Former consumer electronics giant Philips is redefining its Black Friday strategy by focusing entirely on refurbished products on their e-commerce site Philips.nl. From 20 to 30 November, the company will offer refurbished items from its Personal Health category with discounts of up to 50% as long as stock lasts. With this second Refurb Friday campaign, Philips reinforces its ambition to reduce waste and to encourage consumers to make more conscious and circular purchasing decisions.
A new destination for returned products
Black Friday traditionally triggers a surge in purchases, followed by a high volume of returns. Up to one in five products bought during the Black Friday period is returned each year in Europe. Many of these items, including unused ones, often end up as waste. Philips addresses this issue through its Refurbished Editions, which give returned products a second life. Each device is inspected, tested and cleaned to meet Philips quality standards and is provided with the same warranty as a new product. Erik Schimmer, Commercial Leader Personal Health at Philips Benelux, emphasises the shift in thinking. He notes that refurbished is in many ways better than new due to reduced environmental impact and preserved materials while maintaining identical quality and warranties. In 2024, Philips gave more than 30000 personal care products a new home and recovered 10.5 tonnes of materials from returned devices.
Quality-controlled refurbishment process
The growing interest in sustainable consumption is reflected in the rise of refurbished products. Philips Refurbished Editions consist mostly of items purchased online and returned within 30 days, including shavers, hair styling devices and baby monitors. Once a product qualifies for refurbishment, all hygiene-related parts and electrical safety components are replaced. Each refurbished item undergoes full testing to ensure compliance with Philips quality standards before being repackaged in either original or recycled packaging. Consumers receive the same level of guarantee as with new devices while benefiting from a lower environmental footprint. By giving returned items a new purpose, Philips avoids unnecessary production and reduces waste and CO₂ emissions. For these reasons, the company positions its refurbished offering as better for the environment and better for the budget.
Refurb Friday encourages conscious purchasing
Through its Refurb Friday initiative and the broader Beter dan Nieuw campaign, Philips aims to inform consumers about the role refurbished electronics can play in reducing material waste. The hashtag RefurbYourChoice invites consumers to reflect on their purchasing behaviour and what truly defines product value. During the Refurb Friday period, Philips.nl exclusively features refurbished items until supplies run out. When refurbished stock is depleted, new products will reappear. With this shift, Black Friday becomes an opportunity for more informed choices rather than increased consumption.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
