When a consumer buys a brand new smartphone below the cellphone alternate provide, the previous cellphone goes again to the corporate or its associate. These units are despatched on to a recycling heart or refurbishing unit. There, initially, the bodily and technical examination of the cellphone is finished i.e. whether or not the cellphone is working or not, what’s the situation of its battery and motherboard and whether or not there may be any resale worth left in it.
If the situation of the cellphone is ok, it’s fully refurbished. That’s, components like its battery, display screen or digicam are changed, the software program is reset and it’s made as new. After this, such telephones are re-sold out there as refurbished telephones, typically at 30% to 50% decrease costs. In India, Amazon Renewed, Cashify and the corporate’s official on-line shops promote such telephones.
Telephones which can be very previous or broken have their useful parts eliminated equivalent to digicam sensor, processor, charging port, battery or microchips. These components are bought within the spare components market or are utilized in different new or refurbished units. With this, firms not solely save prices but additionally cut back e-waste.
Yearly crores of previous telephones are thrown away which type digital waste. The chemical substances current in it like lead, mercury and cadmium hurt the setting. That is why large tech firms like Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi embrace previous telephones in recycling applications. Treasured metals like gold, copper, and aluminum are extracted from these units that are reused in making new units.
Firms get double profit from previous telephones, on one hand they create an eco-friendly picture, however they cut back prices by way of refurbished and recycled components. Aside from this, alternate applications inspire prospects to purchase new telephones which additionally will increase gross sales.
Printed at : 19 Oct 2025 10:36 AM (IST)