Why Do We Keep Our Used Mobile Phones? Cultural and Behavioral Obstacles to Circular Strategies in Cambodia

The high usage rates of mobile phones and their short lifecycles are leading to a great and increasing amount of electronic waste (e-waste) globally, with a negative impact on the environment. This trend can also be seen in Cambodia, a developing country in Southeast Asia. Circular strategies, such as the refurbishment of used mobile phones and bringing them back to the market ‘as good as new’, are established in the more developed regions of the world with the potential to reduce e-waste. As of today, such strategies are of very low market relevance in Cambodia, and potential positive impacts on the environment remain unfulfilled. The aim of this paper is therefore to obtain insights into how barriers to returning used mobile phones in Cambodia can be reduced to achieve environmental and economic benefits. To meet this aim, 28 semi-structured interviews with Cambodians (‘Khmer’) were conducted. The results show a strong tendency to not return their used mobile phones due to emotional attachment, practical reasons such as backup or data storage, and cultural habits of handing items down within families. Moreover, a widespread lack of knowledge and awareness of the option to return and refurbish these devices has been found.