The collaboration has already saved 75 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and given a second life to 325 IT devices that have been diverted from landfill.
Cellnex UK, together with their IT provider Freestyle-TS, have joined forces with Reconome and Good Things Foundation to give a second life to IT devices through the National Device Bank. The partnership will help to bridge the UK’s digital divide whilst preventing valuable equipment from ending up in landfill. So far, the collaboration has led to 325 devices being refurbished and 75 tonnes of avoided carbon emissions, the same as the amount of carbon captured by over 3,400 trees each year, as well as 737kg of e-waste being diverted from landfill.
Reconome was responsible for refurbishing and preparing the devices for reuse, ensuring they will soon support people across the UK through Good Things Foundation’s National Device Bank. Through the National Device Bank, individuals facing digital exclusion can access the technology they need to get online, connect to essential services, and improve their opportunities in education, work, and daily life.
Collective impact so far:
- 325 devices refurbished and repurposed for reuse
- 737kg of e-waste diverted from landfill
- 75 tonnes of carbon emissions avoided, equivalent to the amount captured by over 3,400 trees each year.
By extending the life of IT equipment, Cellnex, Reconome and Good Things Foundation are not only preventing e-waste but also creating pathways for people to participate fully in a digital society.
Helen Milner OBE, Group CEO of Good Things Foundation, said:
“We’re thrilled to welcome Cellnex as a partner in our mission to fix the digital divide. By contributing 325 devices to the National Device Bank, they are directly enabling people to get online and improve their lives. It’s fantastic to see businesses embracing sustainable IT asset disposal while making a meaningful social impact.”
Gianluca Landolina, Cellnex UK CEO said:
“At Cellnex UK, we believe that access to technology is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Yet, 1.5 million people in the UK currently lack access to a basic laptop, tablet, or smartphone. That’s why we are committed to giving our used tech a second life – reducing e-waste and helping to bridge the digital divide.
We are honoured to play our part in making a tangible difference to communities along with our IT partner, Freestyle-TS. By contributing our used devices to Recomone and Good Things Foundation’s National Device Bank, we’re ensuring that technology is not wasted but instead is supporting those who need it most.”
Nick Rawkins, CEO of Reconome, said:
“Our partnership with Cellnex and Good Things Foundation exemplifies successful outcomes: helping to bridge the digital exclusion gap, whilst delivering measurable environmental benefits. We welcome valuable partnerships like this to unlock new opportunities for those who need them most, while cutting carbon and alleviating the footprint we have as organisations.”
Commitment to Sustainability and ESG
This initiative is part of Cellnex’s broader commitment to sustainability and responsible IT asset management. Working alongside Reconome and Good Things Foundation, Cellnex is reducing electronic waste, supporting a circular economy, and helping to create a more inclusive digital society. This initiative aligns with Cellnex sustainability goals, ensuring that technology contributes to both environmental responsibility and social good.
Cellnex is also an official signatory of the IT Reuse for Good Charter, becoming one of the first 100 companies in the UK to make this commitment. Recently launched by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), along with Good Things Foundation, VodafoneThree and Deloitte, the charter encourages organisations to donate their used technology to digitally excluded people. More information regarding the charter can be found here.
Looking ahead
In the next phase of the partnership, the refurbished devices will be delivered through the National Device Bank and into the hands of people across the UK who need them most. Imagine someone previously unable to apply for jobs or study from home now logging on to write their first CV, join a course, or stay connected with family, thanks to a laptop or tablet they would otherwise have been without.
Together, Cellnex, Reconome and Good Things Foundation are turning sustainable IT reuse into real, life-changing social impact — helping more people get online, access essential services and unlock new opportunities.
* Emissions avoided are calculated using the estimated carbon footprint of manufacturing equivalent new devices, rather than the use of refurbished ones. The average understood emissions per newly manufactured device is based on averages from manufacturer provided data. Full methodology is available on request. Figures for landfill averted are based on the total weight of devices repurposed through this partnership.
About Cellnex:
Cellnex is Europe’s largest telecommunications towers and infrastructure operator, enabling operators to access a wide network of telecommunications infrastructure on a shared-use basis, and thus helping to reduce access barriers and to improve services in the most remote areas, whilst also contributing to a more sustainable deployment. The company manages a portfolio of more than 110,000 sites, including forecast roll-outs up to 2030, in 10 European countries, with a significant footprint in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland. Cellnex, which is listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange, is part of the selective IBEX35 and Euro Stoxx 100 and enjoys outstanding positions on the main sustainability indexes such as FTSE4Good, MSCI and DJSI Europe.
About Good Things Foundation and the National Device Bank:
Good Things Foundation is the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity. We work to fix the digital divide at a hyperlocal level with our National Digital Inclusion Network – comprised of over 5,000 community partners providing a range of free digital inclusion support, such as:
- The National Databank, providing free mobile connectivity data;
- The National Device Bank, in partnership with Reconome, supplying free, refurbished devices to people in need;
- Learn My Way, our free flagship basic digital skills platform, which has supported thousands to get online.
We work in partnership with organisations such as Virgin Media O2, VodafoneThree, Accenture, and Nominet to deliver at scale, and advocate for digital inclusion to fix the digital divide – for good.
For more information on Good Things Foundation visit www.goodthingsfoundation.org
About Reconome:
Reconome is a pioneering B Corp that partners with enterprise organisations to generate social impact and digital inclusion by repurposing and redistributing surplus devices into schools, charities, and other digital inclusion projects. In doing so, we help reduce e-waste and carbon emissions through circular economy practices that extend the life of technology and provide crucial digital access for those that need it most.
Find out more about how Reconome can help: contact rethink@recono.me or visit recono.me.