Telia is the first operator in Finland to start selling used and refurbished smart phones for companies

Telia promotes the reuse of smart phones by offering companies the opportunity to acquire used smart phones for their employees, also available as a monthly service. Telia Recycled phones with a revised, refurbished and one-year warranty are a better option for the environment without compromising on quality. Telia introduced the first recycled phones to consumers in 2019.

The popularity of recycling and reuse of digital devices has grown exponentially. This is also reflected in Telia's sales statistics. Recycled phones were among Telia's best-selling phones in December 2021 for the first time.

“We have an absolute guarantee of quality in our phones. All recycled phones have gone through a thorough inspection and refurbishment process. The functionalities and the condition of the battery of each Telia Recycled phone is inspected and they will be repaired and cleared from signs of use. We use only official parts from the manufacturer for any repairs. In addition to being environmentally friendly, a recycled phone is also an economically attractive option for companies. Now that the challenges of new equipment availability in the global market continue due to component shortages, recycled devices give our customers more variety”, says Klaus-Emil Pakalén from Telia.

Telia’s enterprise customers can purchase the phone for a one-time fee or as a service, depending on the device. When a recycled phone is ordered by a company as a service device, a monthly fee is paid, which includes service and repair, insurance and a one-year warranty. In addition, at the end of the contract period, a new service device can be selected to replace it, and the old device will be recycled securely and materials from the phone are fully utilized. This way, Telia will take care of the full lifecycle of the device.

“It is estimated that more than 100,000 used phones are sold in Finland every year, and the number is growing rapidly. Last August, sales of Telia's recycled phones increased by as much as 60 percent from the previous year. The start of sales to our enterprise customers now supports our goal of significantly increasing the share of recycled phones in device sales”, Klaus-Emil Pakalén continues.

There are currently eight models available for Telia’s enterprise customers. The phones can be purchased from Telia's online store or enterprise sales.

“About 80 percent of the phone’s emissions are generated during the manufacturing phase. Purchasing a recycled device is a significant and easy environmental act. Our goal is to significantly increase the reuse of equipment both in our own operations and in the options we offer to our customers. Interest in ecologically sustainable equipment options has clearly increased among consumers. I believe that this will soon be reflected in the companies' choices”, says Eija Pitkänen, Telia Finland’s Head of Sustainability.

The concept was triggered by customers’ wishes for more sustainable phones and is a concrete example of activities that support Telia Company’s sustainability goals that were announced in 2019.