Why buy new when it works?
Why buy new when it works? What refurbished tech does for the planet
Refurbished is a smart, confident choice: the same tech, a second life, and usually a much lower price. Here's what the research says, with every number sourced.
By The SimSift team · Published · Updated
Short answer: a phone, laptop or tablet that still works has already paid most of its environmental cost, because most of a device's footprint comes from making it, not using it. According to France's environment agency ADEME, choosing a refurbished smartphone over a new one cuts its annual impact by 64% to 87%. It usually costs a lot less, too. That's why we think refurbished is one of the smartest choices in tech.
Why buy new when it works?
Here's the happy truth about refurbished tech: the hard part is already done. The metals have been mined, the chips made and the glass cut. A refurbisher tests the device, replaces what needs replacing, cleans it up and sends it out to do the job it was built for. You get a phone, laptop or console that works, with a warranty, often for a fraction of the launch price.
It's not second best. It's the same model, doing the same things, with a second chance to be useful. And every working device kept in use is one that stays out of a drawer, or worse, the bin.
What the research says
The most detailed study we know of comes from ADEME, the French government's agency for ecological transition. In 2022 it compared refurbished and new devices over their whole life, from raw materials to disposal, using data from 11 refurbishment companies. In its study, 86.5 kg of a new smartphone's 87.3 kg CO2e lifetime climate impact came from everything except using it: making it, shipping it and disposing of it.
- Smartphones: according to ADEME, buying refurbished rather than new avoids 64% to 87% of the annual impact, depending on the refurbishment. Its summary puts the saving at around 25 kg of CO2e and 82 kg of raw materials for every year of use.
- Laptops: 43% to 97% lower annual impact, according to ADEME.
- Tablets: 46% to 80% lower annual impact, according to ADEME.
The small print, because it matters: ADEME assumes a new smartphone is used for three years and a refurbished one for two, and it found the impact varies between refurbishers by a factor of 2 to 11, depending on things like new parts, packaging and where the work is done. So the exact saving depends on the device and how long you keep it. ADEME also notes the benefit grows the longer the second owner keeps it.
The bigger picture: e-waste
According to the UN's Global E-waste Monitor 2024, the world produced a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022, and only 22.3% was documented as properly collected and recycled. The report expects e-waste to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030. Europe recycles the most, at 42.8%, but also produces the most per person (17.6 kg).
Closer to home, the UK charity Material Focus estimates 880 million unused electrical items are tucked away in UK homes, around 30 per household, and that 103,000 tonnes of electricals are thrown away each year. Its November 2025 impact report says over 100,000 tonnes are still being binned. That's a lot of perfectly good tech waiting for a second life.
And the money: what refurbished saves you today
Feeling good is better when your bank balance feels good too. We track Back Market's official feed every day. Right now, across 2,512 refurbished devices, the typical (median) price is 57% below the RRP listed in the feed.
| Category | Devices in feed | Typical gap vs RRP |
|---|---|---|
| Phones | 140 | 62% less |
| iPads and tablets | 320 | 53% less |
| MacBooks | 316 | 63% less |
| Windows laptops | 1,500 | 56% less |
| Smartwatches | 203 | 54% less |
| Games consoles | 33 | 45% less |
Prices from Back Market's official product feed, checked . Prices change often: the price on Back Market's site is the one you pay.
Browse today's prices: refurbished phones, MacBooks, laptops, iPads, smartwatches and consoles. Not sure which iPhone? Our refurbished iPhone guide compares every model.
How to make the most of it
- Keep it longer. ADEME's numbers get better the longer a device stays in use. Pick a model with plenty of software support left and a decent battery minimum.
- Check the battery and warranty. Back Market promises at least 80% of the original battery capacity and a 12-month warranty. Our buying guide compares the big sellers.
- Pass your old device on. Sell it, trade it in or give it to a friend. If it's broken, recycle it: the Recycle Your Electricals recycling locator finds drop-off points near you. Wipe it and sign out of your accounts first.
- Skip the extras you don't need. If you already have a charger and cable, you don't need another.
- Gifting? Our refurbished gift guide has picks at every budget.
Our honest bit
We're a comparison site and we earn commission when you buy through some links, including Back Market's. We don't claim any device or retailer is "green" or "carbon neutral". The environmental figures on this page are other organisations' research, named and linked below, and the savings figures are our own analysis of Back Market's feed. Refurbished devices still have an impact: they need energy, delivery and sometimes new parts. In the research above, it's a much lower-impact choice than buying new.
Sources
- ADEME (2022), Assessment of the environmental impact of a set of refurbished products
- ADEME study summary (French) (25 kg CO2e and 82 kg of raw materials per year of use)
- UN Global E-waste Monitor 2024 (ITU and UNITAR)
- ITU: Global E-waste Monitor 2024 key findings
- Material Focus: UK electrical waste, challenges and opportunities (2023)
- Material Focus five-year impact report (28 Nov 2025)
- Recycle Your Electricals recycling locator
- Prices: Back Market UK product feed via Awin, checked 3 Nov 2026, 06:18 GMT.
Questions
Is refurbished better for the environment than new?
According to France's environment agency ADEME, buying a refurbished smartphone instead of a new one cuts its annual environmental impact by between 64% and 87% depending on how it was refurbished, and avoids around 25 kg of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) and 82 kg of raw materials for each year you use it. The study assumes a new phone is kept for three years and a refurbished one for two.
Does a refurbished phone have zero environmental impact?
No. Refurbishing still uses energy, packaging, delivery and sometimes new parts such as batteries or screens. ADEME found the impact varies between refurbishers by a factor of 2 to 11. It's a lower-impact choice than new in ADEME's study, not an impact-free one.
How much e-waste is there?
The UN's Global E-waste Monitor 2024 says the world produced a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022, and only 22.3% was documented as properly collected and recycled. In the UK, Material Focus estimates 880 million unused electrical items are sitting in our homes.
What should I do with my old phone?
Pass it on if it still works: sell it, trade it in or give it to someone who needs it. If it doesn't, recycle it properly. The Recycle Your Electricals locator lists drop-off points near you. Wipe your data and sign out of your accounts first.
Will a refurbished device save me money?
Usually, yes. Across 2,512 refurbished devices in Back Market's feed when we last checked, the median price was 57% below the RRP listed in the feed. The RRP is usually the launch price, so today's new price may be lower.