As a fellow B Corp, The Big Issue was proud to partner with giffgaff late last year – resulting in vendors across the country benefitting from the company’s high-quality refurbished phones. giffgaff announced its B Corp certification in April 2023, but the values behind the certification have been built into the brand since it was established as a digital-only company in 2009.
“The original operating model was always about considering the planet alongside everything we do,” explains Ash Schofield, who has been CEO of giffgaff since 2018. “Being digital-only enabled us to have a very light carbon footprint. We wanted to ignite the advocacy of the people who we were serving to spread the word about giffgaff, rather than open shops which contribute to an enormous carbon footprint.”
After the concept of B Corp came onto the company’s radar like a perfect fit. “We liked the idea of applying a higher level of standards to what we do,” Ash says. “Rather than just trying to do the right thing, we wanted to make sure that all the due diligence was embedded into the company – that we are committed to making decisions based on people, planet and profit.”
One of the most significant ways that giffgaff shares the principles of being a B Corp with customers is via its refurbished phone offering. giffgaff started selling refurbished phones in late 2014, and is now one of the top UK mobile phone networks for refurbs, accounting for around 70% of its overall hardware sales. Anyone can trade in their old phone with giffgaff, helping reduce e-waste and prolonging the life of unused tech.
“When you buy a refurbished phone, you’re extending the life of a handset and getting it for a really good price,” says Ash. “The phones are priced differently depending on whether you want one that looks like new, or you’re happy with something that looks like it’s had a bit of tough life. They all work well and we guarantee that each one has at least 80% battery health.” And it’s not just the phones themselves that are good for the environment – they’re sent in slimline cardboard packaging that’s made from 100% FSC-accredited MIX cardboard, a combination of sustainably sourced and recycled material.
“We’re proud that we’ve helped make refurb phones cool,” says Ash. “They’re a really smart, savvy choice – both because they’re significantly cheaper and because they have significantly less impact on the environment.”