BABYBOO, an Australian ecommerce juggernaut with a global reputation that sells to customers in 145 countries, is part of the radical new breed of disruptors in the fashion-tech sphere. When Argylica Conditsis first launched her brand from her bedroom with $1000 she’d saved from her job at Pizza Hut, little did she realise she was sitting on a burgeoning multimillion-dollar global business destined for success. Then, a fresh-faced and determined 17-year-old from Baulkham Hills, today, Argylica (now 29), has turned that initial investment into a highly profitable global fashion empire that more than doubles its revenue year on year (135%+) with industry-leading growth and no external funding.

Built from the ground-up alongside her brother, William Conditsis (27), BABYBOO is one of Australia’s fastest growing tech companies with three global teams, 45 employees, 1.5M social media followers and company valuation of over $60M. Uniquely positioned in the fashion e-commerce space, each BABYBOO collection takes 6-8 months to create, from the first sketch to the final stitch. Designed in Australia with an extensive range of women’s clothing and accessories that resonates with a global audience, BABYBOO have cemented themself as a millennial and Gen Y phenomenon with cult-like appeal.

“When I started BABYBOO, I had no prior experience in the e-commerce or fashion industries, zero funding, zero business or corporate experience, no connections, no mentors, no social media followers, no capital; I was hungry, passionate…and perhaps a little naive,” says Argylica Conditsis. “However, I’ve always had a creative personality and always loved fashion and think one of the greatest skills in the 21st century is determination, thinking big and acting bold.”

Nurturing and leading a multimillion-dollar company at such a young age has had its challenges, but it’s an attribute that’s been crucial to BABYBOO’s skyrocket success. Proving there’s tremendous power when two leaders take charge, Argylica and William both have extremely hands-on roles within the daily operations, each playing a crucial part in the company’s innovation, growth and success, setting them decades ahead of their competitors while amassing a net worth in excess of $40M.

“As a young, female entrepreneur I am fiercely independent-minded and innovative, however all my decisions are guided by the BABYBOO community. The culture we’ve cultivated has a shared purpose among its members, and what I’ve learnt is to constantly listen and learn from these people and adapt, be it our team or our customers. At BABYBOO, we don’t just see ourselves as a website where you come to buy a dress – we see ourselves as a brand that fulfills aspirations. Our obsession with achieving this is clear on paper – what we used to turnover in a year we achieve in a month,” says Argylica.

With the goal of using their platform to pay it forward and inspire women and girls all around the world to do great things, disrupt and be confident, BABYBOO’s weapon for its extraordinary victory is optimising social media and making a progressive contribution to their audience via body positivity and showcasing people of all cultures.  

 “The face of retail is changing dramatically with countless established players losing their competitive edge or struggling to make a profit amid rising costs. At BABYBOO, we’ve used it as an opportunity to do things differently. For example, while the pandemic brought an influx of ‘online retail-therapy’ demands, our sales initially took a hit as we are predominantly an event-wear brand. However, we pivoted quickly and diversified our product range, introducing a lounge-wear collection that then saw site visits increase by 54% and revenue increase by 44% in the 30 days post-campaign compared to the 30 days prior,” says William Conditsis.

Outside of BABYBOO’s financial successes, giving back and inclusivity is also a pillar for the brand, such as promoting diversity in the workplace and partnering with not-for-profit organisations, including donating $2M worth of usable inventory to multiple charities over the past 24 months.

Living proof that a degree isn’t the only road travelled to success, both Argylica and William are university drop-outs that turned their passion into an 8-figure empire. Argylica is the Founder, CEO and Co-Owner of BABYBOO, leading the roles of Creative Director  and Head of Product with a focus on setting vision and growth-hacking. William is the Director & Co-Owner, leading the roles of General Manager and Head of Brand with a focus on scalability, brand positioning and ensuring all departments operate cohesively. In 2021, BABYBOO was recognised as the 12th Fasted Growing Companies in Australia by the AFR and part of the 100 Fast Growing Companies in Asia Pacific by Deloitte.

The latest National Housing Finance Investment Corporation (NHFIC) State of the Nation’s Housing 2022-23 report confirms builders’ concerns about achieving Australia’s housing needs.

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the report is more evidence that we are falling well short of the 200,000 homes needed each year to keep up with demand and address housing affordability challenges.

“Rising interest rates and declining sales for new home construction is weakening the pipeline of new housing, which is compounded by a stronger than anticipated recovery in migration.

“There is fragility and volatility in the industry at the moment that has been a consequence of businesses working predominantly with fixed price contracts that were set pre-covid.

“The industry has been relatively resilient over the last decade. Some of the insolvency data we are seeing coming through is a reflection of the challenges over the last 18 months, and we hope the worst is behind us.

“But we are alert to the combination of rising inflation and interest rates, labour shortages and unnecessary government hurdles which are making it difficult for builders.

“A strong building industry is the foundation of a strong economy. The inextricable ties between construction activity and the broader health of the economy are again on display in the current environment.

“To achieve better housing affordability and keep up with demand, changes need to be made to the way we do things, now and over the long term.

“The government needs to take the necessary steps to ensure interest rates do not need to rise any further and take some of the heavy lifting of our correction off mortgage holders and business owners. From here, there are no easy choices.

“There needs to be a conversation around fixed-price contracts and appropriate risk-sharing between banks, developers and builders,” said Ms Wawn.

Master Builders’ Delivering the housing needs for all Australians recommends policies around housing supply, workforce, supply chain risk and cost pressures, simplifying regulatory settings that support investment in housing and business productivity.

“Governments must lift the handbrake on the building and construction industry by bringing down the cost of doing business.

“We need around half a million new entrants into our industry by 2026 to ensure homes get built, and the broader construction ecosystem of infrastructure and commercial premises can be delivered.

“Governments need to look at what impact their regulations and policies have on the cost of building homes and on the cost of building social infrastructure; that includes industrial relations laws, the cost of planning and the need for more titled land.

“The Housing Accord is the start of this national coordination, but we can’t wait until 2024; action by states is needed now.

“There is no silver bullet; this will take a concerted effort by all levels of government working in collaboration with industry,” said Ms Wawn.

OpenText™ has released the results of the 2023 OpenText Cybersecurity Threat Report which explores the latest threats and risks to the small and medium business (SMB) and consumer segments. Powered by the BrightCloud^® Threat Intelligence Platform, the OpenText Cybersecurity annual report breaks down a broad range of threat activity, offers insight into the trends observed, and discusses wide-reaching impacts for industries, geographies, companies and individuals.

Threat actors doubled down on longstanding tactics while demonstrating innovation with new techniques. One notable trend from the past year was a significant increase in concealing the location of URLs hosting malware and phishing sites. The percentage of malicious URLs hidden behind a proxy or geolocation-masking service increased 36% year-over-year (YoY). Meanwhile, online cybersecurity threats continue to emerge at an alarming pace. New malicious websites come online daily, while legitimate sites are occasionally compromised and co-opted for nefarious purposes.

“Cyber bad actors, including nation-state players, continue to be persistent, innovative and effective. There is, however, some encouraging news. A decline in malware infections indicates comprehensive security measures are effective,” said Prentiss Donohue, Executive Vice President, OpenText Cybersecurity. “Cybercriminals are equal opportunity offenders.

Acknowledging risks and preparing accordingly with a mulitlayered approach to protecting data are recommended courses of action for businesses of every size.”

2023 OpenText Cybersecurity Threat Report highlights include:

Malware

• Malware on endpoint continues to decline 16.7% YoY
• Rising geopolitical tensions continue to influence malware campaigns
• Manufacturing remains the #1 targeted industry vertical
• Analysing high-risk URLs, on average, each malicious domain hosted 2.9 malware URLs, compared to only 1.9 phishing URLs

Phishing

• Email phishing is the primary vector for infection followed by remote desktop protocol (RDP); RDP was #1 last year
• Over 1 billion unwanted emails classified as phishing
• Spear phishing email traffic increased 16.4% YoY and now accounts for approximately 8.3% of all email traffic
• 55.5% year-over-year increase in HTTPS vs HTTP phishing attacks

Ransomware

• Double extortion from data exfiltration is commonplace in campaigns at a rate of 84%
• Median ransomware payments meteor spike to almost $200k; up from $70k last year
• Law enforcement crackdowns on ransomware saw some success but have yet to make a large impact on the overall threat ransomware poses

Infection Rates

• 28.5% of businesses with 21-100 protected endpoints encountered an infection in 2022

• For businesses between 1-20 endpoints, the rate is 6.4%
• For businesses between 101-500 endpoints the rate rose to 58.7%
• And for 501+ the rate was 85.8%

Geographic Breakdown

• The top 50,000 most-active malicious IP addresses originated from 164 countries
• The Netherlands and Germany made it into the top five, along with the US, China and Vietnam

Multi-layered defense

• 40.3% reduction in the number of devices that encountered malware for users who adopted all three layers of protection — Webroot SecureAnywhere, Webroot Security Awareness Training, and Webroot DNS Protection — versus devices using Webroot SecureAnywhere alone
• Data confirms, cyber resilience using a layered defense strategy remains the best defense against today’s cybercrime landscape

To view the complete 2023 OpenText Cybersecurity Threat report, visit 2023 Threat Report.

Car rental innovator KINTO has announced the nationwide launch of KINTO Flex, a new subscription-based, all-inclusive car rental plan which offers Australians the benefits of car ownership, without the long-term commitment.

KINTO Flex allows users to take freedom to the next level by providing the benefits of car ownership on a monthly subscription basis. With the option of booking a car to suit the individual’s needs across over 160 national locations, shortening or lengthening the subscription and paying by the month, KINTO has created a car service that truly adapts to the user’s lifestyle.

Whether in need of a zippy hatchback to run errands or an SUV for the family – KINTO’s range of majority hybrid vehicles will get users from A to B in comfort and style.

Users pay a monthly duration fee plus a per kilometre fee that is inclusive of fuel, insurance, 24/7 roadside assistance, maintenance, and servicing¹ – no sign-up fee, no security deposit or establishment fee. Drive as little or as much as needed with no excess km or additional driver fees.⁴  

Service is all managed through KINTO’s purpose-built smartphone app. From sign up and picking a vehicle, to unlocking the car and hitting the road – enjoy fully digital self-service car rental.

What’s more, KINTO Flex is powered by a fleet of trusted Toyota cars, and with a passenger fleet consisting of over 97% hybrid vehicles, Australians can rest assured they are travelling safely and sustainably.

Users can also extend their subscription through the digital self-service function within the KINTO app, and if they’re ready to unsubscribe from KINTO Flex, cancel free of charge from the upcoming bill cycle with just 7 days’ notice².

Mark Ramsay, General Manager of KINTO said:

“We believe that everyone deserves the freedom to move, so we’re thrilled to be expanding KINTO’s local offering and now offer Australians a car subscription that adapts to their lifestyle.

We’ve seen the demand for short term and flexible mobility increase, and KINTO Flex is the nation’s answer to those who want all the benefits of car ownership for those who may not want to take the leap yet into purchasing their own vehicle.

There is no one size fits all to travel, that’s why we prioritise flexibility and are creating a service that aims to fit into the lifestyle of our customers, not the other way round. KINTO Flex allows users to drive some of the latest cars without any long-term commitment, and the flexibility to adapt to their lifestyle, and we hope the Australians love KINTO Flex as much as we do.”

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said the expansion of KINTO’s services will offer consumers even greater freedom and flexibility.

“The introduction of KINTO Flex offers Australians the next best thing to vehicle ownership, as it is simple and easy to drive the latest Toyota vehicles, including our popular hybrid models, for a longer-term period with a monthly subscription,” Mr Hanley said.

“KINTO Flex marks an exciting step in the future of mobility. It caters to emerging customer needs and mobility requirements that go beyond our traditional business model, giving people the freedom to move and providing a new transport-related service across Australia,” he said.

KINTO Flex subscriptions start from $1215 per month and $0.17 per kilometre travelled³ and include fuel, 24/7 roadside assistance, maintenance, and servicing, and boasts no sign-up fee, no establishment fee, and no security bond.⁴

KINTO Flex is available now nationwide, visit KINTO.com.au to discover new ways to get the mobility needed without sacrificing flexibility or download the KINTO app and find a new path to freedom today.

 PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand has announced the launch of the PepsiCo Greenhouse Program – APAC edition, a first for the region. The 2023 program seeks to collaborate and support entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions that promote the circular economy for packaging and climate reduction.

Issuing an open call across APAC, PepsiCo is seeking 10 start-ups based in the Asia-Pacific region whose solutions integrate purpose into their missions, creating tangible impact for the business, consumers, communities, and our planet. The selected start-ups are granted USD$20,000 in funding and will participate in a four-month business optimisation program designed to accelerate growth.

“The launch of PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator Program in APAC is a testament to our enduring and continued dedication to sustainability and innovation. As a company, PepsiCo is acutely aware of its critical role in driving positive change and creating a more sustainable future for all,” said Wern Yuen Tan, CEO, PepsiCo Asia Pacific.

“The Greenhouse program has been a tremendous source of ideation, talent development, and agility, allowing us to collaborate with like-minded, mission-driven entrepreneurs as they scale innovative ideas to reduce our environmental impact and promote a more resilient future.”

The program includes personalised mentorship with experts across various PepsiCo functions, including leading and emerging brands, to help address critical early-stage business operations such as strategic planning, corporate structuring, and fundraising. Start-ups will also have access to brand optimisation, product development, supply chain management, customer acquisition and distribution during the program.

At the end of the program, one start-up will be awarded an additional USD$100,000 in funding to continue expansion, and an opportunity to continue partnering with PepsiCo on future projects.

PepsiCo first launched its Greenhouse program in Europe in 2017 and expanded the program to North America in the fall of 2018, and then to AMESA in 2022. The Greenhouse Accelerator program is in its 7th year and has seen 58 emerging start-up brands deliver an estimated combined sales growth of over USD $8M in revenue.

As part of its commitment to pep+ (PepsiCo Positive), PepsiCo’s end-to-end transformation strategy, the company is continuously investing in innovation to reduce environmental impact. The Greenhouse Accelerator Program is an extension of this commitment to drive positive change and foster the growth of start-ups in the sustainability field.

For applicant information and additional detail on this year’s PepsiCo Greenhouse program, please visit https://greenhouseaccelerator.com/apac/

Jabra, world’s leading professional audio brand, expands its best-selling line of professional headsets, the Jabra Evolve series, with new Evolve2 mid-range headsets. The revolutionary Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex, the Jabra Evolve2 55 and Jabra Evolve2 50 are engineered for ultra-flexible hybrid working. 

Jabra’s 2022 research** found that 80% of all meetings globally are either fully virtual or hybrid, and hybrid natives like Gen Zs consider their “office” to be their laptop, headset, and wherever with a strong internet connection, and find themselves working in a “third space” such as a co-working space, café, or library. The new Evolve2 headsets are meant to empower users with the most useful and professional features to protect their focus zone and enable them to take calls and meetings no matter their environment. Additionally, they have optimised sound for professional use and music, so there is no need to switch headsets when it is time for a break. 

 
Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex: the most portable professional headset* with unique fold-and-go design  

To provide maximum flexibility, the Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex has a unique fold-and-go design with a collapsible hinged headband, slimmed-down earcups. It comes with a soft sustainable pouch, allowing users to easily tuck it into even the smallest of bags, or your pocket. With the headset, users can be sure to be heard clearly even in loud locations, thanks to a powerful chipset, advanced digital algorithm, and beamforming Jabra ClearVoice microphones for the open office. The chipset and noise-cancelling technology delivers a best-in-class* Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and close-fitting memory foam earcups help seal out even more of the surroundings.  

Using the headset for flexible working and for entertainment means that users would likely be wearing their headsets for hours each day. Evolve2 65 Flex features the Jabra Air Comfort technology and flexible earcups that rotates to move whenever users do – making the headset incredibly comfortable, no matter how long it is on. The unique technology also layers ultra-soft perforated foam inside the collapsible headband for a gentle cushioning effect.  

The headset has a 360° busylight, a shorter hide-away boom arm and it is certified for all leading virtual meeting platforms, like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom. Workers can be rest assured for all-day work and play with the headset promising up to 32 hours of music time and up to 20 hours of talk time with ANC/busylight off.  

Jabra Evolve2 55 and 50: on-ear headsets designed with new, revolutionary comfort technology 

With more flexible working, and therefore more potential for distractions, Jabra is bringing Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) into more professional headsets, with a wireless option, Evolve2 55, and a corded version, Evolve2 50. The headsets are built with powerful ANC that has a unique acoustic chamber design, 28mm custom speakers, a specially designed chipset that powers speech-separating, and two premium noise-cancelling microphones.  

Both products are certified for all leading virtual meeting platforms, like Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom, all while providing a comfortable fit with the Jabra Air Comfort technology.  

Holger Reisinger, SVP for Enterprise Solutions at Jabra says, “The current generation of hybrid workers are in search for comfortable, flexible, and easy to use devices for both work and music. Meanwhile, headsets are evolving from mere accessories to a business necessity for productive work. This was why we sought to create high-quality mid-range headsets so we can meet the needs of both the business and end-user. Particularly with the foldable version, everyone will have the ability to look, sound and be professional, working from anywhere.” 

Key features of all three Evolve2 products:  

• Maximum comfort with Jabra Air Comfort technology 

• Jabra ClearVoice Microphone systems that meet premium microphone for the open office standard 

• Integrated 360° busylight  

• 28mm custom speakers deliver premium sound for music  

• Certified for leading virtual meeting platforms (UC-certified and Microsoft Teams-certified variants available) 

• Up to 30m/100ft wireless range (Evolve2 65 Flex & Evolve2 55 only) 

• Personalisation with Jabra Sound+, Jabra MySound and voice assistants (Evolve2 65 Flex & Evolve2 55 only) 

• Connect two devices at the same time with dual connectivity (Evolve2 65 Flex & Evolve2 55) and connect to another device via Bluetooth while plugged in (Evolve2 50) 

• Boom arm mute and answer call 

• Available in stereo and mono (Evolve2 55 & Evolve2 50 only) – Evolve2 65 Flex available in stereo 

• UC and Microsoft Teams variants 

• Optional charging stand (Evolve2 65 Flex & Evolve2 55 only) 

Key features only of the Evolve2 65 Flex: 

• Most portable professional headset* with unique fold-and-go design 

• Best-in-class Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)*  

• Hide-away boom arm for discreet on-the-go professionalism 

• Up to 20 hours of talk time with ANC/busylight off, up to 15 hours talk time with ANC/busylight on, up to 32 hours of listening time with ANC/busylight off, up to 21 hours listening time with ANC/busylight on 

Key features only of the Evolve2 55: 

• Up to 16 hours talk time with ANC/busylight off, up to 10 hours talk time with ANC/busylight on, and up to 18 hours listening time with ANC/busylight off, up to 15 hours listening time with ANC/busylight on  

• A comfortable fit that’s the best-in-its-class* 

Jabra Evolve 2 Pricing and availability 

The Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex, Evolve2 55 & Evolve2 50 will be available from April. 

Evolve2 65 Flex MSRP AU$499 (AU$599 with Wireless Charging Pad) 

Evolve2 55 Stereo MSRP AU$389 (AU$489 with charging stand) 

Evolve2 55 Mono MSRP AU$369 (AU$469 with charging stand) 

Evolve2 50 Stereo MSRP AU$299 

Evolve2 50 Mono MSRP AU$279  

Find out more about Jabra Evolve2 65 Flex at www.jabra.com/evolve2-65-flex 

Find out more about Jabra Evolve2 55 at www.jabra.com/evolve2-55 

Find out more about Jabra Evolve2 50 at www.jabra.com/evolve2-50 

Uniden Australia’s range of Location sharing UHF radios, the XTRAK 50 PRO and XTRAK 80 Pro, promise to keep you connected no matter where you are. From the trusted outdoor adventurer to the lifestyle traveller, these UHF radios offer a reliable and trusted solution for every user. 

Both the XTRAK 50 PRO Handheld and XTRAK 80 Pro In-Vehicle take communication to the next level by offering app-enabled location sharing functionality between a handheld and in-vehicle UHF Radio, a first in the industry. You can easily share the location of the radio through the XTRAK Bluetooth app, which is available for both iOS and Android. It also helps manage your selective calling (Selcall) contacts and additional receive channels, access the settings controls, and send in-app text messages, all from one convenient app.

Talk to a friend or colleague and know exactly where they are, by using the app’s advanced positional tracking and location sharing features as part of the XTRAK App on your smartphone when connected to your UHF radio. Whether in another vehicle with the XTRAK 80 Pro or on foot with XTRAK 50 Pro, you’ll never be out of contact and always be able to communicate and establish your exact position, as Uniden’s location tracking works between the in vehicle and handheld UHF radios, ensuring both locations are accurate.

The XTRAK 80 Pro also has a large, anti-glare OLED display and backlit keypad that is easy to read in any lighting condition. The powerful integrated two-watt speakers and four-level voice enhancers enable maximum sound clarity in noisy environments. Bluetooth connection is available on the XTRAK 80 Pro, connecting to the vehicle’s audio speakers. 

Uniden’s innovative one-touch instant replay can record up to six minutes of recently received communications and is available in the in-car and a first in the UHF handheld as well, and the smart key lets you toggle between instant channels, monitor, call tone, quality, or equaliser. The magnetic mount is a quick, easy, and convenient way to hold your speakerphone.

When off the mount, the XTRAK 80 Pro has up to five watts of power and provides up to 18 kilometres of range (dependent on topographical factors) compared to the XTRAK 50 Pro which delivers up to five watts of power and provides up to 17 kilometres of range (dependent on topographical factors). Both devices share some common features such as a large, anti-glare OLED display that is easy to read in any lighting condition. The integrated two-watt speakers and four-level voice enhancers ensure maximum sound clarity in noisy environments. 

All units have an impressive standby time of up to 30 hours and the one-touch instant replay functions let you record and replay up to four minutes of recently received communications, so you’ll never miss an important message. The first-time instant replay feature is also available on the UHF handheld. 

XTRAK 50 Pro and XTRAK 80 Pro UHF radios are designed for use in a wide range of industries and activities making them versatile tools for hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts as they are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and challenging environments. With their durable construction and weather-resistant design, these radios are built to withstand the elements and provide reliable communication, no matter the conditions.

From extreme heat to heavy rain, you can rely on XTRAK radios to keep you connected when you need them the most. 

In addition to the XTRAK PRO radios, Uniden is introducing a new Bluetooth headset perfect for adventure-seekers. This headset will provide seamless communication and perfectly complements Uniden’s range of UHF radios. It is lightweight, comfortable, and features a high-quality microphone for clear voice transmission. 

Uniden’s reliability and experience in UHF make the XTRAK 50 Pro and XTRAK 80 Pro ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers who demand robust, reliable and quality equipment. Both radios offer the finest components, engineering, and styling, just what you would expect from Uniden. Whether you’re camping in the great outdoors or travelling off the grid with a group, the XTRAK 50 and XTRAK 80 Pro are the perfect tools to help you stay connected.

Uniden XTRAK 80 PRO Smart UHF radio with large OLED display, location sharing through app and instant replay – RRP: $549.95

Uniden XTRAK 50 PRO  5-watt waterproof smart UHF handheld radio with large OLED display, location sharing, waterproof and one touch instant replay function – RRP: $449.95

XTRAK 4×4 PRO Pack – (this is a XTRAK 80 PRO plus a ATX970S Antenna) – RRP $719.95

XTRAK Ultimate Pack – (This is a XTRAK 80 PRO + XTRAK 50 PRO and a ATX970S Antenna) – RRP $999.95

visit www.uniden.com.au

In 2023, employers of all shapes and sizes are focussing on creating a sustainable workplace that prioritise employee health and wellbeing. But what about environmental sustainability for the planet?

Recent YouGov figures indicate many consumers believe sustainability equals a higher price point, and it follows that many small business owners would think the same. We get it – as a small business, it’s highly likely that you’re struggling in the current inflationary business environment, and are therefore shying away from any unnecessary costs.

But the reality is that eco-friendly choices don’t need to cost employers more – in fact, they can actually save you money. So, how can hard-working owners reduce their overheads and do their bit for the environment at the same time?

Enter: refurbished electronics. Refurbished electronics reduce your business’s contribution to e-waste by saving phones, tablets and laptops from premature death with a new lease of life. Not only are refurbished devices cheaper, but they’re also better for the planet.

E-waste is the fastest-growing waste category on the planet, with 52M tons of e-waste produced worldwide last year alone. Out of that, only 20% is properly recycled, with the rest going to landfill and polluting countries throughout Africa and Asia. Smartphones heavily contribute to the escalation of this damage through damaging toxins such as chlorine and mercury that can pollute the air and water supply around the landfill.

In response, businesses around Australia are currently facing rising landfill costs, making it more expensive to dispose of large amounts of e-waste at the rubbish dump. Taxes and other government incentives are making it increasingly cheaper to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials. The recent REDcycle collapse is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by local councils and governments when it comes to recycling, and the need for businesses of all sizes to bear their own level of responsibility.

If you’re keen to make the switch to refurbished devices, the first step is to make a careful assessment of your needs versus your wants and align them with your budget. What is your team using their phones for? In most cases, they probably don’t need the niche features in the very latest iPhone, and could simply choose to keep their old model or opt for a refurbished model instead.

If businesses are ready and willing to jump on the refurbished train, the environmental impact can be massive. Since launching in Australia and New Zealand, for example, our team at Reebelo has emitted 1410 tonnes fewer greenhouse gases, saved 197 Million litres of drinking water saved, planted 15,000 trees, and saved five tonnes of e-waste.

With economies struggling, unemployment rates wobbly, and small businesses looking to save as much money as possible, shifting towards refurbished devices is nothing but a smart move. With the right mindset in place, your business can save both money and the planet.

Story provided from Gulrez