For World Earth Day, Vodafone Group focused on mobile device recycling, urging people to address the issue of redundant phones, estimated at 5 billion by the GSMA. The operator emphasized that choosing a recycled device over a new one could help avoid around 50kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions and lead to a 20% reduction in climate impact. Additionally, using recycled models eliminates the need to extract 70kg of raw materials needed to manufacture a new device, as per research on the impact of refurbished devices published in 2022, which suggested an annual CO2e reduction of 24.6kg.
Vodafone is among several operators that have implemented recycling programs for mobile devices. The company highlighted its collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2022, aiming to collect 1 million phones and increase the return of used models through various channels. The operator also mentioned partnerships with organizations like Recommerce and its Vodafone Germany program, deemed one of the world’s largest mobile phone recycling initiatives, having already collected over 80 tonnes of electronic waste. Moreover, Vodafone promotes repair programs, with its Spanish unit having fixed 100,000 handsets in 2023.
World Earth Day is an initiative established in
