Refurbished, but by whose rules?
Refurbishment has huge potential. By keeping products in use for longer, it cuts emissions, reduces Europe’s dependence on raw materials and helps deliver the EU’s circular economy goals. For consumers, it offers exactly what many are looking for: a more affordable and more sustainable alternative to buying new.
The market is booming. Shops, online marketplaces and big brands all promise smartphones, laptops and other devices that are “as good as new”. It sounds like the best of both worlds. In reality, it often looks more like the wild west.
What this means in practice for consumers?
There is no common definition of what “refurbished” actually means. A product sold as refurbished may have been thoroughly tested, repaired and fitted with new parts, or simply cleaned and repackaged. Consumers have no way of knowing.
Quality labels such as “as good as new”, “excellent” or “grade A” vary from seller to seller, with no shared standards behind them. Warranties differ widely, and it is often unclear who actually refurbished the product, what was done to it and who is responsible if something goes wrong.
The result is confusion and uncertainty. Instead of being a confident, sustainable choice, buying refurbished can feel like a gamble, holding consumers back and undermining the potential of the entire market.
How do we upgrade the refurbished market?
Euroconsumers calls for clear EU rules to turn refurbished goods into a solid, trustworthy and accessible market:
A clear definition of “refurbished”, backed by a minimum two-year warranty, so consumers get the same protection as when buying new.
Clear standards for quality indicators such as “as good as new”, so labels mean the same thing wherever consumers shop.
Clear information on who did what, so consumers know who refurbished the product, what work was carried out and who to turn to if there is a problem.
Our call
Consumers are ready to choose refurbished. Now the market needs to be ready for them. With clear rules, refurbished products can become the sustainable, affordable win consumers are looking for, and a real driver of Europe’s circular economy.
