DNA's trade-in service is constantly developed by listening to the wishes of customers. DNA is beginning to sell used phones with the launch 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. Increased circularity is one of the ways to get closer to the climate objectives.
Some 80 of its greenhouse emissions are formed when a mobile phone is used for about three years, according to studies. The carbon footprint of a phone is reduced by a third by extending the life span of the phone by only a year. Mikko Valtonen, who is responsible for the Vaihtokapula business, says small deeds have big consequences.
The supply chains and 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, but they can be bought easily when a phone is picked up from a DNA Store.
Finnish used phones shops 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 central business ideas of Vaihtokapula is to bring Android phones into the used phones market. Vaihtokapula's range includes inexpensive phones selling for 100 to 200 euros, unlike many competitors.
In Finland, there are still certain friction factors in the circular economy of mobile phones. There are not many inexpensive used Androids available online in the web stores and it's not always easy to find and buy a suitable phone in the web stores. Valtonen said this was the starting point for our rolling sleeves and beginning to develop our new service with the customer in mind.
The market for used phones is growing faster, according to the IDC's research, the market for used phones is growing faster than the market for new mobile phones. One of the factors that has slowed down the circular economy of smart phones is the fear and uncertainty linked to used mobile phones, according to DNA customer surveys.
There are also a lot of 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. Every phone is subject to a complete deletion of any data and a detailed fault analysis, as well as a three-stage classification of condition. Before the phone is sold, the microphone, sensors, connections, antennas, and the screen's pixel errors are checked. All 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.