GEODIS executive makes the case for reuse-first circular logistics
A GEODIS executive argues that circular economy efforts should prioritize keeping products in use rather than focusing only on recycling at end of life. The piece explains how device-as-a-service and similar models require logistics systems to collect, securely wipe, repair, upgrade, and redistribute equipment. It draws on the company's experience with refurbishing 45,000 laptops to illustrate the shift from selling products to providing continued access.
Damien Derouene, GEODIS’s global circular economy and innovation lead, argues that circular strategies should begin with reuse rather than end-of-life recycling. He notes that a laptop embodies not only materials but also energy, labor, engineering, and resources, so recycling alone discards much of its value. The company’s experience refurbishing 45,000 laptops illustrates this approach.
Device-as-a-service and similar models require logistics to collect equipment, erase data securely, inspect condition, repair or upgrade it, repackage, and send it to another user or responsible recycling. Because manufacturers often retain ownership, returns are built into the arrangement, making recovery easier than trade-in or incentive-based schemes.
This reuse-first model could affect consumers, manufacturers, logistics workers, repair technicians, and waste-handling communities. Customers may gain more affordable access to devices and fewer disposal burdens, while manufacturers could build longer relationships and recover valuable equipment. New roles may emerge in collection, secure data erasure, refurbishment, and redistribution. If fewer devices are discarded, communities near waste sites might see reduced pressure. Yet benefits may depend on reliable returns, strong data protection, and sufficient repair capacity.