The market for refurbished IT—A sustainable choice for enterprise

1. 1. The booming market for refurbished IT

The market for refurbished IT has seen a sharp rise in popularity over the past few years. According to the figures, the global second-hand market was valued at 7 billion euros in early 2019 but may reach 105 bn euros in 2023 (source: Xerfi, 2022), which testifies to the enormous growth.

1. Some of the most in-demand refurbished products include smartphones, tablets, laptops and PCs, switches, routers, Wi-Fi terminals, licences, phones, and headsets. It must also be noted that the younger generations—and the decision-makers of tomorrow—are the primary purchasers of these type of products.

€4.5 bn in 2027

€351.6 m in 2024

1. 2. Legal obligations to protect the environment

In the face of the climate crisis, new legal obligations have been put in place to encourage companies and the public sector to adopt more environmentally friendly practices. These include:

• Greenhouse Gas Protocol – Since 2010, there have been an increasing number of requirements for companies to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt sustainable practices by switching to responsible solutions such as refurbished IT. Companies with more than 500 employees are obliged to track their greenhouse gas emissions as well as submit a transition plan with the aim of reducing their emissions (with updates every four years).
• Carbon score – This will have to be declared on all consumer products and services by 2024, allowing customers to easily see which solutions are most eco-friendly.
• The AGEC law for public institutions – (anti-waste for a circular economy) – A statutory law introduced on 9 March 2021 stipulating that at least 20% of public companies’ IT and telecommunications devices must be refurbished products to fuel the shift towards a more circular economy.

1. 3. Itancia—The partner for sustainable refurbished solutions

Bechtle has partnered up with Itancia—an IT refurbishing expert with over 30 years of experience—to provide its customers with a sustainable and affordable alternative. Itancia offers companies a large catalogue of refurbished products, ranging from smartphones to business collaboration tools, laptops, switches, routers, Wi-Fi terminals, phones, and headsets. All their products are repaired and refurbished in France according to a rigorous process including many check points.

1. The refurbishing process

With this strong collaboration, Bechtle provides its B2B (Business To Business) and B2G (Business To Government) customers with premium IT products in line with the latest environmental regulations. By choosing refurbished solutions, companies can make significant financial savings while also doing their bit to protect the environment by reducing their carbon footprint.

In conclusion, the market for refurbished IT has seen a considerable boom, spurred on by growing environmental pressures. Companies in both the public and private sectors have a crucial role to play in adopting more sustainable practices and the partnership between Bechtle and Itancia provides a concrete and sustainable solution to this challenge. By opting for refurbished products, companies boost their performance, savings, and environmental commitment.

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