Flip.ro, a major player in the refurbished electronics sector, and Flanco, Romania’s pioneering smart discounter, have marked a significant milestone in their ongoing collaboration. Their joint buyback scheme, launched in 2022, has seen the number of electronic devices collected each month triple in early 2025 compared to the previous year. This success is credited to the introduction of new product categories and the launch of an online tool, enabling customers to assess their devices before handing them over in-store. The programme now sees thousands of devices collected and reintroduced into circulation each month.

The partnership was formed with a shared ambition to encourage more responsible purchasing habits and prolong the useful life of electronic products. Through streamlined collection, evaluation, and refurbishment processes, the scheme has brought the circular economy to a wider audience, with transactions increasing nearly tenfold since its inception. Notably, customers trading in their old phones—most commonly Apple’s iPhone 11, 12, and 13—can recover up to 30% of the value towards a new purchase, making the scheme attractive for both the environment and consumers’ wallets.

Beyond financial benefits for individual customers, the environmental impact of the initiative has been substantial. By returning old devices to the market, Flip and Flanco have prevented over 300 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to more than a million kilometres driven by an average car. Looking ahead, the partners plan to broaden the scheme by incorporating additional categories such as smartwatches and laptops, as well as developing a fully online trade-in process. They are also exploring a “forward trade-in” option, which would guarantee customers a fixed resale value after one or two years of ownership, further supporting sustainable consumption and recycling.