PennEnvironment Releases Holiday Guide Promoting Refurbished Electronics

PennEnvironment releases new guide for buying refurbished electronicsSubmitted Image

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center has launched its latest edition of the Fixed for the Holidays shopping guide, aimed at encouraging consumers to choose refurbished electronics as gifts this holiday season. The guide offers practical advice for purchasing environmentally friendly products, helping shoppers make decisions that benefit both the planet and their wallets.

Refurbished electronics can reduce the environmental impact of a purchase by up to 91% compared to buying new. Consumers can also save around 20% on costs, which is especially important amid today’s economic challenges.

“For consumers who are looking for ways to help the planet while doing their holiday shopping, we want to show the magic of refurbished gift-giving,” said Belle Sherwood, Climate and Clean Energy Associate with the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center. “It’s a win-win for the planet and consumers: create less waste, shop guilt-free, and save money during the holiday season.”

This year’s guide provides recommendations on trustworthy vendors, advice on when refurbished products make great gifts, and tips to avoid common pitfalls. It also highlights what to do if problems arise with a purchase and includes warnings about products like Apple’s AirPods 4, which feature non-replaceable batteries and are designed to be disposable.

“Save money and the planet this holiday season by purchasing refurbished tech,” said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, Chair of Philadelphia’s City Council Committee on the Environment. “Consumers can rely on PennEnvironment’s Fixed for the Holidays guide for the best deals and most sustainable products! Receive steep discounts when buying like-new refurbished products while also reducing the environmental impact of your purchase by up to 91%.”

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The guide is part of broader efforts by PennEnvironment and its national partners to combat e-waste. Their Designed to Last campaign calls for repairability scores—similar to fuel economy ratings for cars—on consumer electronics. Such scores, already available in other countries, provide a clear 1-to-10 rating for how easy products are to repair based on spare parts availability, disassembly ease, and software support longevity. PennEnvironment is urging major U.S. retailers, like Amazon, to adopt this system.

“It’s great to give gifts to loved ones or treat ourselves in the holiday season. We shouldn’t have to hurt our planet or our wallets to do that,” said Sherwood. “Let’s give our planet a holiday gift this year by reducing the mountains of toxic e-waste.”

For shoppers seeking practical steps toward sustainable gifting, the Fixed for the Holidays guide serves as a valuable resource to make greener, smarter choices this season.

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