One NZ is giving you the option of having your next “new” phone be someone else’s old one as its sustainability plans play out.
For years, old mobile devices languished in drawers or trickled into landfill. One NZ’s trade‑in scheme is designed to reverse that and ensure valuable devices are refurbished and reused.
It’s delivering results, with One NZ customers trading in 50% more devices in the past year. Around one in five interest‑free mobile phone purchases now involve a trade‑in, often using the company’s digital wallet and “Phone Dollars”, suggesting circular behaviours are starting to go mainstream.
Now, One NZ is going further, selling refurbished phones directly to customers, making it the first New Zealand mobile network operator to do so.
From sock drawer to second life
Initially limited to selected Apple iPhone models sourced through device partners and available through its online store, One NZ offers professionally restored phones, backed by a 24‑month warranty, at a lower price point.
That will hold appeal in a cost‑of‑living crunch, but it also tests whether Kiwi buyers will accept “excellent condition” second‑hand kit from a major telco rather than gambling in the grey market for refurbished phones.
The devices, based on product carbon footprint modelling undertaken by The Lever Room, are expected to cut lifecycle emissions by 43-49% compared to buying the equivalent new phone, avoiding around 34kg of carbon dioxide per device on average.
“The biggest emissions hit happens when a phone is made, not when it’s used, and refurbishing is a way to dodge a large chunk of the emissions associated with owning a phone,” says Nicky Preston, head of corporate affairs and sustainability at One NZ.
Refurbished handsets and trade‑ins are more than a feel‑good sideline. They sit squarely in One NZ’s response to the stubborn problem of “Scope 3” emissions – the indirect emissions in its value chain that account for more than 90% of its total footprint.
Beyond the easy wins
As outlined in its 2026 Sustainability Report, One NZ is well on track to meet emissions reduction targets from its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, which cover direct emissions from its own operations and emissions associated with its energy use respectively.
The targets are validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, committing the company to 42% absolute cuts across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 by 2030, and 100% renewable electricity sourcing.
By FY26, One NZ had already reduced Scopes 1 and 2 market‑based emissions by 82% against its FY24 baseline, largely through buying certified renewable power and optimising network energy use.
In FY26, Scope 3 emissions came in at around 119,000 tCO₂‑e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) – broadly flat year‑on‑year, but 13% lower than the FY24 baseline.
“The biggest chunk of that footprint is purchased goods and services, which includes network gear, cloud platforms and the phones, modems and gaming kit customers buy through One NZ,” Preston says.
Emissions from that category jumped 12% compared to FY25, reflecting the emissions intensity of the global tech supply chain and product mix. Emissions from sold products actually dropped 26% versus FY24, thanks to more efficient devices, but handset volumes rose, and other hardware categories stayed energy‑hungry.
A broader sustainability story
AI is the next frontier in sustainability concerns, and the recent One NZ AI Trust Report 2026: Sustainability Edition shows that almost half (45%) of New Zealanders are concerned about the environmental impacts of businesses using AI, rising to 63% among 18–24-year-olds.
The findings suggest sustainability is emerging alongside privacy and transparency as important factors shaping trust in AI.
“We know Kiwis care about environmental sustainability and that we need to continually evolve how we respond,” Preston says.
“This includes focusing on broader elements of energy efficiency within our business operations, including use of AI and considering how supply chain impacts show up.”
Faced with those headwinds, One NZ’s strategy is to attack the problem on both the consumption and infrastructure sides. Keeping phones in circulation longer, pushing refurbished options, and making trade‑ins ordinary behaviour are all ways to reduce the demand for new manufacturing – the part of the lifecycle that modelling shows is most carbon‑intensive.
One NZ’s network itself generated around 90,000kg of operational e‑waste last year, 99% of which was diverted from landfill as legacy 2G and 3G kit was ripped out and replaced.
“Our partnership with e‑waste specialist Echo meant almost all of that material avoided landfill,” says Preston.
“Rebates from recovered metals are fed back into future sustainability projects, which dovetails nicely with the externally facing phone programmes.”
When devices truly reach the end of their life, One NZ leans on the industry‑wide RE:MOBILE scheme run by the Telecommunications Forum. Phones that can be repaired are refurbished and exported. Others are broken down for parts, with recovery rates above 95% and a portion of profits supporting environmental charities, such as Sustainable Coastlines.
Repair is the other half of the story. In FY26, One NZ launched a repair portal with FoneFix, handling roughly 250-300 repairs a month – more than 3400 across the year.
“For New Zealanders looking for a simple way to support the environment and also save money, the phone in their pocket is a good place to start,” says Preston.
“We’re on a journey to make it easier for them.”
For more visit one.nz/mobile-phones/refurbished/