Refurbished IT is no longer a niche topic: what once started with private consumers is increasingly becoming a strategic option for companies across Europe. The use of professionally refurbished IT equipment is growing rapidly – and is also making a measurable contribution to the circular economy and climate protection.

By Jan Nintemann and Jochen Siegle
Photo: Amith Nair, Unsplash

Green business relies on secondary use

According to a recent Bitkom study and analyses by the Recommerce Group, 15% of companies already use refurbished IT – another 15% plan to adopt it.
Used, but certified refurbished devices such as laptops, monitors, and smartphones are particularly common – either specifically in individual departments or company-wide.

The benefits are obvious: companies save resources, reduce electronic waste and improve their environmental footprint – often at lower costs. For 75% of the companies surveyed, refurbished IT makes an “important contribution to sustainability”.

“We need to generate less electronic waste in Germany and Europe. With Refurbished-IT, companies can improve their environmental footprint and save money at the same time,” explains Bitkom CEO Dr. Bernhard Rohleder.

What is still holding companies back

Despite growing acceptance, there are also barriers, according to the study:

• 61% of companies would like tax or financial incentives
• 75 % demand a long guarantee
• 61 % demand a reliable supply of updates

Some providers are already responding: warranty periods for refurbished products now even exceed the legally prescribed standards for new devices at some retailers.

Refurbishing as a building block for sustainable digital transformation in the EU

The topic of refurbishing was also addressed at the last TransformIT Europe conference in Brussels. In a much-noticed talk, Laili Ishaqzai, co-founder of the Dutch GreenIT company Molano, discussed the role of refurbished technology in sustainable IT strategies.

Ishaqzai’s appeal: “Digital transformation must be considered in a circular way – refurbishing is key to this.”

TransformIT Europe brings together green IT and circular economy pioneers

The ongoing trend shows: Green IT, circular economy, and digital efficiency are converging. Companies that rely on refurbished IT today actively shape the sustainable transformation – technologically and ecologically.
And the trend is here to stay – because it pays off: The “Europe Second‑Hand Electronic Products Market Report” 2024 estimates the market value for used electronics in Europe at USD 61 billion, growing to USD 93 billion by 2034 (CAGR 4.4%).