On Circular Electronics Day (24 January), global attention is focused on the growing mountain of electronic waste. And on the urgent need for circular solutions. Electronic waste is increasing at a rapid pace, while responsible consumption is lagging behind. Vodafone Business enables companies to play a role in addressing this challenge, without adding complexity. With the One for One service, circular business becomes simple, measurable and immediately effective.
The smartphone may well be the most widely used business tool today. At the same time, it comes with a downside: worldwide, the volume of electronic waste is growing faster than ever. Only a small share is collected and recycled responsibly. For Vodafone Business, this was a clear reason to take action.
“Our technology connects people and businesses, but that responsibility does not stop at connectivity alone. We are increasingly looking at the impact our products and services have on society. Electronic waste is an urgent issue within that.”
John van Vianen, Director of the Business Market at Vodafone Business
From ambition to action
That sense of urgency led to the One for One service, in which Vodafone Business works closely with Closing the Loop. The principle is as simple as it is powerful: for one Business Mobile Unlimited subscription (sold after 1 September 2025), one scrap phone is collected in countries without formal e-waste systems—such as Ghana and Nigeria—and recycled responsibly. This is particularly important in countries without formal e-waste systems, such as Ghana and Nigeria.
“What makes the initiative stand out is not only its circular approach, but above all its simplicity and ease. Customers do not have to do anything. No additional administration, no separate contracts, no extra costs. The e-waste compensation is automatically included in the subscription.” Van Vianen explains.
“If you want sustainability to truly scale, you need to make it as easy as possible for businesses.
We want to support companies not only in their growth, but also in running their business in a smart and responsible way. With One for One, companies reduce their e-waste without extra effort and at the same time make a direct contribution to the environment and local employment. That is how we make sustainability accessible and effective.”
Why Closing the Loop
For Vodafone Business, it is essential to work with a partner that not only tells a good story, but can also demonstrate real results. That partner was found in Closing the Loop, a Dutch social enterprise active internationally in circular electronics.
Closing the Loop organises the collection, registration and recycling of scrap phones in countries without formal e-waste systems. The organisation works with local collectors, directly contributing to employment and income in these regions. The collected devices are then recycled through certified processes, recovering valuable and scarce raw materials.
“What appeals to us about Closing the Loop is their pragmatic approach,” says Van Vianen. “No abstract promises, but a proven approach with measurable results. Their international experience also fits well with the scale and ambitions of Vodafone Business.”
Circular business as a business challenge
According to Vodafone Business, circularity is no longer a niche topic, but a strategic business challenge. More and more companies are looking for ways to make their ESG goals tangible. At the same time, they often lack the time, knowledge or capacity to set up circular processes themselves. One for One responds directly to this tension.
“Many companies want to operate more responsibly, but struggle with execution.
By building circularity into an existing product, we make it tangible and immediately applicable. That is, in our view, how real change happens.”
John van Vianen, Director of the Business Market at Vodafone Business
Results without detours
With One for One, Vodafone Business shows that technology, commerce and social responsibility do not exclude one another. On the contrary: by making smart choices across the value chain, an everyday product such as a mobile subscription can contribute to less e-waste, more recovered valuable materials, and additional employment.
The initiative fits within a broader vision in which Vodafone Business uses technology as a driver of progress. For companies, this means working with a partner that not only thinks about digital growth, but also about the world in which that growth takes place. As Van Vianen summarises:
“Creating results does not have to be complicated. Sometimes it simply starts with one subscription and one less phone on the waste pile.”
