French refurbished marketplace Back Market and iFixit, a global repair community offering tools, guides, and advocacy for electronics repair and sustainability, are joining forces to make tech maintenance and repair easier, faster, and more mainstream. Their new partnership brings iFixit’s renowned repair kits and cleaning tools directly to Back Market customers. The goal? To make fixing tech as seamless as buying it, and to shift consumer habits from replace to repair.
Making refurbished devices last longer
Back Market, Europe’s largest refurbished electronics marketplace, already offers devices for up to 70% less than new. With this new integration, customers can now also purchase iFixit kits to keep their devices running longer. From Apple iPhone battery swaps to game controller joystick replacements and headphone cleaning, there's a fix for nearly everything.
A cultural shift in consumer tech
By normalising maintenance and repair, the partnership aims to challenge the mindset that a new device, being used, refurbished or new, is always better. Devices are not disposable. With simple repairs, a smartphone’s lifespan could stretch to 10 years or more. That shift not only saves money, it also significantly reduces environmental impact.
Fighting for a right to repair
iFixit and Back Market are also advocating for systemic change. Back Market joined The Repair Association in 2025, after supporting Europe’s Right to Repair movement since 2021. Together, they’re campaigning for long-term software support from manufacturers, better access to parts, and tackling issues like Apple’s Activation Lock—which often bricks otherwise functional Apple iPhones.
Big gains for the environment
The stakes are high. If consumers keep phones for 10 years, CO₂e emissions from smartphones could drop by 68%. Globally, that’s over 21 million tons saved annually equivalent to the yearly energy use of the entire San Francisco Bay Area.
The circular economy in practice
This collaboration demonstrates what a true circular economy can look like: buy refurbished, repair when needed, maintain regularly, and pass it on. It’s about squeezing more life out of every device—and making it easier for everyone to do the right thing.
Conclusion
Who stands to benefit most from this partnership? It’s not entirely clear. Back Market’s typical customer is looking for a fully functional device—not necessarily someone eager to tinker with tools or replace parts themselves. That means most won’t turn to Back Market to shop for repair kits or components. The likely result: limited sales impact for iFixit. But what the partnership may lack in direct revenue, it makes up for in strong PR value for both brands.
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