BackMarket

Description

BackMarket’s digital marketplace for refurbished electronics helps coordinate stakeholders to close the loop on e-waste and open up access to reliable tech for all. The platform connects buyers and sellers of smartphones, laptops, TVs, wearables, gaming, e-mobility, and countless other devices from all the leading manufacturers. Promising “better than new,” it partners with certified refurbishers to repair electronics for resale, at a ~70% lower price than new. The digital platform helps coordinate discovery, customer service, payment, logistics, tracking, a 25+ point quality assurance verification of authenticity, functionality, security, data erasure, battery, testing, cleaning, and more; and manages partners to refurbish products. Refurbished devices reduce an average of ~90% raw material extraction, emissions, water use, and waste relative to new devices.

What Makes it Regenerative?

• enables circularity
• enables access & participation
• supports coordination & consensus
• affixes value to the undervalued

Business Model

Backmarket sells both B2C and B2B, takes a 10% share off the refurbished sale price, and engages in direct brand partnerships.

Risks & Limitations

• Immense business and reputational risk based on 3rd party refurbishers
• Selection and availability may not easily align to where demand originates
• Further complicated by various device/network jurisdictions
• Significant supply chain footprint in shipping devices between suppliers
• Refurbishers, customers, etc.