• New methodology enables companies to realistically measure and optimize the environmental impact of circular electronics business models.
• Data shows: Used and rented smartphones can reduce yearly emissions by up to 30% – and extend device lifetimes by over 60%.
• If 80% of users rented or bought used smartphones, Germany could avoid 200.000t CO₂ and save 11 million new devices.

Key findings show that buying used or renting smartphones can cut yearly emissions by up to 30% and extend device lifespans by over 60%. If 80% of smartphone users in Germany chose circular options, the country could save 200,000 tons of CO₂ and avoid manufacturing 11 million new devices every year.

Until now, companies lacked tools to measure the real effect of repairs, rentals, and second-hand sales. Existing standards, like the GHG Protocol, don’t fully account for these factors. Circularity’s new approach fills this gap, offering businesses a clear guide to measure and optimize their impact.

The report also highlights a major barrier: many devices never get reused, often because of missing return systems or data security concerns.

Everphone and other partners contributed operational data for almost two years, helping to show how extending use and improving utilization reduce emissions significantly. With this method, companies can now improve their circular strategies—and help shift the electronics industry towards a more sustainable future.

“This work moves us from assumptions to evidence, helping companies create circular models that truly make a difference.”

Marianne Kuhlmann, Co-Founder of Circularity.

• find the Circularity homepage here
• find the Measuring Circular Impact report here

A step-by-step guide supports practitioners in applying the method to their own operations. This information is also a critical missing puzzle piece for company impact reporting (e.g. CSRD) and for the strategic development of a truly impactful circular economy from a policy maker perspective.