Want the most sustainable camera? Forget new and buy used

Dust off the camera sitting unused on your shelves—it can earn you cash and help reduce the environmental damage wrought on the planet by electronics.

And that impact is huge. Each year, more than 57 million tonnes of electronic waste is discarded, but even more than that goes to waste because we hoard electronics at home rather than recycling or reusing them. Research from WEEE Forum, shows that Europeans own an average 74 electronic products, including everything from phones, tablets and cameras to hair dryers and toasters. But of that total, an average 13 electronics sit unused. Why? Almost half of people surveyed worry they'll need their gadgets again, while 15% plan to eventually sell them, but seemingly never get around to it.

Such hoarding is particularly common with cameras and video equipment. Recent research from MPB, the world's largest online platform for used photo and video equipment, suggests more than half of Brits (53%) own a camera and other kit they don't use, with 22% hoarding two or more.

That's a particular shame with cameras. Unlike smartphones, which age out of use within years, cameras, lenses and other photography and video kit is designed to be durable, making such equipment well suited to reuse; MPB includes a six-month warranty just in case. "Camera kit is specifically built to last," says Matt Barker, founder and CEO of MPB, which is headquartered in Berlin, Brooklyn and Brighton. "Your old smartphone might not be much use to someone as a smartphone anymore, but if you’ve got an unused camera in your drawer then get it back into circulation so somebody can make the most of it."

As part of a circular economy, used kit is better for the planet. Beyond keeping useful equipment out of landfill, extending the life of a camera helps avoid new ones from being made unnecessarily, reducing the energy costs and emissions associated with manufacturing and transport. That's important as cameras contain gold, platinum, copper and other rare heavy metals that must be mined and refined to produce a new DSLR or other piece of kit.

And these ideas about circular economies and sustainability are important to photographers and videographers, no surprise given so many spend much of their time outdoors or travelling the world. Research shows sustainability is important to photographers, with half concerned about the environmental impact of their craft and two-thirds believing there's no need to buy new cameras.

No wonder then that camera makers are starting to step up. Nikon aims to slash carbon emissions by 26% in lens manufacturing by cutting waste, while Canon has a corporate philosophy called Kyosei that seeks to reduce environmental burdens. Sony has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2040 and use entirely renewable energy by 2030. But there's no avoiding the fact that buying new produces emissions and other pollution, and that makes buying used when possible more sustainable.

However, MPB takes sustainability a step further than cameras. "Right now, we are working with our landlords on energy efficiency in our buildings, and with our packaging supplier on how to go from 75% recycled card and paper to 100% over the next few years," says head of sustainability Rachel Thompson. "And we are working on our employee volunteering and charity partnership programme which will also support action for the environment, diversity and inclusion."

And, of course, there's more to buying used cameras than environmental sustainability—it can help your wallet, too. Picking up the latest releases naturally costs a premium, with used kit on average a third cheaper. That means your budget goes further, letting you save at a time when costs for everything and anything are rising or allowing you to step up to a higher-end model.

You'll have your pick of kit. As the largest online platform for photo and video equipment resales, MPB helps recirculate 350,000 pieces of kit each year, with 1,500 pieces added each week. And that massive selection is key in an industry hit—like many others in manufacturing—by supply chain issues caused by pandemic production shutdowns and shortages of key components such as processors. Buying used means you can get your hands on products otherwise unavailable, such as the Canon R5 and Fujifilm X-T4, which are out of stock in stores but available to buy used on MPB.

Clearing out your own camera collection can help fund your next purchase, with sellers earning £650 on average on MPB. Despite this, half of people surveyed believe selling their devices won't pull in enough cash to be worth the effort. To keep it simple and easy, MPB offers an instant valuation for sellers, with free, insured collection too. That means you can find out exactly how much that camera sitting unused on your shelf is worth, and sell it safely and effortlessly. And with ten years' experience in the UK market, MPB's trained product specialists check over all kit before deeming it "MPB approved" and ready for sale, so buyers won't be disappointed—a fact reflected by the platform's five-start Trustpilot rating.

And it is worth it: a quick trip to MPB.com can not only give you a quick estimate on how much your camera horde is worth and find your next bit of essential kit, but doing so is much more environmentally sustainable than buying new. The circular economy isn't just green, it's cheaper too.

To find out how much your kit could be worth and browse our range of cameras, lenses and accessories, head to mpb.com

This article was originally published by WIRED UK