Happy Earth Day! Today, we celebrate our planet and recommit to protecting its precious resources. But have you ever considered the environmental cost of the device you’re likely using to read this post? Our beloved cell phones, while undeniably convenient, have a hidden ecological impact.
A Phone’s Not-So-Green Journey
The biggest culprit? Cell phone production. Mining the rare earth elements that make up your phone’s components can lead to deforestation, water pollution, and air contamination. Manufacturing is energy-intensive, and transportation adds to the phone’s carbon footprint. Thus,cell phones contribute significantly to environmental degradation.
Another problem is electronic waste. We generate over 50 million tons a year and only about 17 percent of e-waste is recycled. The rest is dumped in landfills. Landfills overflowing with toxic chemicals from discarded phones pose a serious health risk. In the landfill they leech heavy metals and other toxins into the ground, the groundwater, and often into nearby crops.
How to be part of the solution this earth day
Here’s one way to help. Next time you’re buying a new electronic device, buy refurbished. Refurbished electronics have come a long way. These days, they’re virtually the same as new. They’re reliable, affordable, and available direct from manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Bose, and Microsoft. They should work like new and have plenty of life left in them.
Refurbished phones are pre-owned devices that have been professionally inspected, repaired, and restored to full functionality. They offer a treasure trove of benefits, both for your wallet and the environment. In a properly refurbished device, tired batteries and damaged parts have been replaced. They should work like new and they should have a lot of life left in them.
Unlike most used devices, refurbished devices from reputable sellers often come with a warranty, sometimes for up to a year. If you find a seller that does not offer a warranty, look elsewhere.
Why buy a refurbished phone
Here are some reasons to consider a refurbished phone on Earth Day (and every day!):
Reduced E-Waste: Every year, millions of discarded phones end up in landfills, leaching harmful toxins and creating a growing environmental problem. Buying refurbished keeps these devices in circulation and reduces the need for new phone production, which requires significant energy and raw materials.- Eco-Friendly Materials: By choosing refurbished, you forgo the environmental impact of mining new materials to create a brand new phone. While some refurbished phones may come with new cases, you’re still significantly reducing your footprint.
- Budget-Friendly Savings: Refurbished phones are significantly cheaper than their brand new counterparts, often at a fraction of the cost. This allows you to access high-tech features without breaking the bank.
- Quality You Can Trust: Reputable refurbished phone sellers thoroughly test and clean their devices. Many even come with warranty protections, so you can be confident you’re getting a quality product.
Manufacturer Refurbished Programs
Many electronics manufacturers offer certified preowned programs. They sell refurbished mobile phones devices with a manufacturer’s warranty. Most manufacturers inspect them, repair them with original parts, replace the batteries, and then test them. They do a thorough job of wiping all data from previous owners and return devices to a fresh state.
- Apple’s refurbished site offers Macs, iPads, iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods and more.
- Google’s refurbished site offers all Google products.
- Samsung’s refurbished site sells only Galaxy phones, no other Samsung devices or electronics.
This Earth Day you can also get refurbished tech toys.
- Microsoft’s refurbished site offers Surface devices and Xbox gaming consoles.
- You can also find refurbished audio equipment. Bose, Sonos, and JBL have sites selling refurbished headphones, earbuds, and soundbars.
Trustworthy Retailers
Major electronics retailers often have dedicated sections to certified refurbished phones. The downside of retail sites is that the refurbishment probably has been done by a third party. The upside is that these sites have a wide variety of devices to choose from, all in one place.
eBay Refurbished has Apple, Samsung, Bose, Acer, Dell, HP, Sony, and much more. All devices are refurbished, functional and come with a 1-year or 2-year warranty. You can choose from various conditions and pay more or less, depending on how “new” you want your device to look. All devices can be returned for free within a 30-day window.
Newegg, an online electronics retailer, has a large site dedicated to refurbished products, ranging from desktops to servers to laptops to phones.
CREDO Mobile has refurbished Apple, Google and Samsung phones on sale.
Most big-box retailers like Walmart and Target have a site selling refurbished electronics. The warranties they offer are often not as extensive as those provided by manufacturers, or they may not offer warranties at all, so proceed with caution.
And then there is Amazon
I do not recommend Amazon, especially on Earth Day. Amazon’s net impact on the Earth is immense and largely negative. Amazon generated 71.54 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent last year, about as much pollution as 180 gas-fired power plants might pump out annually. Also, in 2021, Amazon generated enough plastic waste to cover the planet in 800 layers. In 2022 Amazon’s plastic packaging waste in US was up 9.6% to 208 million pounds. The increases happened as insiders say Amazon would have “no problem” switching to plastic-free packaging but lacks the will.
However, Amazon is a convenient option. You probably already have an account there. Amazon Renewed has an Amazon-size selection of refurbished stuff, much of it electronics. All of it is inspected, tested and comes with a 90-day warranty.
Independent Sellers
There are many online marketplaces where reputable sellers offer refurbished phones. Before making a purchase, be sure to check seller reviews and warranty information.
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This Earth Day, why not extend your eco-conscious efforts to your next tech purchase? Consider giving a refurbished phone a new lease on life!
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