Why cities are crucial to scaling device reuse
Valuable devices are sitting unused while millions remain digitally excluded and global technology supply chains face growing pressure.
The UK has a technology paradox.
Our recent research showed there are around 460 million unused digital devices* sitting in UK homes and businesses. Of those unused devices, almost six in ten - equivalent to around 267 million phones, tablets and laptops** - are still suitable for reuse or repair.
How many of us, either at home or in our organisations, have devices sitting unused in drawers and cupboards?
At the same time, 1.5 million people remain without access to a smartphone, tablet or laptop, unable to access the devices they need to participate fully in modern life. The opportunity is clear: connect technology that still has years of life left with people who need it.
Achieving this at scale requires us to move beyond traditional discussions on hardware recycling and refurbishment at the end of a device’s life. While this remains important, a whole systems approach reveals a much bigger opportunity: creating local ecosystems that keep technology in use for longer whilst delivering wider social, economic and environmental benefits.
That’s the ambition behind our recently launched £3m Tech Rehome Network fund designed to support cities to strengthen and scale existing reuse infrastructure, and we have a bold ambition to support 30 cities by 2030.
Why device reuse is more important than ever
The environmental case for device reuse is well established. Research cited by the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) suggests that 70-90% of a smartphone's lifecycle carbon footprint is generated during manufacturing. Extending the useful life of devices is therefore one of the most effective ways to reduce their environmental impact.
By keeping technology in circulation for longer, we can create social value through improved digital inclusion, reduce demand for new products and make better use of resources that already exist in our communities.
Building resilience in an uncertain world
The circular economy may not yet be an everyday term, but it offers a useful lens through which to understand wider economic and societal challenges.
Growing geopolitical tensions, increasing competition for critical materials and rising global demand for technology are placing greater pressure on global supply chains. Government, industry and consumers are all becoming more aware of the risks associated with our dependence on complex global supply networks and the impact this has on the price and availability of goods.
By maximising the value of technology already in circulation, communities can become less dependent on purchasing new devices while ensuring that valuable resources remain in use for longer.
Why cities are the missing piece
Despite growing recognition of the benefits of device reuse, many discussions focus primarily on the business case for circularity. Much less attention is paid to the infrastructure, partnerships and coordination needed to make reuse frictionless, trusted and normal practice.
This is where cities can play a vital role.
Unlike national programmes, cities are uniquely positioned to co-ordinate the entire device reuse ecosystem. They can bring together local authorities, employers, universities, health services, community organisations and residents within a defined geography. This concentration of assets, influence and need creates an opportunity to test new approaches, build partnerships and scale successful models more quickly.
This aligns with wider thinking across the circular economy community. World Resources Forum (WRF) has highlighted the importance of systems-level approaches that bring together multiple actors, recognising that scale is achieved through coordination rather than isolated interventions.
What successful reuse systems have in common
Our experience has shown that successful device reuse depends on access to unwanted devices, strong local coordination, trusted delivery partners and a shared commitment to increasing digital inclusion.
Our work on our previous £1m Time after Time Fund, run in partnership with Hubbub, our partnership with Coventry City Council, and our recent research on infrastructure and behavioural systems mapping, we’ve seen that when these elements come together, cities are well placed to create lasting change and build stronger local reuse ecosystems.
Introducing the Tech Rehome Network Fund
That's why Virgin Media O2 has launched the £3 million Tech Rehome Network Fund.
The fund will invest in local organisations to strengthen and scale the networks, and infrastructure cities need to keep devices in use for longer. By making it easier for organisations to pass on unwanted technology, we can help give devices a second life while enabling more people to get online.
Alongside increasing access to technology, we hope to generate evidence that can help policymakers, local authorities, community organisations and businesses understand how device reuse can be scaled more effectively.
As founder signatories of the Government's IT Reuse for Good Charter, we believe organisations can do more by working together to drive the local systems-level change needed to strengthen and scale device reuse.
Local authorities will play a central role in the success of the programme, which is why fund applicants are being asked to provide a statement of commitment from their local authority.
A chance to build stronger local systems
Cities are uniquely positioned to lead this change which is why they are prioritised in our Tech Rehome Network. By strengthening local coordination, supporting reuse infrastructure and sharing learning between places, we can build more resilient communities, improve digital inclusion and retain the value of technology already in circulation.
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*The estimate of almost 460 million unused digital devices was calculated by multiplying the average number of unused phones, tablets and laptops reported by survey respondents (7 per household and 45 per business) by the latest estimates of 29.0 million UK households (Office for National Statistics) and 5.7 million UK private sector businesses (Department for Business and Trade Business Population Estimates 2025), before combining the two totals.
**The estimate of around 267 million devices suitable for reuse or repair was calculated by applying the proportion of unused devices respondents said were still suitable for reuse or repair (58%) to the overall estimate of unused devices.
