A recent report by Morgan Stanley Research, found that consumers in five countries felt growing concern around the dangers of e-waste.
The report by Morgan Stanley Research, found “that consumers in five countries felt growing concern around the dangers of e-waste” fostering a growth in consumers turning to trade-in programmes, recycling and refurbished devices to cut down on e-waste.
The report highlights that “for a growing share of environmentally conscious consumers, tossing old phones or computers into the trash is a non-starter.” Is “Trade-in or recycle” a better option the report asks.
The report cites a February survey from AlphaWise, “that consumers in five countries felt growing concern around the dangers of e-waste. With habits shifting as a result, the tech hardware industry will need to adapt to keep customers trading up to newer, more-powerful devices.”
Jessica Alsford, Head of Morgan Stanley Global Sustainability Research commented: “A new wave of environmentalism may only reinforce consumer resolve to discard and upgrade responsibly.” “Just as with single-use plastic and sustainable apparel, e-waste could be another focal point for responsible consumerism.”
The research showed that “60% of consumers are replacing electronic devices Less frequently.” Other trends include trading in old devices, buying refurbished devices and repairing devices that have stopped working.
The upshot for investors? Manufacturers with established trade-in and recycling programs may be best positioned to capitalize on consumers’ greener habits while cutting down on harmful e- waste.
The report suggests that device trade-in programs could solve the e-waste crisis while benefiting manufacturers, consumers and the planet.
“Increasing the number of trade-in programs—and incentivizing buyers into using them—makes devices more affordable and also improves the supply for the refurbished device market, where demand is accelerating,” says Katy Huberty, Head of North American Technology Hardware Equity Research for Morgan Stanley.
You can read the full report here.
