Think_Circular

Sustainability

Think circular

14 Dec, 2022

5 min read

14 Dec, 2022 . 5 min read

How does a business align itself with the circular economy? By reducing waste, by unlocking the value of existing material or by spreading the life of a product over more than one user. A regular existing business can reinvent itself and contribute to the circular economy by reimagining the work model to suit today’s needs.

‘The economic objective of the functional economy is to create the highest possible use value for the longest possible time while consuming as few material resources and energy as possible.’ – Walter R. Stahel

A quote by Walter R. Stahel on circular economy

The shift to circular is currently in motion among the world’s largest consumer, tech and retail firms like Apple, Nike and Ikea among others. NorthLadder’s circular solution of introducing electronics into the secondary market takes its cue from similar approaches. The NorthLadder business model works as an extension, helping transform businesses such as these from linear models to circular.

Take for example, the smartphone. The production of one phone needs 34 kilograms of mined ore, uses 100 liters of water and 20.5 grams of cyanide. What NorthLadder does is distribute these already consumed resources over more than one user, thus putting the concept of circular economy into motion, along with sustainability. In a circular economy, the focus is on extending the life cycle of a device. The devices of today are powerful enough to be used after you are done with them. Someone who is less demanding can use a device that is too slow, old or unfashionable for you. This makes sustainable economy principles more relevant to the device industry now than ever before; turning trade-ins and pre-loved sales into lucrative business opportunities.

Infographic of what does a phone contain

Revising economic thinking is not just about recycling or creating sustainable products. It is about using a product to its fullest – realizing its complete potential and consuming it till it can’t be used anymore; as opposed to simply buying a new one. That’s why the secondary market has taken up a new and significant role today. In Gunter Pauli’s words, ‘The key is to uncover value in waste.’

Focus should shift from disposal to re-use of goods, and to keeping them in use. While the solution is multi pronged – minimizing waste and pollution by designing it out, keeping products and materials in use and regenerating natural systems – NorthLadder contributes by keeping products and materials in use. This is not just the responsibility of manufacturers; as smartphone and device usage continue to grow rapidly, it is up to each of us to apply circular economy principles to our daily lives and recycle. Re-use is the easiest to follow – if you don’t shop at the secondary market, introduce your product to the secondary market for someone else to buy.

Pass your old device on – find it a new home. Just like you don’t park your old car in the garage, why stuff your drawers with old devices? Sell them, like you sell your old car, and upgrade to a better gadget model! What exactly is NorthLadder? NorthLadder is a unique service where you can sell your laptop, phone, smartwatch and tablet online and get instant cash in a safe, dignified and hassle-free manner. There is a significant difference between the average dealer price and maximum price you get if you sell your electronics online with NorthLadder. How do we manage to give you a good deal? The devil is in the details – NorthLadder has set up a platform of dealers who participate in an auction for your device. What you get is the highest bid or the best price for your used electronics from this auction. There are no hidden costs and no surprises. NorthLadder also offers a home pick up service to give you the option of carrying out the deal from the convenience of your home. When you sell your laptop or phone through us, we will back up and erase your data using internationally approved software, for a small fee. To understand how exactly we work, visit our website, or get in touch at support@nothladder.com .

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