Is buying refurbished better for the environment?
Yes, buying refurbished Apple products is better for the environment than buying new. It extends the life of a device that already exists, which avoids most of the carbon emissions, mining, and e-waste tied to building a new one. Apple's own Product Environmental Reports attribute roughly 80% of an iPhone's lifecycle carbon footprint to production, not to daily use, so reusing a device is where the biggest saving comes from.
Is buying refurbished AirPods or iPhones better for the environment than new ones?
Yes, for the same reason across every product. Because most of an Apple device's emissions come from manufacturing, choosing a refurbished iPhone, AirPods, MacBook, or iPad avoids the bulk of that footprint. The greenest device is one that already exists and stays in use, whatever the category.
How does buying refurbished help?
- Avoids new manufacturing emissions. Per Apple's environmental reports, production accounts for the large majority of a product's lifecycle carbon, so reuse prevents a new unit's biggest emissions from ever happening.
- Reduces e-waste. The world generated a record 62 million tonnes of electronic waste in 2022, per the UN Global E-waste Monitor 2024, and less than a quarter was properly recycled. Keeping a working device in use helps slow that.
- Saves raw materials. A new device requires mining finite resources such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earth metals. A refurbished one reuses what has already been extracted.
The circular economy connection
Buying refurbished is a practical way to take part in the circular economy, where products stay in use instead of being discarded after one owner. For more, read our guide on the circular economy and buying refurbished.
Refurbished without giving up quality
The environmental win does not cost you reliability. Refurbished Apple products on RefurbMe are fully tested and come with a warranty, so you get a dependable device and a lower footprint.
