Orange Belgium collects over 115,000 old devices: one step closer towards a circular economy

After being the first operator in Belgium to introduce the Eco Rating label for devices and launching the Re program in 2022, the telecom operator has reached the milestone of 115,000 smartphones collected.

In Belgium, over 3 million smartphones remain unused[1]. Orange Belgium is committed to stimulating a more sustainable smartphone market and recovers thousands of mobile phones through its Re program.

The Re program was launched in 2022 and is proving to be a real catalyst to encourage customers to hand in their old or unused smartphones: last year, Orange Belgium collected over 34,000 devices in the retail market, four times more than in 2020 and taking them well past the milestone of 100,000 collected devices. One third of these units were recycled, and two thirds were given a second life as a refurbished phone. To further expand its refurbished mobile devices offering, Orange Belgium has set a collective goal for refurbished mobile phones of 10% of total sales by 2025.

Furthermore, for each device that ends up in the Re program, Orange Belgium donates 2 euros to the environmental protection program Natagora/Natuurpunt, which plants trees and hedges in our country. Thanks to these donations, more than 4,000 trees were planted in Belgium in 2022.

The Re program: 4 simple ways to save money and help the planet

• Repair: every Orange Belgium shop offers a repair service to help customers keep their device longer. Battery problems, broken screens, … Orange Belgium repairs customers’ phones and extends their life.
• Refurbish: the operator offers a second life to devices through the sale of refurbished smartphones. Choosing a refurbished mobile phone means limiting its environmental impact while acquiring a like-new device at a lower cost. One refurbished mobile phone = 30 kg of CO2e  avoided[2].
• Recycle: non-reusable mobile phones are recycled and their valuable raw materials recovered. Orange undertakes to erase personal data before recycling a customer’s mobile phone.
• Return: a program that allows customers to hand in their old devices at an Orange shop in return for a voucher. In 2/3 of cases, the devices are reused or refurbished while the remaining 1/3 are recycled.

A win-win for your budget and the planet

With its Re program, the telecom operator clearly appeals to its environmentally and cost-conscious customers. Orange Belgium was also the first operator to launch the Eco Rating, a label offering key information on the sustainability rating of devices to help customers make educated choices.

Isabelle Vanden Eede, Chief Communication, Brand and CSR Officer at Orange Belgium: “By collecting, recycling and refurbishing phones, Orange Belgium is responding to growing customer demand in this area. In our constant search for sustainable solutions, we are happy and proud to expand our range with more responsible smartphones that take care of citizens, society and the planet. The combination of our Re program and the Eco Rating, which promotes the most sustainable practices on the smartphone market, is undeniable proof of how an operator can actually make a difference.”