Back Market - 2024 impact report review

Back Market is a global marketplace for professionally refurbished technology. Their impact report is written in an engaging, easy-to-read way despite containing quite technical content.

👍🏻 Three things I like:

1. UNPICK THE BARRIERS TO BUYING REFURBISHED TECH

They’ve taken the time to understand and dig into the barriers to people buying refurbished tech. They then share what they’re doing to address these barriers.

For example:

• People are worried about the quality versus a brand new device and so they’re taking steps to build trust.

• Getting involved in campaigning for the right to repair so it’s easier to repair existing devices.

2. MISSION COMMITTEE 

They are headquartered in France where becoming a ‘mission-driven company’ (a formal legal process) requires the business to form a Mission Committee. This group is made up from people from across a wide range of stakeholder groups and it helps the business stay true to and deliver on its mission.

I love this piece of governance and am curious why it wasn’t a concept brought into the new B Corp Standards.

3. CLEAR ON CAUSES THEY SUPPORT, ALIGNED WITH MISSION

They have a long-standing commitment to supporting three causes – “reducing e-waste, fighting
 the digital divide, and building careers in the refurbishment industry.” 

This is a clear, focused strategy and completely aligned with their mission – so helping complement all their other work and increase the positive impact they are having.

❓Three questions it raises:

1. WHAT WERE THERE OBJECTIVES?

What were their objectives for the reporting period?  How did they do against them?

They refer to their sustainability roadmap – I’d love to see this so we are clear on their future plans.

2. WHAT ABOUT REPAIR?

I’m curious why their impact report doesn’t talk about the advice they provide on how to repair / extend the life of your own existing product.

After reading the report I thought they didn’t provide support – which felt odd when repair should be the first behaviour they are encouraging, not handing in my old phone and buying a new-to-me refurbished one.

I since found a small link at the top of their website about ‘repair and care’ – they have a partnership with iFixit and an app to help you care for and repair your own phone.

What are their objectives around this?  Is it a core element of their impact strategy? If so, why isn’t it covered in their impact report?

3. DO THEY HAVE PLANS FOR EMERGING ECONOMIES?

Do they have plans to expand into emerging economies? This could see them moving into massive new markets and there is potential for huge impact. It could also connect with their objectives around addressing the digital divide on a global level.

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You can read the Impact Report for yourself here. Let me know what you think!

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If you’re preparing to write your own impact report, you might find my FREE Impact Reporting Roadmap helpful: