More sustainable consumption
With around two billion customer interactions per year, we have significant leverage to advance circularity and encourage more responsible consumption patterns. Our approach is clear: we offer more energy-efficient, more sustainably produced and refurbished products, complemented by services that extend product lifetimes or enable reuse. These measures help conserve valuable resources, reduce the amount of electronic waste generated and replace the need for new product manufacturing, which would otherwise be associated with additional emissions.
BetterWay: Simply the better choice
We want to make it easy for our customers to choose the more sustainable option. That is why we design our offerings in a way that supports both environmentally conscious choices and long-term cost savings. Sustainability should not be a compromise – but a benefit: customers gain from energy-efficient products and longer product use while contributing to environmental protection. We call this “BetterWay”.
In our BetterWay category, customers find products that are particularly energy-efficient or resource-saving and carry the corresponding TYPE 1 ecolabel. In our stores and online shop, we highlight these offers on the price tag, and we provide additional information that helps customers understand not only technical features but also the environmental aspects associated with such products. This enables them to make informed purchasing decisions.
More sustainable products
As a general principle, a more sustainable technology product uses fewer resources and less energy – from manufacturing through to use. Washing machines are more sustainable when they consume less energy and water, smartphones perform better when they are easier to repair, and accessories benefit from the use of recycled materials. In addition to environmental aspects, we also take social and ethical criteria into account, such as the protection of human and labour rights along the supply chain.
A product at MediaMarktSaturn is considered more sustainable when, for IT products, are certified with a Type 1 ecolabel (such as Blue Angel, TCO Certified or EPEAT), household appliances belong to the most energy-efficient categories under the EU Energy Label, or accessories have a recognised recycling certificate. We regularly review the minimum standards for our more sustainable products. You can find more details about our more sustainable products here.
You only live twice
Refurbished products are also a more sustainable alternative: pre-owned devices that have been professionally restored. They are technically fully functional and, in most cases, show minimal signs of previous use. By extending the lifetime of a device, refurbishment helps reduce the resources that would otherwise be required for manufacturing a new product. At the same time, refurbished devices are a smart choice for price-conscious customers.
We offer refurbished products in almost all categories – partly via our marketplace and partly directly in our stores. They come from trade-ins and customer returns, allowing us to return the vast majority of these devices back into circulation.
You can find more information about our refurbished offer here.
Repairs
Repairs play a key role in the circular economy: they extend the useful life of products. This helps reduce the amount of electronic waste generated and the resource demand associated with manufacturing new devices – and customers save the cost of buying a replacement product.
That is why we offer a comprehensive repair service. In our stores, customers can hand in defective devices, have smartphones repaired directly at the SmartBar or obtain spare parts. Our after-sales service coordinates repairs with our own workshops, manufacturers’ service centres and selected repair partners – including, in principle, for products not purchased from us.
Trade-in
We are legally required to take back end-of-life devices. With our trade-in service, we go one step further: customers can have their used devices assessed and, if they still have a residual value, exchange them for a gift card. Devices that are still functional – currently more than 90 percent – are professionally refurbished and given a second life. From devices that can no longer be used, recoverable components are removed and the remaining materials are recycled. This helps recover valuable resources.
Our trade-in service is available online and in our stores across all countries in which we operate. The offer currently includes smartphones, mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches, PCs, laptops and consoles.
You can find more information about our trade-in service here.
Questions or ideas?
sustainability@mediamarktsaturn.com
