BERLIN — Refurbished smartphones are steadily moving from a niche alternative to a mainstream purchasing option, according to speakers at “The Green Revolution in Your Pocket” panel, who argued that transparency and seamless trade-in experiences are accelerating consumer adoption.

Speaking during the discussion, which was held at the Retech Days conference in Berlin last week, Daniel Krüger, senior category manager refurbished electronics at EBay, said buyers are becoming more comfortable purchasing pre-owned electronics.

“We see at EBay that this move is happening very quickly, especially in smartphones,” he noted, adding that more than 40% of the company’s global gross merchandise volume already comes from refurbished inventory, while electronics remains one of the strongest categories.

Trust was a recurring theme during the discussion. Serena Peditto, head of marketing communications at Finland-based iPhone refurbisher Swappie, said, “Our strongest narrative is around expertise. We are directly addressing the main issue in this industry, which is trust, both in the product and in the supplier,” Peditto said. 

Niels Nüssler, chairman and CEO of Germany-based electronics refurbisher AsGoodAsNew, emphasized that warranties and transparency are critical to building consumer confidence. The company offers a 30-month warranty on products and provides detailed information about cosmetic condition, battery health and refurbishment standards.

Panelists also highlighted the importance of trade-in programs in supporting the circular economy. Anca Popescu, director of trade-in programs at Romania-based electronics refurbisher Flip, argued, “The upgrade moment is the right moment to catch the customer and do the trade-in,” noting that customers are less likely to keep old devices in drawers once they have received a replacement phone.

Swappie similarly emphasized encouraging customers to sell old devices. Extending the lifespan of devices across multiple owners is essential for maximizing environmental benefits, according to Peditto.

Looking ahead, panelists said the sector’s success will ultimately be measured by how normalized refurbished devices become. Krüger said refurbished products should eventually be evaluated alongside new products based on quality, condition and price rather than being viewed as a second-best option.

Peditto compared the industry’s ambitions to the used-car market: “The objective was that our industry would be like the car industry where you have 50% new and 50% used, and there is no question about the used part.”