Nowadays, one of the global trends is responsible consumption. More people are supporting environmentally friendly initiatives and implementing green practices into their lives.
However, one area where you should make a real difference is in the technological industry. Think about it: hundreds of thousands of mobile phones, laptops, and gadgets are dumped every year, turning into a big pile of electronic waste and consuming resources.
Here, refreshing devices come to the rescue. Instead of piling up in a landfill somewhere, these devices are granted a new life—recycled, refurbished, and good as new. As a result, it leads to reduced wastage, fewer resources harnessed, and affordable means through which technologies can be acquired.
Hence, such an evident step creates a macro change: sustainability begins with the devices you use.
Want to know more?
Today, let’s discuss device refurbishment and the role it plays in sustainable development.
What is Device Refurbishment?
Pre-owned phone refurbishment is a big industry that prolongs device lifecycles and facilitates their resale. After refurbishing, the devices that are used look almost like new and can be used by another owner.
To ensure the quality of the device before and after the refurbishing process, device testing should be performed. Instead of doing it manually, the most common option is to use mobile diagnostic services such as NSYS Diagnostics.
This software performs more than 60 tests to detect over 100 hardware defects and provides testing certificates with all the results. It proves the quality of the phone and, therefore, serves as an additional competitive advantage.
What are the Environmental Benefits of Device Refurbishment?
There are four major ways refurbishing supports sustainability:
1. Contributing to the Circular Economy
The circular economy is all about utilizing all of what is available to the maximum. This latter is defined by textile reuse (Reuse), repair (Second Chance), and recycling (Reduce) instead of the traditional take, make, dispose (TMD) model.
As refurbishing devices extend their lifecycle, this practice corresponds to a circular economy. Buying refurbished phones means consuming responsibly and lowering the overall production of new devices.
So, in the world of electronics, this means less demand for raw materials, less clutter, and reduced carbon footprint. On the other hand, producing new devices poses a big challenge to natural resources and the environment.
In this way, you are building the country and the future with less waste, preserving the resources, and, generally, making the world a better place.
2. E-waste Reduction
Electronic waste is an emerging environmental concern because many tons of electronic gadgets, such as phones, tablets, and computers, are being dumped every year.
These devices are made from lead, mercury, and cadmium, which are hazardous to human and animal health once disposed of in the environment by their users. But refurbished devices prevent this disposal.
Instead of ending up in a landfill, the refurbished device finds a new user and continues working. This hugely benefits the environment as it lowers the pollution of toxic materials caused by electronic waste.
Also, when devices are refurbished, any components deemed unsuitable for reuse are disposed of in a more environmentally safe manner.
3. Lowering Carbon Footprint
When you buy a refurbished device instead of a new one, you lower the carbon footprint. It works in several ways:
- Reduction in the Carbon Footprint of Manufacturing: Production of new electronics includes extraction of raw materials like fossil energy. This process also emits a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere. That is why when you decide to grab a refurbished gadget, you are wasting none of the resources and energy on all of that.
- Reduction in Emissions Associated with Resource Mining: The devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets, hold valuable minerals like gold, silver, copper, and other rare metals. These materials are essential for properly functioning the devices; however, mining for them harms the natural environment. So, refurbishment optimizes the use of the available materials, assisting in fewer mining activities.
- Reduction in the Carbon Footprint of Transportation: New electronics can come from manufacturers around the globe. This means they have to be transported over long distances in vehicles that always need fuel, most of which rely on burning fossil fuels. However, when you purchase a refurbished device, the product is normally processed and marketed in the same country. Thus, there is no need to cross long distances, reducing in less fuel consumption.
Such ways are effective in lowering the carbon footprint produced by technological products.
Overall, the refurbishing industry plays a significant role in global sustainability. Device testing sustainable technology solutions like NSYS Diagnostics help make refurbishing processes more efficient and transparent.
4. Providing Affordability
Refurbishment of devices makes them available to more people, thereby appreciably advancing the concept of sustainability. Not everybody can afford the newest and the best technological gadgets, but refurbished equipment provides quality at a lower cost.
It reduces the digital gap by extending the ability needed in school, work and communication among families and friends to more people. Therefore, technological advances, low-cost products, and reusing compounds make refurbished appliances both good for the environment and inclusive of society’s growth.
Such devices motivate you to protect the earth, thus disproving the notion that sustainability is all about saving; it is actually about sharing.
Conclusion
The refurbishment of devices is one of those micro initiatives that, if taken, significantly impacts the environment.
With their help, you can contribute to the circular economy, reduce electronic waste, lower carbon footprint, and conserve valuable resources. Such mentioned ways highly and positively influence the world’s sustainability.
Moreover, refurbishing diminishes unconstructive mining and makes technology affordable by lessening costs. For each refurbished and redistributed device, you become closer to creating a society where reusing, recycling and thinking green becomes the norm.
So, get ready to make the world you live in a much healthier and safer place now by using these refurbished devices at your disposal.
Also Read: How Refurbished Computers Contribute to Sustainable Development
