Technology company Breezy has launched an AI-powered door-to-door smartphone trade-in service with Takealot, South Africa’s largest online marketplace. The platform enables customers to receive an instant valuation for their existing smartphone, complete the trade-in online and have their device collected directly from their home, making the upgrade process faster and more convenient.

While introduced in South Africa, the initiative reflects a broader global trend towards digital trade-in programmes that support refurbishment and device reuse. By making it easier for consumers to return their old smartphones, the platform helps increase the supply of pre-owned devices that can be repaired, refurbished and reintroduced to the market rather than becoming electronic waste.

The model mirrors similar developments across Europe, where trade-in schemes have become an important driver of the circular economy within the consumer electronics sector. As more companies invest in convenient collection services and refurbishment networks, extending the lifespan of smartphones is becoming an increasingly effective way to reduce waste, recover valuable materials and promote more sustainable technology consumption.