iParts4U, an iPhone repair parts supplier in Newport, South Wales has pledged to support the Right to Repair movement to help reduce e-waste by introducing an LCD Buyback service. Managing Director David Humphrey is a strong campaigner for the Right to Repair movement, creating one of the first-ever petitions to bring the movement into UK legislation. He is also passionate about developing a knowledge-sharing community to help all mobile device repairers grow their knowledge and capabilities.
What is the right to repair movement?
The right to repair movement or right to repair act as it is also known, is legislation that would make electronic goods parts accessible to the general public, meaning that people can repair their own electronics rather than having to buy new ones. This is much more cost-effective than replacing them as well as being much better for the environment. It is the brand vision of iParts4U to make device repair easy and accessible with the right tools, parts and knowledge. This means not only supplying parts, but also supplying the tools required to fit them, and providing online guides and videos on how to fit parts.
“It’s one of the best things we can do for the environment, extending the lifespan of a device doesn’t have to be difficult and we really believe that with the quality of parts available, both aftermarket and original, it’s easier than ever” - David Humphrey, Managing Director of iParts4U.
What is e-waste and why is it a problem?
E-waste or electronic waste refers to unwanted or discarded electronic products, including mobile phones, which end up in landfills. Electronic waste disposal canIt’s not only a problem because of the volume of these products, but also the materials they are made of and the chemicals that they release into the atmosphere when they break down such as mercury and lead.
According to a 2019 report by the European Environmental Bureau, the average lifespan of a smartphone is around 3 years, though many people choose to upgrade their devices sooner due to either device damage or enticing upgrades by contract providers. This report concludes that if everyone in Europe extended their smartphone use by just 1 year, that the CO2 saving would be equivalent to taking over a million cars off the roads.
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Cool Products Report (pdf)
How do you deal with e-waste?
iParts4U refurbishes their own screens and saves old phones for parts which can then be resold to be used in repairs. By generating many of their own parts from recycled devices on-site, iParts4U reduces the number of parts that need to be newly manufactured and shipped internationally. In summer 2021 iParts4U announced their LCD Buyback scheme. The LCD buyback scheme allows trade repairers to sell their broken screens rather than throw them away, or part-exchange them for a new screen.
How can electronic waste be reduced?
The right to repair movement seeks to reduce electronic waste by making the repair of everyday devices as easy as possible. iParts4U is committed to this by providing the tools and knowledge required to make fixes accessible. Whether that is simple fixes for the end user like cleaning a charge port or more complicated fixes like battery replacements, which are done by experienced traders. iParts4U ensures that traders have the right parts and knowledge in order to carry out repairs in the most cost-effective way for both their business and their customers.
iParts4U takes its commitment one step further by not only supplying device repair parts but also through their exclusive partnerships with companies such as Tesa, a leading adhesive manufacturer, to create parts with adhesive pre-installed to reduce the waste created by buying separate items.
