The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has launched a new initiative to help mobile operators reduce electronic waste while turning discarded and underused devices into potential economic value.
The initiative, known as Circularity Services, is designed to help operators and other players in the mobile ecosystem extend the lifespan of devices, recover and reuse equipment, and improve the responsible recycling of end-of-life ICT assets.
GSMA Industry Services said the new offering responds to growing pressure on mobile operators to meet sustainability targets while also improving operational efficiency and extracting value from equipment that might otherwise become waste.
The programme has been launched with two commercial partners, Closing the Loop and Recycle Global Exchange (RGX), offering operators different approaches to device recovery, recycling and asset management.
Closing the Loop will provide its One for One service, which connects the sale of a new mobile device with the collection and responsible recycling of one end-of-life phone.
The model is intended to give operators a measurable way to incorporate circularity into their device offerings while helping reduce the amount of electronic waste entering the environment.
The service has already been used by Vodafone, Samsung and T-Mobile for devices sold in Europe, while Google uses the programme globally, according to GSMA.
The second partner, RGX, addresses the issue from an asset recovery perspective through a neutral online marketplace for enterprise asset disposition and e-waste management.
Its platform connects organisations with service providers through an automated marketplace, allowing businesses to seek competitive bids for redundant devices and equipment while ensuring that assets are handled through responsible disposal and recycling processes.
The RGX service is initially available in the United States, with plans to expand internationally.
Joost de Kluijver, co-founder and chief executive officer of Closing the Loop, said linking the sale of a new device to the collection and responsible recycling of an old phone would allow operators to take practical steps towards reducing waste while supporting their wider circularity objectives.
Sean Miles, co-founder of RGX, said the partnership would help more organisations move from circularity commitments to practical implementation by making asset recovery and e-waste management more efficient.
According to him, the platform can help operators recover value from redundant equipment while supporting transparent and responsible recycling practices.
Sianne Ryder, CEO of Events and Industry Services at GSMA, said the launch was aimed at making it easier for mobile operators to take concrete action on circularity.
She said bringing together services focused on responsible recycling and asset recovery would enable organisations to reduce waste while unlocking additional value from existing equipment.
“Circular approaches are both more sustainable and deliver meaningful operational and commercial benefits for the industry,” Ryder said.
The GSMA initiative reflects a development in the mobile industry towards treating device disposal as part of the commercial lifecycle of technology rather than solely as an environmental issue.
