Buying a refurbished phone is not only better for your budget – it’s better for the planet too! And the benefits don’t end there.
These days, everyone needs a mobile phone. But new store-bought models are a massive contributor to e-waste (electronic waste), one of the environment's biggest threats today.
When you buy refurbished, that’s one less phone that ends up at the tip and one less phone that needs to be made from scratch—the more people buying refurbished phones, the greater the overall environmental benefit.
Of course, you also want a phone that works well, has all the functions you need, will last a long time and is covered under warranty. That’s why OzMobiles stocks fully functional models like the iPhone 11 for sale refurbished and other popular Apple and Samsung models, including former demo mobile phones. Each unit comes with a 12-month warranty, guaranteed battery life, free express shipping and 30-day peace of mind returns.
Our 12-month warranty is valid from the date of purchase and includes all issues with a mobile phone’s software and battery performance. And if you can’t pay the total price in one go, we allow you to do it in instalments through ZipPay, AfterPay or PayPal Pay.
If you’re ready to buy a secondhand iPhone or Android, check out the full range on our website. No matter what you need a phone for or what style you like to rock, you’re sure to find something that suits you.
Read on to learn more about why refurbished and demo mobile phones are the way to go for you, your bank balance and the environment.
How Much Waste do Mobile Phone Manufacturers Create?
One thing’s for sure: mobile phones are a heavy contributor to the world’s landfills and the ever-increasing global problem of e-waste. According to one statistic, 9,000 mobile phones worldwide are thrown out every second. Some of the ingredients in these phones – like cadmium, mercury and lead – are toxic to humans and the environment. And when mobile phones are thrown away, these chemicals eventually leak out and make their way into the soil and water.
And when you’re buying your phones new, an additional model has to be manufactured for each phone you throw out. Almost 1.5 billion mobile phones are manufactured yearly, with as much as 15kg of iron ore needed for each phone.
In 2017, a Greenpeace USA report showed that since 2007, roughly 968 TWh had been used to manufacture smartphones. That’s enough energy to power India for a year. If every smartphone produced during that period of time was still functional, Greenpeace predicted there would be roughly one for every person on the planet.
There are more than enough smartphones to go around. When you buy a secondhand iPhone like an iPhone 11 for sale refurbished instead of splashing out on the iPhone 12, you can enjoy a sustainable solution with all the benefits of a brand new model.
The Sustainable Benefits of Buying Refurbished Phones:
Now that we’ve discussed the environmental problems of buying brand new phones, what about some of the benefits of buying your phone refurbished? The major ones are
Reduced energy consumption
It takes a lot of time and resources to produce a new device. When you buy a second-hand refurbished phone or one of our demo mobile phones, mobile companies have one less model to manufacture, meaning fewer resources are used.
Workers don’t have to mine the earth to provide the materials for your phone, and factories don’t have to pump more pollution into the air.
Less toxicity
When mobile phones are left in landfills, the chemicals they’re made from eventually leak into the soil and water. Electronic devices like phones account for up to 70% of the toxic waste in landfills.
In Australia, one of our biggest issues is lithium-ion batteries. We produce over 5,300 tonnes of LIB waste a year, and most LIBs are either sent to landfills or incinerated, releasing chemicals into the air that are dangerous to inhale.
Refurbished and demo mobile phones are a better option for the air, water, soil and human health in general.
Save on raw materials
Mobile phones are made from various raw materials, including lithium, cobalt and copper. The more mobile phones produced, the more mining takes place – leaving its impact on the planet. Materials like cobalt are often mined in dangerous conditions by workers in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
When you purchase a refurbished mobile phone like one of our demo mobile phones, all the materials are already in place. You simply don’t have to worry about using any new resources and what their impact on the earth may be.
Less carbon footprint
If you want to lower your carbon footprint and live a greener lifestyle, you should definitely choose refurbished for your mobile phone.
Asid Hamar of circular technology company Klyk has said that if everyone in London chose a second-hand refurbished phone instead of a brand new one, it would save 534,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Buying a refurbished phone is one of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact.
Supports the circular economy
The circular economy is a concept that focuses on getting away from producing goods and using them as waste and instead re-circulates products at their highest value. The other goals of the movement are to eliminate waste, regenerate nature and transition to renewable energy.
The circular economy is more than just recycling. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation believes it’s worth building a system in which waste isn’t produced in the first place. A system in which products are built to go back into circulation after someone has already used them. Products are reused, repaired, refurbished and more.
Purchasing refurbished or demo mobile phones definitely helps to bring us closer to a truly circular economy. It’s a step toward a world where a fully sustainable lifestyle and zero waste is a reality.
Buy a Refurbished Phone at OzMobiles
There’s no downside when you buy a secondhand iPhone or Samsung from OzMobiles. Our models look just as good as new ones, work just as well and have all the previous owner’s information erased. And whether you’re into gaming, photography, social media or need a phone for work or personal use, we have one that’s ideal for you.
Whether you’re after a Galaxy S22 or an iPhone 11 for sale refurbished, OzMobiles has you covered. Every device includes a 12-month warranty and 30-day risk-free returns. Take a look at the range on our website and chat with us through our help centre if you have any questions.
Do the right thing for yourself and the environment. Choose refurbished and demo mobile phones.
