Manufacturing a new smartphone produces around 70kg of CO₂. For premium flagship devices, it's often considerably more. Most of that carbon is spent before the phone reaches you: in the mining of rare earth metals, the manufacturing of components, and the energy-intensive assembly process.
When you buy a refurbished phone, that carbon has already been spent. You get the same device at a fraction of the price, with a fraction of the additional environmental impact.
Refurbished phones are devices that have been returned, traded in or repaired and restored to working condition. Quality grades vary:
Grade A - looks and functions like new, minimal to no visible wear. Usually the best value for most people.
Grade B - minor cosmetic wear, fully functional. Often significantly cheaper than Grade A.
Grade C - visible wear, fully functional. Worth considering if aesthetics don't matter and the discount is substantial.
Back Market - the largest dedicated refurbished electronics marketplace. Rigorous grading standards, 12-month warranty on all devices.
Refurbed - strong warranty coverage, carbon neutral delivery.
Apple Certified Refurbished - Apple's own refurbished store with full Apple warranty.
Music Magpie - UK-based, reasonable prices, 12-month warranty.
Fairphone occupies a different category - a new phone designed to last and be repaired. Individual components can be replaced by the user without specialist tools. One Fairphone 5, maintained for 8-10 years, produces significantly less lifetime carbon than replacing a standard smartphone every two to three years.
Extending your upgrade cycle is always the most sustainable option. When you do need to replace your phone, refurbished is better than new on almost every environmental metric - and usually significantly cheaper.
