London, 12 August 2026 – In a significant move to address the escalating global challenge of electronic waste, the GSMA Industry Services today announced the launch of its "Circularity Services" offering. This strategic initiative is designed to empower mobile operators and ecosystem partners to extend the lifecycle of their devices, drastically reduce e-waste, and capture latent financial value from redundant hardware. By bridging the gap between sustainability commitments and commercial performance, the GSMA is positioning the mobile industry as a leader in the global transition toward a circular economy.
The initiative launches with two powerhouse commercial partners: Closing the Loop, a social enterprise focused on responsible recycling, and RGX, a cutting-edge, neutral marketplace for enterprise asset disposition.
The Core Challenge: Why Circularity Matters Now
The mobile industry is currently at a crossroads. As global demand for high-end smartphones and ICT infrastructure continues to surge, the environmental footprint associated with device production and disposal has become impossible to ignore. For mobile operators, the challenge is twofold: they must meet stringent ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) targets while simultaneously maintaining profitability in an increasingly competitive market.
The GSMA’s Circularity Services provides a structured, scalable pathway to address these issues. By facilitating the recovery, refurbishment, and responsible recycling of ICT assets, the service ensures that equipment that might otherwise sit idle—or worse, end up in a landfill—is repurposed to generate value for both the business and the planet.
Chronology of Collaboration and Strategy
The development of this service reflects years of industry evolution. The timeline of this transition can be traced through several key phases:
- 2019 – The Genesis of Digital Marketplaces: RGX is founded with the specific mission to dismantle the archaic and opaque models of enterprise asset disposition, focusing on transparency and competitive bidding.
- The Rise of ‘One for One’: Closing the Loop gains international traction, partnering with major players like Vodafone, Samsung, and T-Mobile in Europe, proving that "circularity" is not just a policy but a viable, marketable customer proposition.
- 2025 – Integration Phase: Recognizing that fragmented sustainability efforts were holding the industry back, the GSMA begins vetting partners to create a centralized, trusted hub for its members.
- 12 August 2026 – Official Launch: The GSMA formally unveils "Circularity Services," standardizing access to these vetted partners for the global operator community.
The Power of Partnership: Closing the Loop and RGX
The GSMA has selected two distinct partners to cover the breadth of the circularity challenge: consumer-facing device management and enterprise-level asset disposition.
Closing the Loop: The ‘One for One’ Model
At the heart of the consumer-facing strategy is Closing the Loop’s award-winning "One for One" service. This model creates a direct, measurable link between a new device sale and the responsible recycling of a legacy device. For every new phone an operator puts into the market, a piece of end-of-life e-waste is recovered.
This program is particularly impactful in regions where formal waste collection infrastructure is underdeveloped. By injecting capital and logistics into these regions, the service doesn’t just manage waste; it supports a healthier global ecosystem. As noted by Joost de Kluijver, CEO of Closing the Loop, this isn’t just about charity—it’s a commercial differentiator. "One for One is a differentiator at the point of sale that adds clear value for customers and the brand," he stated.
RGX: Automating Asset Disposition
While Closing the Loop focuses on the consumer, RGX targets the backbone of the enterprise. RGX operates a neutral, automated marketplace that connects organizations with service providers. By replacing opaque, vendor-locked systems with a transparent, competitive bidding platform, RGX enables operators to squeeze maximum value out of decommissioned infrastructure and enterprise devices.
Initially launching in the United States, the platform is expected to become the industry standard for asset recovery, with global expansion plans already in motion.
Supporting Data and Industry Impact
The scale of the e-waste crisis provides the necessary context for these initiatives. According to various industry reports, the global volume of e-waste is rising faster than the capacity to recycle it.
- Commercial Efficiency: Through the RGX platform, operators can see a significant uptick in the recovery value of their redundant hardware. Competitive bidding ensures that equipment is not sold for pennies on the dollar, but rather at its true market value.
- Customer Engagement: The "One for One" model has already demonstrated success with major players. Vodafone Germany, for instance, has integrated this into its brand promise. Michael Jungwirth, Head of Sustainability at Vodafone Germany, emphasizes the necessity of this action: "We close the loop for our customers. For one new phone Vodafone brings into circulation, we retrieve an old one."
- Strategic Reliability: AT&T’s experience with RGX highlights the operational benefit. Roman Smith, Director of Global Environmental Sustainability at AT&T, noted that the platform has been instrumental in refining their retail e-waste initiatives, proving that these services are not just theoretical—they are battle-tested in the world’s most demanding markets.
Official Responses: A Vision for the Future
The leadership behind these organizations sees this launch as a turning point.
Sianne Ryder, CEO of Events and Industry Services at the GSMA, emphasized the "win-win" nature of the collaboration:
"The launch of Circularity Services marks an important step in helping operators take practical action. By bringing together solutions that support both responsible recycling and asset recovery, we are making it easier for organisations to reduce waste while unlocking greater value. Circular approaches are both more sustainable and deliver meaningful operational and commercial benefits for the industry."
Sean Miles, Co-founder of RGX, highlighted the importance of scale:
"Innovation is only as good as its ability to scale. Through our partnership with GSMA Industry Services, we have an opportunity to help a broader part of the mobile ecosystem put circularity into place. We are turning circularity ambitions into action."
Implications: A New Standard for the Industry
The launch of GSMA Circularity Services will have profound implications for the mobile sector:
- Standardization of Sustainability: By providing a vetted list of service providers, the GSMA is raising the bar for what constitutes "responsible" recycling, potentially pushing out bad actors in the waste management chain.
- Economic Resilience: In an era of rising costs for raw materials, the ability to recover high-value components from used devices is becoming a strategic asset. Operators who embrace these circular models will be less susceptible to supply chain shocks.
- Brand Differentiation: As consumers become increasingly climate-conscious, the "One for One" model provides a tangible way for operators to prove their commitment to the planet. It transforms the purchase experience from a simple transaction into a contribution toward a cleaner future.
- Global Policy Alignment: As international regulations regarding extended producer responsibility (EPR) tighten, the tools provided by the GSMA will help operators stay ahead of legislative curves, avoiding potential penalties and ensuring compliance with future environmental directives.
Conclusion
The GSMA’s entry into the circularity space, backed by the specialized expertise of Closing the Loop and RGX, represents a maturation of the mobile industry. No longer content with merely selling hardware, the industry is moving toward a lifecycle-management model that recognizes the value of every component from inception to end-of-life.
As these services scale, they promise to turn the tide on the e-waste crisis while proving that environmental stewardship and commercial success are not mutually exclusive—in fact, they are increasingly interdependent. For mobile operators and their partners, the path forward is clear: integrate, innovate, and circularize.
For more information on these initiatives, visit the GSMA Circularity Services portal.
About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop, and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem, the GSMA delivers for its members through Connectivity for Good, Industry Services, and strategic outreach.
About the Partners
- Closing the Loop: A social enterprise providing end-to-end device recycling services, helping companies turn waste into a commercial advantage through their "One for One" program.
- RGX: An innovative, neutral, and automated marketplace for enterprise asset disposition, focused on bringing transparency and efficiency to the recovery of redundant technology.
