Hand mit Handy beim Reparieren
Foto: © Emporia
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Economy & Infrastructure

12,000 mobile phones repaired every year: repairing instead of throwing away

Mobile phone repair, emporia, sustainability

The European smartphone company emporia, based in Linz, is a pioneer when it comes to sustainable repairs. In the company's own repair workshop in Linz's Industriezeile, defective mobile phones have been repaired for more than 20 years.

emporia Mann repariert Handy
Foto: © Emporia

"Even with a ten or twelve-year-old mobile phone, it can be worth replacing the battery or the display," explains Eveline Pupeter, Managing Director of emporia.

Every year, the company's eight service employees repair around 12,000 mobile phones, including both smartphones and classic push-button phones. The most common types of damage include defective displays - caused by drops on tiled floors or from car roofs - batteries that need to be replaced and water damage, for example if the mobile phone falls into the toilet. The repair time is surprisingly short: on average it takes two days, a display replacement is often completed within one day.

The average repair cost is 84 euros, with the repair bonus it is only 42 euros.

"That's the cost price. We don't want to earn anything from the repair, but see this service as a contribution to sustainability and customer loyalty," says Pupeter.

Emporia also sets itself apart with its spare parts policy: parts are stocked far beyond the legal requirements, sometimes even for devices that are more than 13 years old. Around ten per cent of the batteries that are replaced come from mobile phones that have been in use for more than eight years. In this way, the company actively contributes to maximising the service life of its products. Pupeter emphasises: "Our mobile phones should be used for as long as possible - that is our contribution to sustainability."

Electronic waste: a global problem with local solutions

Electronic waste is a growing problem that places a heavy burden on both the environment and resources. In Austria, around 600,000 old mobile phones end up in the rubbish every year, although many of them could still be repaired. These devices contain valuable raw materials such as gold, copper and rare earths, the mining of which causes considerable environmental damage. Instead of disposing of a damaged smartphone immediately, repairing it could often be a sensible alternative.

Conscious handling of defective mobile phones can not only reduce waste, but also conserve resources. Repairing extends the lifespan of devices and reduces the need to buy new products. Companies like emporia show how simple and cost-effective repairs can be. Those who choose to do so make an important contribution to environmental protection - and often save money at the same time.

Mitarbeiter repariert Handy
Foto: © Emporia
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