Introduction

Small IT and telecommunication equipment constitute about 2% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is one of the fastest growing sectors in emissions. In addition to climate change impacts, these electronic devices also require mining rare minerals and materials, and make up a rapidly growing stream of hazardous waste.

Most environmental impacts of electronic devices come from their manufacturing stage. Therefore, a major lever to reduce GHG emissions in this sector is to increase the lifetime of devices, so that fewer devices are produced. One method for increasing device lifetime is device repair and refurbishing.

Refurbishing of electronics involves restoring previously owned and used electronic devices to a functional state. It requires a diagnosis, cleaning, repairs, replacing parts, and testing to ensure performance. Extending the lifespan of these devices reduces the production of new devices and reduces electronic waste. Refurbishment of electronic devices is gaining mainstream acceptance from consumers but still faces barriers from high costs of repair, market fragmentation, and lack of consumer trust.