A small treasure equivalent to more than 11 billion euros. This is the estimated amount, according to a survey, of unused technological devices sleeping in French homes.
A figure which is surprising, but which above all shows the problems linked to the often too rapid replacement of our devices, to planned obsolescence, or even to the difficulties encountered in getting rid of them.
Devices often functional, but unused
The results of the survey conducted by OnePoll for ecoATM, a company specializing in the rapid purchase of smartphones via its kiosks, reveal that each French person has an average of 392.50 euros of unused technological devices at home. Once this figure is related to the number of households, the survey concludes that this represents approximately 11.4 billion euros of unused technological objects on French territory; in other words, the GDP of a small African country like Malawi.
All technological devices are concerned, but the survey reveals above all that the smartphone is one of the objects which is among the most rapidly abandoned, undoubtedly due to a strong obsolescence on this market, or even to the replacement needs that marketing knows how to create from scratch. The study shows that a French adult, during his life, will have owned 5.2 mobile phones on average and would still own 2.3. No less than 27% of them have more than three.
Electronic waste: French people concerned about the environment
The finding is probably less if we consider other types of devices such as televisions, laptops or game consoles. On the other hand, what emerges from this survey is above all the concern of the French with regard to the environment. Thus, nearly three out of four French people say they are concerned by the issue of electronic waste; unfortunately, only one in ten people say they have already recycled several of their mobile phones. If the French are more and more concerned about the issues raised by consumption in general, and more particularly in connection with electronic objects, it is clear that the lack of information to properly dispose of these devices is lacking.
Tom Enraght-Moony, President of ecoATM, rightly mentions the issues of clear information and compensation as encouragement in order to make the most of this unused, but often cumbersome and undesirable equipment.
In particular, he mentions his optimism regarding the awareness of environmental problems: “ It is reassuring to learn that many people are aware of the growing problem of electronic waste. But more can be done to highlight the consequences of landfilling old equipment when it is not properly disposed of. That’s why we want to encourage people to look for sustainable ways to give their unwanted equipment a second life and get paid for it. For example, in recent years, we have paid millions of euros to customers who deposit their old smartphones in our terminals. »
And you, how many smartphones are sleeping in your cupboards?
Source: press release
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