Still skeptical: Only 25% of Germans buy refurbished cell phones!

Still skeptical: Only 25% of Germans buy refurbished cell phones!

First of all: The demand for professionally prepared smartphones, i.e. refurbished devices, is booming - but not yet in Germany. According to a survey by Vodafone, only 25% of consumers in this country have already bought such a used cell phone. insuedthueringen.de shows that other countries such as France with 38% or Great Britain with 33% are far ahead. There is a potential for up to 119 million unused smartphones in Germany that are waiting to be reused.

After all, the survey shows a growing interest among the younger generation in such devices, while many older consumers have concerns about battery performance and warranty. It is not surprising that every second German keeps their old cell phone as an emergency reserve. However, an important point that could often deter consumers from purchasing is the lack of information about the existence of professionally prepared devices. A full 64% do not know about the possibility of purchasing a used device that has been prepared through tests and repair procedures.

Sustainability and price make the difference

Refurbished devices not only have the potential to alleviate the e-waste crisis, but also reduce a significant environmental footprint. According to a study, remanufactured smartphones would cause on average 87% less CO₂ emissions than new devices. The environmental aspect attracts many consumers; 35% of those surveyed cite this as a reason for purchasing, supplemented by the price advantage, which around two thirds of buyers cite. A survey shows that 66% of them consider price as a decisive incentive to buy.

Some providers have already made the market for refurbished smartphones more attractive with offers such as a three-year guarantee. Companies like Rebuy are recording a continuous increase in sales and have already made a forecast of 240 million euros in sales by 2025. Mobile phone providers such as Vodafone, O2 and Deutsche Telekom have also taken the first steps in this direction, but the offer remains limited. globalcirculartech.com reports that more than half of consumers in Western Europe plan to rely more on such devices in the future.

The untapped potential

An impressive number: There are an estimated 642 million old devices lying in drawers in Europe, of which 211 million are suitable for reprocessing. These unused smartphones contain valuable raw materials such as gold and cobalt, which are needed for new technologies. ingenieur.de finds that extended use of old devices could reduce the need for new smartphones by up to 38 percent.

The numbers are more than alarming - with a combined strategy of longer use and reprocessing, around 24 million tons of CO₂ equivalent could be saved in the next three years alone. So the next time you want to replace your smartphone, you might consider whether a sustainably processed device might be a better choice. The trend shows that consumers are waking up and becoming more conscious of their purchasing decisions. A good hand in this regard not only leads to better business, but also to a cleaner planet.