Latest News - Lenovo’s commitment to refurbished devices in Denmark

Lenovo’s commitment to refurbished devices in Denmark

Lenovo has launched its Certified Refurbished Solution in Denmark, reinforcing its commitment to circularity and supporting customers in achieving their net zero targets. This initiative aligns with the growing trend in the Nordic countries, where customers increasingly seek tech providers offering comprehensive sustainability solutions. Asset recovery services are gaining popularity as companies aim to meet their sustainability goals through secure and documented disposal of IT hardware and data. Lenovo’s Certified Refurbished program extends the lifecycle of devices, providing a sustainable option that maintains high standards of quality, security, and performance.

Refurbished devices are particularly suitable for organisations or departments that do not require high processing power, such as back-office roles or warehouse operations. Lenovo’s rigorous refurbishment process ensures that each device is data sanitised, tested, and certified to meet the company’s high standards. These devices, typically three to four years old, are refurbished with original parts when necessary, making them Windows-11 ready and extending their usability. Lenovo Certified Refurbished devices come with a standard one-year warranty, with options to extend up to three years, offering reliability and reducing electronic waste.

Denmark’s strong commitment to sustainability, from renewable energy use to recycling initiatives, makes it an ideal candidate for Lenovo’s Certified Refurbished program. The country’s public national procurement agency, SKI, has announced a public tender to drive the implementation of refurbished devices, set to roll out in the coming years. Lenovo aims to be at the forefront of this movement, continuously gathering feedback and adjusting its offerings to meet customer needs and sustainability goals. This initiative is a crucial part of Lenovo’s broader strategy to support customers in their journey towards net zero targets and contribute positively to the environment.

Reconomia and Youzd boost product longevity in France

Reconomia, a subsidiary of UnitedB (Electrodép?t, Boulanger), has partnered with Youzd to enhance the digitalisation and resale channels for over 200 refurbishers in its network. This collaboration aims to provide these partners with a streamlined solution for listing their products online and accessing a B2C sales platform, thereby supporting the circular economy.

The partnership between Reconomia and Youzd is driven by their complementary offerings and shared goals of extending product lifespans, maximising the value of existing resources, and enabling consumers to make responsible choices. By combining their strengths, they aim to promote sustainability and resource efficiency in the electronics market.

Youzd offers the ideal distribution channel for Reconomia’s refurbishers, facilitating easy product listings, targeting the right consumer audience, and providing tailored services, especially in transportation. With the addition of Reconomia’s partners, Youzd is expanding its offerings and solidifying its position as the leading platform for circular purchases in France.

Fairphone 5: more features and more sustainable

The Fairphone 5 represents a significant upgrade for the eco-friendly smartphone maker, featuring an enhanced main camera, a modern design, and a faster chipset compared to its predecessor. This model retains Fairphone’s hallmark features, such as a robust build, an easily repairable design, and a strong commitment to software updates. However, the shift to a more premium offering comes with a higher price tag, which may deter some potential buyers. Despite these advancements, some recurring issues from previous models persist.

Fairphone has carved out a unique niche in the smartphone market with its strong focus on sustainability. Each model, including the Fairphone 5, incorporates sustainably sourced materials, promotes longevity to prevent frequent upgrades, and uses recyclable packaging. The Fairphone 5 continues this tradition, being easily repairable with parts that can be replaced using a simple screwdriver. The company also promises at least five years of software updates, ensuring the device remains functional and secure for an extended period. Many components are made from renewable sources or recycled materials, making it one of the greenest options available.

Despite its eco-friendly credentials, the Fairphone 5 faces challenges in competing with other premium smartphones. While it boasts significant improvements, such as a better screen and a more powerful chipset, it still lags behind in some areas like camera performance and overall value for money. The design, featuring a modular approach and a see-through back, emphasises durability and repairability, with military-grade durability and IP55 certification. However, its size and weight might not appeal to everyone, and the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack could be a drawback for some users.

Building circularity with Microsoft and United.b

United.b leverages innovation to advance its commitment to sustainable development. Collaborating with Microsoft, the company utilises cloud technology, data, and AI to create more efficient and sustainable IT infrastructures. This partnership enables United.b to strategically manage its ESG initiatives and optimise its model for product recovery, refurbishment, and resale. Beyond a typical supplier-client relationship, Microsoft and United.b are connected through a European program for the recovery of products from the Microsoft Store, managed by United.b.

Circular economy principles are central to United.b’s operations. The platform comprises various retail and appliance companies dedicated to creating a comprehensive and positive circularity chain for electronic products, from distribution to recycling, including buyback and refurbishment. Each company within the platform adopts a sustainable and responsible approach, necessitating profound internal transformations. This strategic partnership with Microsoft exemplifies their shared commitment to fostering a more circular and sustainable economy.

A key aspect of the partnership between United.b and Microsoft involves migrating the platform’s infrastructure to the cloud using Microsoft Azure. Sébastien Hidocq, Chief Digital Officer of United.b, highlights the benefits of public cloud services, noting their high performance, flexibility, and energy efficiency. This migration aims to integrate Green IT practices across the group’s brands, allowing them to run business applications efficiently by consuming resources as needed, which is crucial for the platform and its subsidiaries that experience cyclical activity throughout the year.

United.b’s commitment to frugality is further demonstrated through a strategy focused on extra-financial data to better measure environmental impact. The goal is to simplify, automate, and accelerate data collection and processing to offer better products and adopt a more virtuous approach towards customers, employees, and ecosystems. United.b has chosen Microsoft Sustainability Manager to efficiently manage data and stay ahead in this increasingly central area. This tool supports the creation of mandatory extra-financial reports under the CSRD, helping the group identify relevant data and develop reliable measures for decision-making, ultimately aiming for a more sustainable circular economy. Additionally, Recommerce, part of United.b’s ecosystem, leverages AI through Azure OpenAI Service to enhance pricing strategies and detect product faults, improving the performance of the circular economy by predicting trends and optimising the resale of refurbished products.

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