In "The contribution of the Digital Industry to repair, remanufacturing and refurbishment in a Circular Economy”, DIGITALEUROPE describes longstanding business practices in the ICT sector which represent, next to waste collection and treatment facilities, the circular economy backbone of the ICT industry in Europe.

With roughly 28,000 tons of IT equipment and spare parts being shipped cross-border annually in Europe, the ICT sector is adopting circular business practices such as designing for longevity, durability and reliability, stimulating reuse, and facilitating refurbishment. There is significant market opportunity for circular economy in the ICT sector: in 2015, the business of refurbishing IT equipment already accounted for €3.1 billion in annual turnover across 2,500+ European firms.

Alongside a series of case studies on best practice such as Nokia's Global Asset Recovery & Remarketing Services, DIGITALEUROPE outlines the following position on legislating circular economy for ICT:

• reuse, repair and refurbishment should not be addressed under waste legislation
• recognise authorised repair networks and protect IP rights
• consult stakeholders when legislating ecodesign to ensure feasibility
• ensure requirements for spare parts continue to exist
• keep the two-year guarantee and revise consumer protection without increasing refunds / replacements
• remove administrative burden for and regulatory barriers to shipping products for repair, reuse and refurbishment