Growing consumer concern about electronic waste is not translating into meaningful action, according to new research from refurbished technology retailer 4gadgets, highlighting a key challenge for the industry as it looks to accelerate progress toward a circular economy.
The study of 2,150 UK adults found that 38% are very or extremely concerned about the growing amount of e-waste.
Despite this, behaviour remains inconsistent. Only 11% say they recycle their old smartphones, while 39% keep them unused as spares, leaving a significant volume of devices sitting idle and outside the circular economy.
The findings point to a disconnect between awareness and action, suggesting that while sustainability is becoming a more prominent consideration, it is not yet driving consistent behavioural change. This indicates that concern alone is not enough to influence outcomes, with convenience, awareness and access to recycling or resale options likely playing a key role in consumer decision making.
This is further reflected in purchasing habits. While 85% of respondents say they consider the lifespan of a device at least sometimes, only 20% say they always factor it into buying decisions, indicating that longevity is not yet a primary driver for most consumers.
In response, 4gadgets has launched its Tech Out of Our Landfill (TOOL) campaign, aimed at encouraging consumers to keep devices in circulation for longer through reuse, resale and responsible recycling.
As part of the initiative, the company has developed an e-waste calculator designed to help quantify the environmental impact of consumer devices.
Jordan Cook, general manager at 4gadgets, said: “There’s a clear gap between awareness and action when it comes to e-waste. Consumers are increasingly conscious of the issue, but that isn’t always reflected in what happens to devices after use. For the industry, the challenge now is making it easier for people to act on that awareness, whether through better incentives, clearer information or more accessible routes to reuse and recycling.”
The findings suggest that improving consumer education and simplifying the process of recycling and reselling devices will be critical to reducing the volume of unused tech and supporting a more circular electronics market.
4gadgets says the TOOL campaign forms part of a broader effort to support a more circular approach to consumer electronics and reduce the number of devices being left unused in homes across the UK, eventually ending up in landfill.