Closing the Loop is a Dutch company and NGO based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, founded with the aim to reduce electronic waste (e-waste). It does this by collecting 'end-of-life' scrap phones in Africa and Asia, where it also gives used high quality mobile phones a second life. The scrap is recycled in Europe. In this way Closing the Loop turns scrap phones into valuable resources and an income for people in developing countries. Its goal is to prevent mobile phone from ending up in dump sites and create a more sustainable telecom industry at the same time.
When at the end of their lifespan, scrap mobile phones are mainly dumped and become a hazard for the environment and the health of local people. For example, in landfills like Agbogbloshie, e-waste is dumped and locals try to make a living by burning the e-waste and collecting metals.
Active in seven countries, Closing the Loop has recycled 312,445 mobile phones in Africa and Asia and gave 22,378 mobile phones a second life. Mobile phones are bought from informal local collector networks. Recently, Closing the Loop received a PYMWYMIC investment of €360,000 to scale up their recycling program. Closing the Loop received media attention mainly in the Netherlands. For example, in Tegenlicht, OneWorld, Vrij Nederland and Vara Groen.
Closing the Loop was founded in 2012 by Joost de Kluijver and is a part of the Good Electronics Network.