Plug into planet friendly tech

Your Challenge

If you need a new electronic device, such as a phone, tablet, camera or laptop, try shopping second-hand instead of buying new. There are lots of options available.

If online shopping is your thing, look for websites that offer preowned tech with a suitable warranty length (how long you’re covered if the device is faulty). Several manufacturers sell refurbished tech directly from their own website too.

If you prefer shopping on the high street, a number of tech shops (such as camera or phone shops) often have refurbished items. There are also exchange shops that sell a wide variety of second-hand tech.

Why you're doing this

The global demand for technology is booming as populations increase and technology becomes an ever more essential part of our everyday lives. And new products are continuously developed. More than a billion mobile phones are shipped around the world every year,^[1] as well as 59 million laptops.^[2]The rising demand for electronics puts pressure on habitats, species and people around the world. Electronics use precious metals and minerals that have to be mined and extracted. They also use plastic, made from fossil fuels. But it’s not just demand for new materials that affects our planet, it’s also the waste from broken and unused electronics that’s harmful. Currently, we produce 62 million tonnes of electronic waste a year around the globe and this is expected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030.^[3]Just 22% of this e-waste is recycled – the vast majority sits in landfill where it leaches harmful chemicals into the ground and waterways, harming people and wildlife.^[3]

How you'll make a difference

Choosing a device that already exists avoids the environmental impacts associated with producing it, reduces global demand for technology, and helps to prevent waste. To fight climate change we need to bring global greenhouse gas emissions down. Reducing our demand for technology is one way to tackle this. You’ll also benefit personally, as second-hand technology is much cheaper than brand new. For things like mobile phones, you won’t have to be tied to a contract, so you can select a cheaper tariff.

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