Tell us about Mobi Hub Events
“Mobihub Events is a new venture to create and deliver business to business events for the mobile industry. Our parent company, Mobi Hub, has been operating in the refurbished sector for 8 years, and in that time we’ve partnered with a number of industry shows such as the Reseller Park at IFA and ITC Malta. Our work in the event space has grown over the years so it made sense to set up a dedicated subsidiary of our business to focus on delivering events.”
What prompted you to launch the Circular Tech Awards?
“We’ve been active in the refurbished market for many years. We’re seeing a lot more discussions about things like e-waste and as a team we took a step back and started to look at how refurbishing connects to other areas of the circular economy. It’s incredible to discover the work happening across Europe in terms of people pushing for legislation change and tech innovation in recycling and device diagnostics. We believe there’s a need for a dedicated awards show for Europe’s circular tech industry. Our team has organised networking events for years so we like to get people together and create business opportunities. We want to bring the same knowledge, enthusiasm and experience to the circular economy and extend our platform for all the amazing work that’s going on.”
What excites you about the circular economy?
“Although our company has been part of the circular economy since 2014, we are still learning all the time. I do like the idea of creating closed loop systems so nothing goes to waste. As a refurbisher, we’re all about finding opportunities to sell used devices so smartphone lifecycles are extended. The thought of connecting the dots so more handsets find their way into responsible recycling channels, and materials recovered for reuse is something I would really like to see take hold in Europe and beyond. Circularity by design is also something I find interesting. Seeing more products built for longevity and ease of repair is a positive but also gets my business brain going, thinking about the opportunities around spare parts and services.”
You’ve worked in the refurbished industry for 11 years. What’s changed in that time and what trends do you anticipate over the next 5 years?
“When I first started there was far less legislation and awareness about circularity. Over the years, through the EU commission as well as other government bodies the awareness, acknowledgment & acceptance of circularity has increased. This has been further supported by some amazing marketplaces who have made buying refurbished tech seem ‘normal’ and provided a very smooth customer experience to end users. Also the quality of manufacturing and lifetime of products has increased dramatically as well as brand new prices for these products. Through covid-19 and times of economic crises, people have opted for more sustainable and environmentally efficient solutions for their day to day requirements. Over the next 5 years, we’re going to see a lot of change driven by legislation such as the EU’s Circular Economy Act which is expected to come into effect at the end of 2026. One trend I think will take root is the expansion of categories carried by refurbishers. Consumers and businesses are used to buying refurbished smartphones so buying a refurbished washing machine or smart device will be a lot less niche. We also expect a rise in market share for the companies who add value to the products they offer. The old days of brokering inventories are coming to an end and the businesses who invest in their future now will survive the growth of the industry over the coming years.”
What can guests attending the first Circular Tech Awards look forward to?
“We’re anticipating about 300 guests at the awards dinner. We’ll be organising what should be a special night with first class entertainment, 3 course dinner and a special guest host for the evening. We’ll also organise some networking before and after the awards so there will be an opportunity to meet other people from the industry and make some valuable connections.”