Every October, analysts from CCS Insight gather to unveil their annual predictions for the technology industry. This year, hundreds of professionals attended the event at the Chicago Booth London Conference Centre, where innovation met insight in a fast-paced series of panels, presentations and interviews. Backed by over three decades of independent research, the event offered a sweeping look into the trends shaping the next decade, from artificial intelligence and satellite networks to sustainability and circular technology. For the first time CCS Insights shared 100 predictions with the audience.
A clear focus on circularity
SecondaryMarket.news covers the event to explore how CCS Insight’s latest forecasts tie into the secondary mobile device market. Among the predictions, sustainability and supply chain transformation stood out as defining themes. Their analysts expect the organized secondary market, comprising retail chains and large-scale refurbishers handling high volumes of used devices, to keep expanding rapidly. By 2029, it will represent 40% of all global used device sales, driven by buy-back schemes, trade-ins, and growing environmental awareness among both consumers and enterprises.
Europe becomes self-sufficient in supply
By 2030, CCS Insight predicts that more than 80% of used smartphones sold in Europe will be sourced domestically, as the share of imported devices drops below 20%. This trend will be reinforced by new European regulations restricting imports and incentivising local refurbishment. The shift marks a key moment for circular business models: the continent’s repairers and refurbishers will increasingly rely on trade-in and buy-back programmes to secure a consistent, traceable and compliant device supply.
Sustainability enters the boardroom
Corporate sustainability will evolve from an optional narrative to a measurable business strategy. By 2030, large enterprises are expected to publish a “return on commute” index, combining data on energy consumption, air quality and employee comfort. CCS Insight believes this will tie environmental performance directly to workplace efficiency, giving investors and HR leaders new metrics that blend people, place and technology.
Buy-back models go mainstream
The connection between primary and secondary markets is tightening. By 2026, one in four premium smartphone launches will include buy-back or upgrade options. These initiatives lower ownership costs, improve residual value and create steady input for the refurbished device ecosystem. Analysts note that consumer perception of long-term value is increasingly shaped by these programmes, making them central to brand differentiation.
Apple and India’s refurbished rise
By 2027, Apple will certify refurbished Apple iPhones in India, marking a major step in the company’s expansion strategy. After reaching the country’s top five brands by volume, Apple aims to deepen local engagement by combining manufacturing, retail and certified refurbishment. For India’s secondary market, this move could elevate standards and accelerate consumer trust.
Enterprises prioritise sustainable hardware
By 2028, 60% of enterprise device replacement cycles will prioritise sustainability and energy efficiency. Procurement teams will assess hardware not only by cost and performance but by modularity, repairability and recyclability. As CCS Insight noted, suppliers will respond with lower-emission models, transparent supply chains and circular design principles that reduce waste and extend device life cycles.
Consumers follow the sustainability shift
By 2029, energy efficiency will become a leading factor in consumer purchasing decisions. The growing influence of EU labelling requirements and environmental regulation will make sustainability not just a moral choice but a practical buying criterion. For the secondary market, this reinforces the competitive advantage of refurbished products, which already offer lower carbon footprints and extended product lifecycles.
Looking ahead
The 2026 CCS Insight Predictions event showed that the boundaries between primary and secondary markets are increasingly blurred. Circular economy models have become a core part of industry strategy rather than a side consideration. For those working in refurbishment, repair, and resale, the forecasts point clearly in one direction: sustainability is set to shape success across every device, region, and stage of the product lifecycle. However, these remain predictions, and only time will reveal whether CCS Insight has accurately captured the industry’s trajectory.
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Trade-in
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