Easy Cash: Reconditioning of electronic equipment throughout France

Refurbishing to Reduce Electronic Waste

EasyCash, France’s leading second-hand electronics retail network, is rolling out a large-scale program to establish in-store repair workshops across its national footprint. The goal: extend the lifespan of everyday electronic devices — smartphones, laptops, tablets, game consoles — and prevent premature replacement.

Over the past 20 years, EasyCash has already given a second life to more than 160 million items, averaging 8 million per year. This project aims to accelerate that impact through accessible, transparent, and locally performed repair services.

A Circular Economy Model Rooted in Proximity

80% of devices are sourced directly from individuals, with an average distance of just 20 km between purchase and refurbishment. This short-loop model contributes to:

• Lowering transportation-related carbon emissions,
• Minimizing the generation of electronic waste, and
• Reducing the overall environmental footprint of each product’s lifecycle.

The program targets the creation of 136 standardized workshops (80% of current stores) by 2030. Each is equipped with dedicated furniture, repair stations visible to customers, and organized storage for tools and spare parts.

A Structured and Operational Project

Key implementation milestones already underway include:

• Recruiting or training one technician per store through a dedicated program in partnership with a professional repair firm,
• Certification under France’s “QualiRépar” scheme, enabling customers to access government-backed repair incentives,
• An “open” service model: available for any product, whether or not it was purchased from EasyCash or is still under warranty.

This integrated approach enables EasyCash to take full control of the product lifecycle, strengthen its internal expertise, and significantly shorten turnaround times for customers.

Strong Social and Environmental Co-Benefits

This project delivers measurable impact on:

• Reducing pressure on natural resources and critical/conflict minerals (e.g. cobalt, lithium, rare earths) by avoiding the production of new devices,
• Preventing the escalation of e-waste, one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide,
• Creating local, non-offshorable jobs, with at least one technician per store hired or upskilled,
• Enhancing technical skills and promoting staff versatility (sales, repair, refurbishing),
• Fostering digital inclusion, by providing access to quality devices at affordable prices.

Local Anchoring and Long-Term Ambition

With more than 160 stores in operation in 2024 and a target of 300 by 2030, EasyCash has built a unique territorial network. The project is fully aligned with the company’s RSE priorities, and its new legal status as a mission-driven company since June 2024.

It offers a concrete response to the challenges of digital sobriety, local resilience, and the sustainable transformation of electronic consumption patterns.