Envirofone, one of the UK’s best-known brands in the refurbished and used electronics market, has entered a new chapter. The company was acquired in July 2025 by Matt Green and Sam Hargreaves from SK TES. The deal was structured as a new entity, separate from The iOutlet, the resale business also co-founded by Matt Green. Alongside their third partner, Lewis Cox, the new ownership team intends to relaunch Envirofone with a sharper strategy, renewed focus, and international ambitions.
A history of three corporate lives
The Envirofone brand has experienced several transformations over the past two decades. Originally founded in 2005 by Pete Petrondas as Eazyfone Limited, Envirofone quickly gained traction as one of the first UK businesses to offer trade-ins and refurbished devices at scale. By focusing on consumer-friendly pricing and transparent processes, the company became a trusted name in recommerce.
Around 2015, Envirofone entered its second phase of ownership when it was acquired by Redeem Group, a global player in the mobile recommerce industry. Redeem sought to expand Envirofone’s reach but suffered significant operational losses. The group ultimately entered administration in 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis, which severely impacted supply chains and consumer demand across Europe.
Later that year, Singapore-based TES acquired Redeem’s assets, including Envirofone. Under TES, Envirofone was folded into a larger sustainability-driven lifecycle business. From mobile phones to laptops and game consoles, Envirofone operated as a consumer-facing brand aligned with TES’ mission to create a circular electronics economy.
TES and the relaunch phase
When TES took ownership, Envirofone relaunched operations from Tech SI’s Burntwood headquarters. In its last year before Redeem’s administration, the company traded nearly 50,000 devices and paid more than £ 10.5 million back to customers.
TES integrated Envirofone alongside its other trading brand, Stock Must Go, aiming to use the legacy brand recognition to boost growth across its global network. With operations in 26 countries, TES believed Envirofone could strengthen its consumer presence while supporting its core focus on IT lifecycle services. At the time, TES Group CEO Gary Steele described Envirofone as a trusted brand that could capture shifting consumer habits around device reuse.
However, despite renewed efforts, Envirofone’s identity became somewhat diluted within the broader TES portfolio. By mid-2025, the opportunity arose for Green and Hargreaves to complete their acquisition, giving the brand a fourth corporate life.
Business structure creates transparency
Under the new ownership, Envirofone and The iOutlet are positioned as separate but complementary businesses. Envirofone will focus exclusively on trade-ins while The iOutlet will continue to specialise in resale. The separation of functions creates a clear and transparent structure, which the founders argue benefits both the business and consumers.
By managing both trade-in and resale in distinct operations, Envirofone can provide clearer explanations to consumers while maintaining competitive margins. The model also “gives the businesses greater independence and flexibility” rather than reliant on external resale partners.
Operational improvements and technology updates
Envirofone currently processes approximately 40,000 devices per year. With the new management team in place, that figure is expected to grow significantly. All processing will remain in-house, maintaining control over grading and refurbishment standards. Operations will continue to run exclusively online, focusing on efficiency and scalability.
A major element of the relaunch is a complete overhaul of Envirofone’s website. The existing site is being replaced with a more cost-effective and flexible platform. The aim is to deliver a modern user experience that supports the upcoming brand relaunch and positions Envirofone competitively alongside other leading online players.
Competition and market positioning
The trade-in and resale sector in the UK remains highly competitive. The new Envirofone leadership identifies Mazuma and Magpie as the company’s most direct competitors, while Back Market has recently emerged as a strong player in the trade-in space.
Apple is not considered a major competitor in this area. The founders argue that Apple’s trade-in prices are unattractive for savvy consumers, making independent platforms like Envirofone a better alternative. Instead of competing directly with Apple, Envirofone will focus on leveraging its strong brand heritage and consumer trust, factors that continue to resonate with customers making decisions in the secondary market.
Experience of the founders
Matt Green, Sam Hargreaves and Lewis Cox bring over 35 years of combined experience in mobile recommerce. Matt Green began his career in 2010, co-founding The iOutlet, while Sam Hargreaves previously ran TRG until 2021 before it was acquired by German recommerce giant reBuy reCommerce GmbH where he worked for a further 2 years.
Both founders are in their 30s, bringing fresh energy alongside years of industry experience. They see this combination as a strength in staying agile and responding quickly to shifts in consumer demand, supply chain challenges, and market opportunities.
With the support of partner Lewis Cox, the team believes they are better positioned than previous owners to drive the Envirofone brand forward.
International growth plans
Looking ahead, international expansion is firmly on the agenda. Envirofone plans to re-enter European markets from the second quarter of 2026. The founders believe that the combination of updated technology, refreshed branding, and a transparent business model will make international re-entry viable.
For now, the focus remains on stabilising UK operations, relaunching the brand, and scaling processing volumes. Industry observers will be watching closely to see whether Envirofone can reclaim its position as a market leader.
Envirofone’s history reflects the broader evolution of the secondary mobile industry, with cycles of growth, restructuring, and renewed investment. Under its latest ownership, the brand has the potential to combine legacy recognition with entrepreneurial agility.
With competition intensifying and consumer interest in refurbished Apple iPhone devices continuing to rise, the timing of Envirofone’s relaunch may prove advantageous. If Matt Green, Sam Hargreaves, and Lewis Cox succeed, Envirofone could again become one of the most influential names in Europe’s secondary electronics trade-in market.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
