Today’s newsletter sponsor: eBay

Refurbished on eBay is the UK's largest multi-category recommerce destination — connecting brands, retailers and refurbishers with 136 million buyers worldwide.

From electronics to golf, appliances to homewares, our Refurbished and Open-Box conditions turn returns, refurbished & surplus inventory into revenue at scale. Whether you're a brand looking to recover value & protect other channels, or a refurbisher scaling volume, we'll build a partnership that delivers.

Industry News

Collaborations and Partnerships:

Likewize and Apkudo extend their device automation partnership across Europe. The companies are expanding the use of robotic testing, grading and processing for smartphones, foldable devices and tablets, increasing throughput while strengthening device traceability and lifecycle data management. Read more.

MESHKI partners with Returnalyze to reduce avoidable product returns. The online fashion retailer will use AI-powered analytics to identify return drivers across global markets, helping improve product performance and customer experience through data-driven insights. Read more.

CTIA publishes an updated grading standard for pre-owned wireless devices. Developed by CTIA’s Reverse Logistics and Service Quality Working Group, Version 5.1 maps wholesale device condition grading into consumer-facing terms, with input from OEMs, carriers, reverse logistics facilities and marketplaces. Read more.

Danish consortium launches a project to recover critical materials lost during electronics recycling. The CIRCUIT initiative brings together seven organisations to develop a process capable of extracting rare earth elements and tantalum from end-of-life circuit boards that are typically lost during conventional smelting. Read more.

Company Updates:

Telefónica reused and recycled 4 million devices in 2025. The telecommunications company reported that 75% of collected devices were reused and 25% recycled, contributing to the reuse or recycling of 95% of the waste generated across its operations. Read more.

Enva invests £7.5 million to increase electronics recycling capacity in Stourbridge. The upgraded facility will increase WEEE processing capacity and enhance the recovery of materials from end-of-life electrical equipment, strengthening the UK’s recycling infrastructure. Read more.

Recover launches a new yarn platform to accelerate the adoption of recycled cotton. Developed with more than 150 spinning partners worldwide, Recover Yarns provides brands and manufacturers with ready-to-use recycled cotton solutions designed to simplify sourcing and increase the use of recycled fibres. Read more.

SMX introduces a new Circularity-as-a-Service platform for the plastics industry. The solution combines traceability, certification and digital material passport capabilities to help create verified and auditable recycled material streams, supporting greater transparency across supply chains. Read more.

Kiabi brings its second-hand fashion offering to 33 stores across Spain and Portugal. The retailer has extended its resale programme across the Iberian Peninsula, enabling customers to buy and sell pre-owned clothing as the company continues to integrate circular services into its wider retail strategy. Read more.

Flash Global strengthens its service supply chain network with a new Dallas facility. The centre will support service parts distribution, returns management, testing and secure data erasure activities, enhancing the company’s end-to-end offering for technology customers. Read more.

VendreMonMobile broadens its comparison service to cover the full smartphone lifecycle. The French company is evolving beyond device buyback to include refurbished purchasing and rental options, alongside tools designed to improve pricing transparency across the secondary market. Read more.

Regional Developments:

Defra launches a national digital waste tracking service to improve material traceability. The platform will create a digital audit trail for waste movements, with mandatory reporting for permitted waste receiving sites beginning in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from October 2026 and Scotland from January 2027. Read more.

A major UK study finds reusable catheters could reduce healthcare waste and NHS costs. Researchers at the University of Southampton found reusable catheters were as safe as single-use alternatives, creating an opportunity to reduce reliance on the 100 million disposable catheters prescribed by the NHS each year. Read more.

Investment News

Venture and Growth Capital:

ReSmart secures A$1.1 million as it nears profitability. The Australian recycling and reverse logistics platform will use the funding to expand its enterprise offering and council network, having increased annual recurring revenue by 44% and diverted more than 2.3 million kilograms of waste from landfill since launch. Read more.

Kezone raises 6.3 billion won to accelerate its AI-powered reverse logistics platform. The South Korean company will use the funding to expand REMEX and develop AI agents capable of automating buyer discovery, transaction management and analysis. Read more.

TIREFLY attracts new investment to scale its certified used tyre platform. The South Korean mobility and recommerce startup uses AI-powered inspection technology to standardise tyre grading and pricing, connecting buyers with verified second-life inventory through a nationwide installation network. Read more.

Want to generate new partnerships or inbound opportunities in 2026?

Explore the Circular Connect Directory, now featuring 1,000+ companies across reverse logistics and circularity 👇

Turn your network into 6 months of paid Directory access 🥈🥇

Win 6 months of paid Directory membership by introducing others to the Circular Connect Newsletter 👇

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you again on Monday.

Cheers to circularity,

#TeamCircularConnect #ConnectingTheCircularEconomy

Keep Reading