Quantifying the Carbon Savings of Circularity: Mobile Phones and Network Equipment

Guidance for Telecommunications Operators

This new industry guidance represents a key step forward in harmonising accounting approaches and methodologies to quantify the carbon savings of circularity actions and initiatives for emission inventories and avoided emissions claims. The guidance focuses on: 

• Refurbished phones sold or leased to customers and repair services 
• Refurbished routers and other customer premises equipment (CPE) sold or leased to customers 
• Refurbished network equipment in operators’ own networks.

The publication reflects a comprehensive review of existing standards and guidance and consultation with telecom operators and OEMs. 

Carbon Calculator Tools

The guidance is supported by new Excel-based carbon calculator tools for each product type that can be used by mobile operators to explore how circularity initiatives and targets can affect their emission inventories and avoid emissions.