Last week in Brussels, the European Commission welcomed representatives of SIRRMIET, France’s leading trade association for refurbishment, to discuss the future of the refurbished smartphone market in Europe. Reynold Simmonet, founder and CEO of Dipli, attended as Vice President of SIRRMIET, which unites more than 40 companies, around 7,500 jobs, and reintroduces over 10 million devices annually. This meeting marks the association’s ambition to go beyond national borders and defend refurbishment at the European level.
European market dynamics are shifting
The European smartphone market remains resilient. Demand is strong, ownership cycles are stretching, and residual values are at historic highs. For example, the Apple iPhone 16 still retains 62.6% of its original value after 12 months. Refurbished devices now account for 10% to 15% of all smartphone sales, with Germany and the Netherlands driving much of the growth.
Structural weaknesses hold back growth
Despite the progress, the market is fragile. Supply remains fragmented, large-scale repairability is not yet guaranteed, and regulatory frameworks often treat refurbished devices as if they were new. This creates an imbalance where demand rises but the industry struggles to scale effectively.
Refurbishment must be recognized separately
One key message presented to the Commission was clear: refurbishers are not manufacturers, and refurbished devices should not be regulated like new ones. Refurbishment is emerging as a strategic European industry. Europe already plays a global leadership role in the circular economy for electronics but still depends heavily on imports. Strengthening local collection channels and simplifying tax frameworks will be critical to building mid-term self-sufficiency and ensuring fair competition with non-EU players.
Three priorities for the Commission
SIRRMIET underlined three priorities during discussions. The first is creating a more liquid market while protecting price stability and quality standards. The second is securing repairability through structured access to spare parts and extending device lifecycles. The third is avoiding regulatory burdens that replicate new device models and could put thousands of jobs at risk.
Digital Product Passport is a central issue
The Digital Product Passport (DPP) was also a central part of the discussion, as its implementation will directly impact how refurbished devices are tracked, repaired, and circulated. Refurbishers and distributors stressed the importance of being actively involved in shaping the rollout.
Outlook remains positive
The European Commission gave strong attention to the concerns raised, highlighting a constructive dialogue and engagement from its teams. SIRRMIET confirmed it will continue working closely with EU institutions to build a more secure, competitive, and sustainable refurbished smartphone market for the years ahead.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
