Back Market and iFixit launch global partnership to end the culture of fast tech

Back Market, the leading marketplace dedicated to Verified Refurbished technology, and iFixit, the global repair community, today announced a partnership to address the culture of fast tech and overconsumption.  Focusing on a combination of reuse, repair, and refurbishment, the partnership will integrate iFixit toolkits and tutorials across Back Market while incorporating refurbished technology options and information on all iFixit channels. 

Back Market and iFixit are also calling on consumers to extend the lifespans of their smartphones from 2.5 to 5 years, and for manufacturers to extend their support of device software to 10 years to ensure more devices stay in circulation longer and don’t end up in landfills.  For example, keeping an iPhone 13 for 5 years instead of 2.5 years with a battery replacement cuts its annual carbon emissions by 49%, which could prevent 15.6 million tons of CO2 emissions per year.  Extending its life to 10 years through repairs and refurbishment reduces emissions by 68%. If adopted worldwide, this shift could prevent 21.6 million tons of CO2 emissions per year*.

A global campaign to combat e-waste

E-waste is the fastest-growing form of pollution on the planet, with approximately 62 million tons produced worldwide in 2022. That figure is expected to double by 2050, and the US is currently the second largest producer, recycling just 15% of e-waste. While manufacturers continue to release new devices marketed with must-have features, Back Market and iFixit are dedicated to making buying and repairing refurbished electronics a mainstream habit while challenging consumers to rethink the lifecycle of our phones. 

“Keeping a smartphone for 5 years shouldn’t be the exception for consumers; it should be the norm and we know we can go even further.” – Thibaud Hug de Larauze, CEO and co-founder of Back Market

“With software support, accessible repair tools and trade-in services, devices can stay in circulation for a full decade," continues Hug de Larauze. "The entire system – from manufacturers to telco providers – must stop pushing premature hardware upgrades and start enabling long-lasting tech. The future isn’t about getting a new phone every two years; it’s about making the one you have truly last longer.” "We can't keep throwing electronics away at the same rate," said Kyle Wiens, iFixit CEO. "iFixit's been helping you fix your own devices for over 20 years, and today, we're teaming up with Back Market to ask you to buy refurbished and fix your phone when it breaks. We're also calling on manufacturers to make software and security updates available for 10 years. Our mobile devices can and should last that long. Our shared future depends on it."

Championing Right to Repair in the US

Today, it is common for manufacturers to create friction between consumers and a fair repair experience. By limiting access to manuals, parts, and software upgrades, manufacturers control the lifecycle of our devices and perpetuate the overproduction and overconsumption of devices, in particular smartphones. On average, smartphones have a device lifecycle of 2-3 years. To help consumers extend the life cycle of their devices, iFixit maintenance kits will now be available on Back Market’s marketplace, enabling DIY repair capabilities. Additionally, the Back Market app will offer users diagnostic tools to measure the health of their devices and recommended maintenance tips to keep their smartphones in working order. Back Market's app also offers trade-in services where consumers can receive credit for their old devices when purchasing a verified refurbished devices.

Back Market and iFixit are also advocating for the Right to Repair, a policy initiative aimed at creating free choice and fair competition for repairing devices. Lauren Benton, General Manager at Back Market, US, has been named to the Repair.org board and will serve as a strong voice in advancing legislation across the US. Back Market also announced a contribution of $100,000 to Repair.org to support state-by-state Right to Repair legislative efforts in the U.S. 

*Scenario calculation based on the carbon footprint of manufacturing from Apple Product Environmental Reports; refurbishment emissions from ADEME study; repair emissions from the Life Cycle Assessment of the Fairphone 5; and CO₂-to-household energy consumption conversion from the U.S. EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator and the number of smartphones sold in 2023

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About Back Market

Back Market is the leading global marketplace dedicated to Verified Refurbished technology. Our mission is to create a world that does more with what we already have by prolonging the lifespan of electronic devices through circularity and repair. Founded in Paris in 2014, the company has grown by double digits year over year and to date over 30 million refurbished devices have been sold on Back Market across 17 markets, avoiding approximately 1.6 billion Kg of carbon emissions. 

About iFixit

iFixit is a global repair community of people helping each other fix their stuff. We are millions of tinkerers, technicians, and volunteers working together to help people repair their devices every day. Why? Because most companies don't provide repair parts and documentation. We believe that everyone has the right to maintain and repair their products—however they see fit. Together we’re fixing the world, one broken gadget at a time!

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Press Contact

backmarket@inkhouse.com, mailto:press@ifixit.com