Device e-waste and circularity
We aim to help society move towards a more efficient, circular economy where mobile phones and devices providing connectivity are discarded responsibly.
As the use of technology expands and develops, we are playing our part to address the growing global electronic waste (e-waste) problem. We are committed to helping more of our customers bring their used electronic devices back to us, by providing channels and attractive propositions for product take-back, and raising awareness to encourage greater participation. We also work with others across our value chain and wider ecosystem to build a more circular economy, in which more of the metals and materials in the products we sell can be recovered to help reduce the need for raw material extraction.
To collect 1 million phones for the Planet.
Progress
700,000
million phones collected
How you can take part
Choosing refurbished devices
Purchasing a refurbished smartphone saves around 50kg of CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent) – making its contribution to climate change 87% lower than that of the equivalent, newly manufactured smartphone – and removes the need to extract 76.9 kg of raw materials1. At Vodafone, we offer a range of high-quality second-hand and refurbished devices for customers aiming to reduce their environmental footprint.
Choosing your phone responsibly
To help consumers make more in formed choices when purchasing a device, we encourage our mobile phone providers to use Eco Rating, an initiative that aims to provide reliable information regarding the environmental impact of mobile phones, from production to use and disposal. It provides insight and guidance as to how to make more sustainable decisions about your phone. Find out more about Eco Rating here.
Purchasing sustainable equipment
At Vodafone, we place great importance on the circularity aspect of the home products we design and carry our Vodafone Brand, such as TVs and Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). Due to our commitment to sustainability, we have significantly reduced the use of plastics in our products. For instance, Vodafone’s standard third-generation Vodafone TV 3 Set Top Box device casing now comprises 96% recycled plastic (115g), and the Remote Controls for both devices are made from 85% recycled plastic (46.9g). Our attention to sustainability elements for our home products has earned them the Green Product Mark certification from TÜV Rheinland. This certification highlights our dedication to minimizing our environmental footprint and promoting sustainable practices throughout the lifecycle of our products.
Find out more
Launch of E-Tadweer for e-waste management
Vodafone Egypt partnered with the Egyptian Ministry of Environment, the United Nations Development Programme and the Federation of Egyptian Industries to develop the e-TADWEER digital platform, which encourages citizens to recycle old electronic devices safely through awareness campaigns and discounts and vouchers in exchange for products. Since its launch in April 2021, e-TADWEER has recycled 70.8Mt of e-waste, equivalent to 390 000 mid-size cars.
Safaricom To Support Informal Sector In E-Waste Management
In Kenya, Safaricom partnered with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Centre and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to create an e-waste management program. The Programme enables customers to deposit used electronic equipment at any of Safaricom’s retail centers and offices countrywide. This has resulted in 1,950 tons of e-waste recycled and 100% elimination of single use plastics.
Vodafone Ireland and Folk VML Join Forces to Tackle Ireland’s Mountain of Unused Smartphones
Vodafone Ireland collaborated with Folk VML to unveil a powerful campaign addressing the escalating issue of e-waste in Ireland. As part of Vodafone’s ongoing ‘Home of Trade-In’ initiative, this campaign uses the stunning backdrop of Glendalough to highlight the magnitude of e-waste through a dramatic depiction of a literal mountain of unused smartphones.
The Circular Economy: Everything you need to know
Vodafone UK have put together a factsheet on circularity to help you understand what the circular economy is, why it is important and the research behind some of our circular economy schemes.
Vodacom Pre-loved Offers
Vodacom’s “Good as New” platform offers a selection of certified Apple iPhones at a fraction of the cost of a new model. The platform provides customers with peace of mind, knowing that their valued asset is protected with a standard 12-month warranty, covering all repairs on internal components, software reloads, setting updates, as well as battery. In addition, this category of devices are approved for resale.
Vodafone Germany’s One for One
Vodafone Germany’s One for One initiative, in partnership with Closing the Loop, ensures that for every new phone sold to private customers in Germany, an old one is collected in Africa for professional recycling back in Europe. In the two years since the initiative has launched, more than 1.5 million mobile phones have been collected through this campaign, with around 6,300 kilograms (kg) of copper, 37 kg of silver and 7 kg of gold to be recovered from the collected devices.
Vodacom partners with Circular Energy to reduce e-waste in South Africa
To help counter the e-waste challenge, Vodacom South Africa has partnered with Circular Energy, a not-for-profit Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), to divert e-waste from landfills into recovery and recycling programmes. The collaboration supports Vodacom’s commitment to promoting a circular economy by reducing its environmental impact and promoting employment opportunities in the green economy.
Listen: e-waste and the future of sustainable tech
Check out our episode of We Are Vodafone, where we explore how we can sustainably develop and dispose of technology to help protect our planet. Find out how to turn trash into treasure and extend the lifecycle of our devices to create a sustainable and renewable future with Paula Chin, Senior Policy Advisor at WWF and Andrea McCormick, Environment Lead at Vodafone Group.
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Footnotes:
[1] Source is a lifecycle assessment study (Erwann Fangeat, ADEME, et al, Assessment of the environmental impact of a set of refurbished products – Final Report (2022)), which found that a refurbished phone used for 2 years creates 24.6kg CO2e less carbon emissions per year when compared to a new phone used for 3 years (according to the study results shown on page 64). Over the 2-year period of use of the refurbished phone, this avoids around 50kg CO2e of carbon emissions. The study found that a refurbished phone has an 87% lower contribution to climate change (or ‘GWP’) compared to a new phone. The study also found that buying and using a refurbished phone instead of a new phone requires the extraction of 76.9kg less raw materials (page 64). For the full study, see https://librairie.ademe.fr/dechets-economie-circulaire/5833-assessment-of-the-environmental-impact-of-a-set-of-refurbished-products.html
[2] https://therestartproject.org/the-global-footprint-of-mobiles/