The Billion-Dollar Opportunity in Old Phones: Why the Mobile Industry is Betting on Circularity—–Every unused mobile phone sitting in a drawer isn’t just electronic waste but a goldmine.
A report from the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), has said that about 5 to 10 billion unused or spoilt phones across the world is estimated to be 100,000 tonnes of copper, 7 million ounces of gold and 1 million ounces of palladium, summing up $20 billion.
The report said with surge in global demand for minerals, old phones could become a key resource for manufacturers and for end-users.
The report, released ahead of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, highlighted how repairing and refurbishing devices is not just good for the planet but a massive business opportunity.
However, the global market for refurbished phones and repair services is projected to exceed $150 billion by 2027, with mobile operators and device manufacturers in a move to adopt same strategies.
Leading telcos operators, including Telefonica, Orange, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and KDDI, are already pursuing circularity initiatives. Meanwhile, Apple, Samsung, and Fairphone are greening their supply chains, designing more durable devices, and expanding repair programs.
Importantly, the shift is driven by changing consumer preferences and new regulations by some organizations like the European Union for fighting for clean energy.
The GSMA report said repairing and refurbishing old devices builds customer loyalty and trust, it also serves as a new revenue stream and helps brand reputation for consumers and manufacturers.
The stakes are high. In 2024 alone, over 1.2 billion new smartphones were sold, generating 60 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, comparable to the annual carbon footprint of Morocco or Romania. However, the United Nations estimated that e-waste imposes $78 billion in environmental and social costs annually, making it important for old phones to be repaired or refurbished.
Nonetheless, as governments, businesses, and consumers recognize the value of circularity, the mobile industry stands at a turning point. What was once seen as discarded waste is now viewed as a strategic asset—one that can drive profits, protect the planet, and shape the future of technology.
