Digital Product Passport: Improved E-commerce for Refurbished Electronics

As we see thrift stores popping up left, front, and center, sprouted by the desire of the current generation to shop for more sustainable clothes, for electronics this trend is still to come.

Just like it is no longer considered “cool” to dress in fast fashion, this change of mindset will also come for electronics. Soon you won’t need the latest model of a phone or laptop to stand out among friends. Using a vintage model will be seen as a true fashion statement.

With clothes, it is easy to determine the quality of what you’re buying. Assessing wear and tear is straightforward, and trying it on eases any concerns. With electronics, however, there is a lot of uncertainty. Buying refurbished tech is often seen as similar to purchasing a secondhand car. Where quality can vary, and direct comparisons are challenging.

Like used cars, refurbished electronics are difficult to compare

For a new product, it’s simple: one identifier (EAN, GTIN, MPN) links to all the data needed for online visibility and for filtering searches on websites.

Like a secondhand car with varying usage, maintenance, and repair history, a refurbished electronic product may have a different memory, hard disk, processor, or screen specifications. The initial EAN/GTIN/MPN no longer reflects the exact specifications. Just as a car’s unique identifier is the Vehicle Identification Number, the serial number can serve as an identifier for electronics.

E-commerce platforms are built around high-volume sales of limited Stock Keeping Units. Selling refurbished products, each with unique characteristics presents challenges for searchability and comparability. Therefore, limiting the uptake of refurbished items in mainstream e-commerce.

Determining the condition of refurbished products is also challenging. As with a secondhand car, it’s difficult for consumers to assess the repairs of electronic devices, especially when buying online.

The Product Passport can help improve the searchability and transparency of Refurbished Electronics

Improving the searchability and transparency of refurbished products is a challenge that the Digital Product Passport aims to address in the coming years.

The Digital Product Passport is going to span the entire lifecycle of the product. Therefore will entail both the initial information and also all items that have been refurbished .

Icecat to contribute to EU electronics workgroup

Icecat is actively contributing to sustainability by providing e-commerce businesses with accurate, transparent, and accessible product information. Furthermore, Icecat is proud to have been selected as one of participants of the EU DPP electronics working group.

We’ll keep you posted.