By Debidutt Acharya
NEW DELHI (India CSR): Smartphones in India are hand-held superpower devices for 1 billion out of a population closing on 1.5 billion, arguably the largest and fastest growing in the world. India is also constantly topping charts in areas of digital inclusion, remote working in the gig economy, affordable phone data and the crown jewel of UPI payment transactions, which makes it a world leader on tech inclusivity. However, the flipside is a matter that requires serious reckoning as India alone generates e-waste at an alarming rate. India’s own sources suggest that Indian e-waste weighs upwards of 1.75 million metric tonnes, a 72% increase from 2020; making India the world’s third largest e-waste producer. Smartphones take a lion’s share of that percentage of that mounting e-waste landfill, contributing to air pollution through toxins and further health crises from the same. An ideal method to address the obvious issue of sustainability is to promote circular smartphone practices. A culture of repairing and reusing gadgets, especially phones, can be the best antidote that can reduce manufacturing emissions and extend device lifecycles. A digital economy can flourish with the helping hand of sustainable business practices.
The Linear Model Trap
The root problem lies in the linear “take-make-waste” model: rare earth metals mined in Congo, components assembled in China, and devices shipped globally before brief use and discard. This embeds massive upfront emissions that could be avoided. The way forward is not so complicated and requires the adjustment of mindset towards the policy of reuse and refurbishment. Millions of devices in India that can be termed functional lie unused and idle. A simple process that includes diagnoses, performing quality checks and upgrading hardware and software can cut down emissions of virgin production by half. Booming refurbished markets are proof that the Right to Repair movement has borne fruit. Startup outfits like One800 have helped accelerate this shift by making high-quality repair and refurbishment more accessible, transparent, and efficient for everyday users. Accessibility is the last step to bridge this gap and making service centres as ubiquitous as sales outlets is the best way to bring in a mindset shift.
Repair Over Replace: The Mindset Driving a Greener Device Economy
A repair-first mindset delivers immediate environmental and economic gains. Extending a smartphone’s life by just one year cuts its carbon footprint by up to 30% because almost 80 percent of its total emissions come from manufacturing rather than usage. Every repair reduces demand for new raw materials and slows the rapid turnover of devices.
For devices that are genuinely beyond repair, responsible end-of-life management completes the loop. Under the E-Waste (Management) Rules 2022, compliant disposal ensures materials re-enter the supply chain instead of ending up in informal scrap yards where nearly 80% of India’s e-waste is mishandled, releasing toxic fumes. Stronger repair adoption combined with partnerships with EPR-compliant recyclers can help India move toward its goal of 70% formal e-waste recycling by 2030. This shift not only reduces environmental pressure but also creates millions of potential green jobs in collection, dismantling and material recovery.
India’s Strategic Return on E-Waste
For India, this is strategic gold. Turning waste into wealth by integrating IT policies slash Scope 3 emissions, enhance ESG ratings and save 70% on repairs versus replacements. Laptop repairs, device refurbishments and re-commerce alliances is a win-win for all parties involved. This can be further accelerated by policymakers by allowing tax incentives to consumers and by prioritising platforms that offer transparency, device safety, date security and quick turnaround. A timely judgement call on circular smartphone practices can transform India from an e-waste landfill to recycling giant while also halving emissions and guiding sustainable digital growth towards net-zero. Digital-first One800 has the chance to redefine how circular smartphone practices can scale economically and sustainably.
About the Author
Debidutt Acharya, Co-founder and COO of One800
(India CSR)
