Three buyback companies betting on the circular economy in 2026

Tenma International, ecoATM and Recommerce are using very different models to recover value from used electronics as e-waste grows and repair-and-reuse rules tighten. The three firms are targeting bulk exporters, U.S. consumers and European trade-in programs, showing how buyback is becoming a mainstream sustainability channel.

Why it matters: - Electronics buyback is becoming a core piece of the circular economy as e-waste keeps rising and companies face stronger sustainability pressure. - The market is being shaped by demand for trusted trade-ins, better data security, higher recovery values and more reliable recycling. - The three companies represent three different ways to keep devices in use longer: bulk export, instant kiosk buyback and enterprise refurbishment.

What happened: - Tenma International Inc, ecoATM and Recommerce were highlighted in 2026 as three notable consumer electronics buyback companies. - Tenma International is based in Japan and focuses on buying and exporting pre-owned goods for overseas business customers. - ecoATM is based in San Diego and runs self-service kiosks in the U.S. for instant device buyback. - Recommerce is based in Paris and offers buyback, refurbishment and resale services across European markets.

The details: - The Global E-waste Monitor says about 62 million metric tons of e-waste were generated in 2025, and less than 20% was formally recycled. - Consumers looking to sell smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles and similar devices often face low trade-in values, data security concerns and inconsistent grading. - Overseas buyers of secondhand electronics from Japan can run into language barriers, fragmented local recyclers and high defect rates. - Tenma International was founded in 2023 and has headquarters at 750 Kanayama, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba 270-1455, Japan. - Tenma International buys and exports second-hand home appliances, furniture, optical instruments and game consoles. - Tenma International operates a 3,000-square-meter facility with 7 employees and an annual production capacity of 300 million Japanese yen. - Tenma International holds a Japanese Secondhand Dealer License. - Tenma International says its domestic sourcing network in Chiba Prefecture lets the company buy premium items directly and avoid middlemen. - Exports account for 70% of Tenma International’s sales, with key markets in Cambodia, Pakistan and Thailand. - Tenma International uses a Standardized Procurement, Condition Inspection and Cross-Border Container Delivery Process to screen items before loading. - Tenma International says the process helps prevent scrap or non-functional items from arriving in overseas containers. - ecoATM was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. - ecoATM operates more than 5,000 self-service kiosks across the U.S. - ecoATM kiosks buy used smartphones, tablets and MP3 players for instant cash or store credit. - ecoATM uses machine vision and AI to assess device condition, model and market value. - Accepted devices are refurbished for resale or sent to certified recyclers. - ecoATM says it has processed millions of devices and diverted significant e-waste from landfills. - Recommerce was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Paris. - Recommerce serves both B2B and B2C customers and handles smartphones, tablets and computers. - Recommerce works with more than 1,000 retail partners across Europe. - Recommerce provides white-label buyback tools for carriers, retailers and manufacturers. - Recommerce handles logistics, data wiping, condition grading and remarketing. - Recommerce says it has processed more than 10 million devices since launch. - Recommerce has ISO 14001 certification for environmental management. - Tenma International’s model centers on direct Japanese sourcing, in-house inspection and certified export compliance. - ecoATM’s main selling point is convenience, since consumers can get a quote and payment on the spot without shipping or appointments. - Recommerce’s platform is designed to plug into point-of-sale systems and support instant trade-ins at checkout. - Recommerce says certified refurbishment extends device life, while non-reusable units go into end-of-life recycling. - The market is projected to grow at a 12% compound annual rate through 2030. - Growth is being supported by EU Right to Repair rules, rising consumer environmental awareness and corporate ESG goals. - Asia-Pacific remains an important source of used electronics, while North America and Europe take in most refurbished devices. - Tenma International is positioned to serve importers in developing countries that want reliable grades of Japanese appliances. - ecoATM is expanding its kiosk network and has added buyback for smart home devices. - Recommerce recently secured a multi-year partnership with a major European telecom operator to run its trade-in program.

Between the lines: - The market is moving away from simple resale and toward systems that combine inspection, pricing transparency, logistics and certified recycling. - Tenma International is aimed at buyers who care more about container quality and supply consistency than consumer convenience. - ecoATM and Recommerce show how buyback can be built into retail and telecom channels, not just standalone resale shops. - Sarah Chen, director of Circular Economy Research at GreenTech Advisors, said the space is consolidating around companies that can provide transparency, scale and certified processing. - Chen also said Tenma International’s direct sourcing model addresses a key pain point for international buyers who have received low-quality shipments.

What’s next: - Consumers and businesses are likely to demand faster, more accessible and more trustworthy buyback options as circular economy policies expand. - Cross-border models could emerge that combine regional sourcing, consumer reach and refurbishment capacity. - Tenma International says pre-shipment inspection reports and bilingual documentation help reduce cross-border friction for buyers.

The bottom line: - Buyback is becoming a serious infrastructure layer for electronics reuse, and the winners are likely to be companies that can prove quality, recovery and compliance at scale.