Refurbished smartphones are considered a symbol of sustainable digitalization: They extend lifecycles, save resources, and are easy on the wallet. But a recent study commissioned by the Vodafone Institute shows how far Europe is from a breakthrough.
By Jan Nintemann and Jochen Siegle; Photo: Vlad via Unsplash
Although 67% of those surveyed in Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom are familiar with the offers, only a third have ever bought a refurbished device – in Germany, only 25%. This puts the country in last place in Europe. Doubts about performance, guarantees, and trust are slowing down the market.
The problem runs deeper: More than half of the old devices gather dust in drawers, while only 8% are recycled or returned. This leaves valuable raw materials unused – a damning indictment of a circular economy that Europe urgently needs.
And yet, the study shows that the direction is right. Young generations buy refurbished twice as often as older ones, and those who decide to do so once, stick with it. This is where the opportunity for a cultural shift lies.
TransformIT Europe: Used IT as a Key Topic
These are exactly the questions that will be the focus of TransformIT Europe in May 2026: What role does “Used IT” play in a sustainable digital transformation? What standards, take-back quotas, and political framework conditions are needed to ensure that refurbishing becomes the norm rather than a niche?
Laili Ishaqzai sees the obstacle to a circular economy not in a lack of innovation, but in the practiced isolation. “Ideally, a circular economy is not a product, a certificate, and certainly not a checklist,” explained the co-founder of the Dutch GreenIT company Molano, already at the kick-off 2025. “It is a system – and systems only work when the players within these systems come together and work together.”
The Reseller Park at the IFA last week also impressively demonstrated that the need and interest are there. It was clearly noticeable there: “Used IT” is not a marginal topic, but a central factor for a climate-friendly, resilient, and economically strong European IT landscape.
Conclusion: from Niche Product to System Change
Refurbished must not be seen as a cheap alternative. It is a strategic tool for Europe’s digital sovereignty and sustainability. Politics, business, and society must accelerate the change – and TransformIT Europe will be the place where we shape this future together.
A central factor in the discussion is also the right to repair (“Right to repair”). With players from all over Europe, we want to discuss at TransformIT Europe in May 2026 how repair rights, take-back and reprocessing structures can be implemented throughout Europe – for a truly sustainable digital transformation.
Sources & Links
Sources & Links
- https://www.vodafone-institut.de/publikation/refurbished-statt-neu-die-zweite-chance-fuers-smartphone/
- https://www.global-fairs.de/de/messen/reseller-park-ifa
- https://www.konstruktionspraxis.vogel.de/noch-luft-nach-oben-beim-kauf-von-refurbished-smartphones-a-785cad52ab78e4d2d926fdaf84ff218c/
- https://www.zdfheute.de/politik/ausland/verbraucher-eu-reparieren-100.html
- https://www.deutsche-startups.de/2023/12/12/refurbished-produkte-der-gegenentwurf-zur-wegwerfkultur/
