.
Sources:
- ADEME - The Smartphone, a Complicated Relationship
- Study of the Second-Hand Mobile Market: 2022 Barometer
[Cover Photo: Andrew Guan]
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