Join Our “Pro-long Electronics” Campaign and Get Actively Engaged in Cutting Down Emissions! Extending the lifetime of electronic devices has become increasingly important as technological advancements are entering ever shorter innovation cycles. Using devices for longer periods of time saves emissions, valuable materials, and money. Do you own and still use an old device that might need a little upgrade? Let us know and you may profit repairing or refurbishing support from the “Pro-long the life of electronic appliances” campaign! Consumer electronics have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Smartphones, laptops, washing machines and many other devices help us optimise much of what we do professionally as well as privately. In the era of technological advancements, it can be easy to find oneself constantly looking for the newest devices in the market. As a result, it happens all too often that devices that are still functional or apt to be upgraded and/or refurbished end up unused in a corner of our homes. Consumers play a critical role in extending the lifetime of electronic devices and thus helping keep materials for longer in the loop. The joint campaign “Pro-long the life of electronic appliances” of the Circular Valley, the World Economic Forum, FixFirst, Miele, the CSCP and other partners aims at raising awareness on the role of consumers in extending the lifetimes of electronics. Why is it important? Extending the lifetime of electronic devices has many benefits. Firstly, it helps cut down carbon emissions as well as emissions from the energy it takes to make the products. As long as we do not have 100% renewable energy and effective recycling processes, life extension is key. A recent study of the European Environmental Bureau found that extending the life of consumers’ smartphones, washing machines, laptops and TVs in the EU by just one year could generate roughly 4 million tonnes of CO2 savings (EEB, 2019). Secondly, by using appliances longer, we can simultaneously reduce waste as well as new resource usage. Thirdly, it saves money. What can consumers do? Extending the lifetime of electronic devices already starts in the purchasing process. When deciding on a product, consumers can already check for information on the repairability of the new device. During the use phase, consumers can look for repairing and refurbishing options instead of swapping older devices for new ones. Finally, if consumers decide to buy a new device, the old one can be sold or donated – if still functional – or traded in for recycling. Would you like to get actively engaged in prolonging the life of electronics? Tell us about your oldest electronic device! Share a selfie of yourself with the oldest piece of functioning electronic equipment you have on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Linkedin with the hashtag #prolongwin to raise awareness and inspire. The winner will be able to win a 500 EUR repair voucher, 2nd and 3rd place get 250 EUR each, provided by FixFirst, our campaign partner. For further questions, please contact Arlind Xhelili.