People

As part of the European Green Deal policy, indicators on the population habits related to recycling of the unused IT devices and the importance of sustainability aspects in IT purchasing decisions are collected from 2022.

The survey results showed that 56 per cent of Internet users aged 16–74 keep their old (last replaced) or unused mobile phone or smartphone at home, one in four (26 per cent) – have sold or given it to someone else, and one in eight (12 per cent) – have disposed of it in electronic waste collection/recycling or left it to the retailer to dispose of. 43 per cent of Internet users keep an old or unused laptop or tablet at home, 31 per cent – have never owned or are still using the first device they bought, and one in ten (10 per cent) – have disposed of it in electronic waste collection/recycling or left it to the retailer to dispose of. Almost 3 per cent of internauts have simply thrown away a phone or desktop computer they no longer use, 1 per cent – have done the same with an unused laptop or tablet.

Proportion of persons by distribution of old and unused devices, 2022
Percentage of persons who have used the Internet within 3 months prior to the survey

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

When buying a new device (mobile or smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer), price was considered as the most important criterion by 78, hard drive characteristics and processor speed – 60, energy efficiency of the device – 29 per cent of the Internet users. The eco-design of the device (e.g. the device is sustainable, it can be repaired and modernised, it requires fewer materials to produce, it uses environmentally friendly materials for packaging, etc.) was important to 23 per cent of internauts.

Persons who considered the following characteristics important when buying a mobile or smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer, 2022
Percentage of persons who have used the Internet within 3 months prior to the survey

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

   Business

At the beginning of 2022, environmental protection measures were applied by 59.6 per cent of the enterprises. 58.7 per cent of enterprises apply measures to reduce the amount of paper used for printing and copying, 37.6 per cent – to reduce the amount of energy consumed by IT equipment. 58.8 per cent of enterprises, when choosing IT services or IT equipment, consider environmental impact thereof (e.g. energy consumption). The largest share of such enterprises was among large companies – 77.5 per cent.

Enterprises applying environmental measures, 2022

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

Enterprises, considering environmental impact of ICT services or ICT equipment when selecting them, 2022

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

74.8 per cent of enterprises indicated that IT equipment (e.g. computers, monitors, mobile phones) that is no longer in use is recovered by being collected as electronic waste and/or recycled. 48.5 per cent of enterprises keep such IT equipment in enterprise for the purpose of using spare parts and to protect sensitive information. 27.5 per cent of enterprises indicated that their IT equipment that is no longer in use is sold, returned to a leasing company or donated.

Disposing of an unused ICT equipment in enterprises, 2022

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

For more terms and explanations, please see the Dictionary of Statistical Terms.