How circular is Berlin’s electronics sector today? And what needs to change so our devices stay in use longer?
Our team at Circular Berlin is proud to announce the publication of our latest analysis: The 2026 Circular Electronics Report. This comprehensive study maps the current landscape of the electronics sector in our city and explores the critical steps required to transition smartphones and other devices from a linear “take-make-waste” lifecycle to a truly circular one.
Why Electronics?
While Berlin boasts a vibrant ecosystem of hundreds of independent repair shops, community repair cafés, and innovative circular startups, the sector faces a massive disconnect. Millions of devices sit unused in drawers across Germany, and e-waste collection rates remain significantly below national and European targets.
What’s Inside the Report?
The 2026 Circular Electronics Report provides a deep dive into the systemic challenges and opportunities within the city:
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The Scale of the Challenge: A data-driven overview of e-waste at the European, national, and local Berlin levels.
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The Smartphone Value Chain: Mapping the lifecycle of our most ubiquitous devices from production to end-of-life.
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Ecosystem Mapping: Identifying the key actors driving Berlin’s repair, refurbishment, and reuse movements.
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Policy Landscapes: A breakdown of how the Right to Repair, Ecodesign Regulations, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) are shifting the rules of the game.
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Strategic Opportunities: Clear pathways to strengthen circularity and unlock economic and environmental potential across the city.
Unlocking Berlin’s Circular Potential
Our analysis highlights that while the foundation for a circular electronics hub exists in Berlin, new solutions and policy alignment are needed to bridge the gap between “dormant” devices and active reuse.
Whether you are a policymaker, a business owner, or a curious citizen, this report serves as a roadmap for the future of electronics in our city.
