GVA- Following the Pommelien Thijs campaign, Recupel commits structurally to the reuse of collected mobile phones
Every collection campaign for old mobile phones raises the same question: what actually happens to those devices afterwards? Too often, they are sent straight to recycling, even though a significant share is still technically fit for use.
At Brainscape, we always start from one clear principle: reuse where possible, recycle where necessary.
That is why we work together with Recupel to ensure that collected mobile phones are first thoroughly screened for reuse, before being classified as e-waste.
From collection to reuse
Large-scale collection campaigns, such as the one involving Pommelien Thijs, result in thousands of devices being gathered at once. Each phone is individually tested by our teams across more than twenty technical checkpoints, including battery performance, connectivity, audio and overall functionality.
All data is then permanently and certified erased. Only after that do we determine the next step:
- devices that meet both technical and aesthetic standards are prepared for reuse,
- devices that can no longer be restored are transferred to specialised recycling partners.
This approach prevents valuable electronics from being unnecessarily destroyed.
Measurable impact
Based on our experience, around one in four collected mobile phones can be put back into use. That translates into less waste, reduced pressure on raw materials and a tangible circular outcome.
For Recupel and its partners, this method also brings greater transparency. It provides clear insights into how many devices are reused, how many are recycled and what the real environmental impact is. These data points are increasingly essential for sustainability reporting and long-term objectives.
Circular electronics in practice
Our collaboration with Recupel fits into a broader vision of circular electronics. In addition to mobile phones, Brainscape also processes laptops, tablets, screens and other IT equipment, always with the same focus on security, quality and reuse where possible.
Because a circular economy only works when it is practical, scalable and verifiable.
This article is based on a publication in Gazet van Antwerpen.
Read the original article here.
