Reducing e-waste through circular device management

Electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets are typically designed for relatively short use cycles, leading to frequent replacement and large volumes of electronic waste. This linear consumption model contributes to resource depletion, high manufacturing emissions, and growing environmental pressure from discarded devices.

Despite the availability of repair and refurbishment options, the electronics value chain often lacks coordination, transparency, and accessible infrastructure. Businesses struggle to manage large device fleets efficiently, while consumers face barriers to repair, including limited access to trusted service providers and a lack of standardised quality assurance. As a result, many devices are prematurely replaced rather than repaired or refurbished, limiting opportunities for value retention and contributing to unnecessary environmental impact across the electronics lifecycle.

ReNew Lifecycle addresses these challenges through an integrated ecosystem combining Intelligent Device Fleet Management with a ‘Right to Repair’ platform. The fleet management system enables companies to track, maintain, and optimise their device inventories across procurement, usage, and end-of-life stages. In parallel, the Right to Repair platform connects users with certified repair providers, ensuring access to reliable and standardised repair services. By prioritising transparency and quality monitoring, the platform helps build trust in repair networks and supports longer device lifespans. Together, these tools create a coordinated digital infrastructure for managing electronic devices more sustainably. The system supports refurbishment, repair, and reuse while enabling data-driven decisions that improve efficiency and reduce waste across device lifecycles.

ReNew Lifecycle demonstrates how integrated repair ecosystems can significantly extend the lifespan of electronic devices and reduce e-waste generation. By enabling higher rates of repair and refurbishment, the solution reduces demand for new device production and associated carbon emissions. The approach also improves resource efficiency by increasing the share of devices kept in circulation. Notably, the project has supported an increase in refurbishment rates from approximately 80% to a targeted 95%, highlighting its impact on improving recovery and reuse performance within electronics value chains.