DNA is selling old phones online

DNA's trade-in service is constantly developed by listening to the wishes of customers. DNA is beginning to sell used phones, which is a feature of the Vaihtokapula online store. Electronic waste is the largest waste stream in the world. Mobile phones contain a lot of valuable noble metals, and the carbon footprint of their excavation is considerable. There is a way to get closer to the climate objectives by increasing circularity.

If a mobile phone is used for about three years, some 80 of its greenhouse emissions are formed when the phone is manufactured, and the raw materials are procured,'' according to studies. By extending the life span of a phone by only a year, its carbon footprint is reduced by about a third. Mikko Valtonen, who is the director of Vaihtokapula, says small deeds have big consequences.

The supply chains and the product flow of the new service are designed to be cost effective with the environment as a primary concern. The over 60 strong store DNA Store network and existing logistics services are used in the distribution of the phones. There isn't a charger and protective equipment included in the package, which can be bought easily when the phone is picked up from a DNA Store.

Finnish shops for used phones have focused heavily on Apple's iPhones until now. In Finland, Apple has only about 20 market share, so a large number of Finns are outside their target group. One of the main business ideas of Vaihtokapula is to bring Android phones into the used phones market. Vaihtokapula's range also includes the very inexpensive phones selling for 100 to 200 euros.

There are still certain friction factors in the circular economy of mobile phones in Finland. It is not always easy to find and buy a suitable phone in the web stores, as there are not many inexpensive used Androids available in online stores. Valtonen said that this was the beginning of our rolling our sleeves and beginning to develop our new service with the customer in mind.

According to the IDC, the market for used phones is growing faster than the market for new mobile phones. One of the factors slowing down the circular economy of smart phones is the fear and uncertainty associated with used mobile phones, according to DNA customer surveys.

There are also scams taking place online. Many people wonder if someone will be able to access their data if they sell their old mobile phone. Valtonen says that the mission of Vaihtokapula is to make buying and selling a used phone easy and safe.

All used phones in the Vaihtokapula online store go through a strict process. In addition to a three-stage classification of condition, every phone is subject to a complete deletion of any data and a detailed fault analysis. Before the phone is sold, the microphone, sensors, connections, antennas, and the screen's pixel errors are checked. All the devices put up for sale are in working condition. The newest devices are sold with a 12 month guarantee and can be purchased as an additional service for the older devices.