A new study reveals key insights into France’s IT and telecom refurbishment sector.
Published by Banque des Territoires, it highlights current trends and challenges and sheds light on the growing role of refurbished and used IT and telecom deviceses in France’s efforts to close the digital divide. Refurbished Apple iPhones and other smartphones, laptops and desktops are becoming a key tool to support vulnerable populations and reduce digital exclusion. Extending the lifespan of devices also helps reduce the carbon footprint of digital usage, aligning with broader environmental goals.
Millions of devices refurbished yearly
France now refurbishes an estimated 4.3 million devices, 1.6 million smartphones and 2.7 million computers, annually. If these numbers are correct, French shows a different pictures than the rest of the world. Globally much more smartphones are refurbished than computers.
Among these, about 250,000 computers in France are distributed each year to low-income individuals as part of solidarity-driven initiatives. The national strategy “France Numérique Ensemble” aims to scale this further by supplying 2 million refurbished devices between 2023 and 2027, roughly 400,000 per year.
A diverse and young sector
The refurbishment sector in France is still young and evolving. Out of the 340 entities identified across 94 departments, 49% are associations and 44% are companies. Most associations operate locally and focus heavily on solidarity distribution, which makes up 72% of their output. Businesses, by contrast, handle larger volumes (97% of the market) with higher productivity, but allocate only 9% of their activity to solidarity.
Key barriers limit sector potential
The study highlights structural weaknesses that slow down the industry’s expansion. These include lack of standardized processes, difficulty sourcing quality material, low public confidence in data erasure, fragmented actors, and limited training and funding. Associations are particularly dependent on public subsidies, while companies struggle with low margins and sourcing challenges.
Towards a more structured ecosystem
To grow the sector sustainably, the study recommends expanding public procurement of refurbished IT, strengthening local coordination, introducing quality labels, and supporting capacity-building. A combination of awareness campaigns, funding schemes, and streamlined logistics could help move from fragmentation to a more structured, trusted industry.
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