For years, “new” was the default in IT, but that mindset is clearly shifting. Refurbished IT has moved from the margins to the mainstream because quality now matches expectations and supply shortages, rising prices and regulation are accelerating this shift. Organisations are rethinking their default approach to IT procurement.
Research shows that around 15 percent of European companies already use refurbished IT, with another 15 percent planning adoption. Refurbished IT has become a standard option alongside new hardware.
A structural shift
According to Cognitive Market Research, Europe now accounts for more than 30% of global refurbished IT revenue, with a market size of USD 1,572.78 million. The global market size is an estimated USD 5242.6 million in 2025.
Between 2025 and 2033, the global market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of over 10%. This is not a short-term reaction to cost pressure. It is a structural shift in how organisations manage technology lifecycles.
This growth runs parallel with ongoing component shortages, including memory chips. Rising prices for new hardware and regulations add further momentum. The EU Right to Repair Directive, fully applicable from July 2026, will increase the availability of repairable devices and spare parts and strengthen circular IT models across the market.
At Flex IT, we see this every day. Customers are no longer asking whether refurbished IT is viable, but how it can be integrated into their IT strategy. That makes certified refurbishment, transparent grading, secure data wiping and warranty backed delivery essential. Circular hardware only scales when trust and compliance are built into the process. Certified programs such as HP Certified Refurbished, in which Flex IT is an official refurbishment partner, play a critical role in delivering the assurance organisations expect.
The end of new by default
Cost remains the primary driver behind circular IT procurement, with refurbished computers and laptops costing less than new devices. What has fundamentally changed, however, is quality. Today’s devices go through a rigorous, certified refurbishment process and are backed by warranties and manufacturer programs, making them a credible alternative and not a compromise.
The commercial uptake is already visible. Large organisations across Europe are deliberately shifting parts of their IT estates to remanufactured or refurbished devices to reduce cost and carbon. In the UK for example, construction giant Balfour Beatty deployed 5,700 carbon-neutral remanufactured laptops, saving more than £1 million.
Leading by example
Across the market, governments and businesses are embedding circular principles into procurement frameworks and encouraging reuse. The stigma around “used” IT continues to fade because refurbished hardware is fundamentally different from second hand devices. Where used equipment simply changes hands, refurbished IT undergoes professional functional and cosmetic testing, is restored to like new condition and is backed by warranty. It is now recognised as a credible pillar of sustainable digital transformation.
Flex IT welcomes this shift. With decades of experience in circular IT, we know refurbished hardware is not a niche option. It is a strategic lever for sustainability, cost control and regulatory alignment – without compromising on quality. The question for organisations is no longer if refurbished IT fits their strategy, but how quickly they are willing to make it part of their default approach to IT procurement.
