Majority of Dutch consumers hold on to old mobile devices

Key Findings:

• Mobile Phones: 55% of respondents reported keeping old mobile devices at home, with only 13% recycling them, and 2% discarding them. Additionally, nearly a quarter of respondents said they sold or gave away their old devices.
•  Laptops and tablets: Like mobile phones, 40% of respondents stated they kept old laptops and tablets at home, while recycling rates were lower for these smaller devices compared to larger ones like PCs.
• PC Recycling: Old PCs were the most frequently recycled devices, with 36% of respondents stating they had recycled their computers in 2022, compared to just 23% who chose to store them at home.

Age-related recycling trends

The report also uncovered notable age-related trends. Among those aged 65 and older, 22% had recycled their old mobile phones, compared to just 11% of younger respondents. On the other hand, younger consumers (under 65) were more likely to sell or give away their old phones.

Consumer priorities: performance over sustainability

When purchasing new mobile devices, Dutch consumers prioritize technical performance and price over sustainability. Between 60% and 70% of respondents focused on speed and memory capacity, with around 50% citing price as a key factor. In contrast, only 10% considered energy efficiency and a mere 5% factored in environmental impact when making their purchases.

A return service that offers trade-ins or discounts on new purchases played a role in the purchasing decision for only 2% of respondents, indicating low awareness or interest in such programs.

Conclusion

The CBS report highlights a growing need for more effective recycling initiatives and greater consumer awareness of the environmental benefits of recycling old devices. Fortunately, local trade-in solutions, such as those offered by TradeIn are becoming more appealing. Additionally, telecom operators are increasingly focusing on retrieving used phones from customers. However, these programs are still not as successful as they could be. VodafoneZiggo's impact report shows that in 2023, there were 9,458 trade-ins—a significant 700% increase from 2022. While this progress is encouraging, there's still ample room for improvement.