For many people, the words “tech” and “sustainability” don’t go hand in hand. They can. There’s a lot of great tech out there that can inspire a more sustainable life and help you be kinder to the environment.
Some of these tech items can be used to swap out non-sustainable products, such as boring notebook paper for a smart notebook you can reuse repeatedly. There are also products that are made from sustainable materials and those that come directly from companies that have sustainability as a core value.
What is Sustainability?
In a nutshell sustainability is the ability of something (a product, an action, or resource) to last for a long time. Can last for a long time. Solar energy, for example, is more Sustainable than fossil fuel energy sources because the sun’s not going anywhere anytime soon; fossil fuel sources, however, are quickly being depleted.
To put the concept of sustainability in a non-environmental example, let’s examine a random person’s sleep schedule. This random person (let’s call him Bob) has to wake up at 7 a.m. to get to work on time, and he usually goes to bed at least by 11 p.m. to get a good night’s sleep.
Let’s say that Bob wants to spend more hours awake, so he starts going to bed at 4 a.m., giving him only three hours of rest before he has to get up for work. Although he might be able to do this for a day or two, he can’t continue with this pattern. It’s notsustainable.
One of my favorite explanations of sustainability says something along the lines of needing to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the future generation’s ability to meet those same needs.
How can technology be made sustainable?
As tech companies evolve, it’s natural (pun intended) that some may become more environmentally conscious. How can a company producing tech be more sustainable?
It is important to consider the materials used in products by a company. This covers everything from the actual product to be sold to the packaging or shipping materials. Companies can send out products with less plastic and more styrofoam, and also use more renewable resources such as solar energy and their manufacturing plants.
Another source of sustainability in tech companies is how they recycle or reuse their products. A company that makes laptops, earbuds or other tech may have a great recycling program. Whether a company offers a discount in return for recycled tech, takes recycled tech and donates it, or sells it at a discounted rate, it’s a great way to keep electronics out of landfills. Electronics designed with repairability in the mind are also great.
Tech itself can be considered sustainable if it makes you swap out something in your daily routine that’s not so sustainable. For example, take the first item in our list. Rocketbook Fusion, a reusable notebook allows you to (re-)use it instead paper and help save trees.
Rocketbook Fusion – Smart Reusable Notebook
Though we’ve come a long way with our paper-wasting tendencies, we still have a ways to go. Rocketbook’s Fusion notebook is an environmental godsend because there are so many different pages inside for you to use. There’s a calendar view, weekly planning pages, lined pages, dotted pages, and more—and they’re all reusable!
You have to use Pilot Frixion writing utensils specifically, as this is the only ink that properly bonds to and erases from the pages. As soon as you’re done writing everything down, you’ll scan the page to the Rocketbook app (Android/iOS), erase the page using water and the included microfiber cloth, and voila! It’s good as new!
Smart Reusable Notebook
RocketBook Fusion
You’ll love making lists and saving paper with Rocketbook Fusion notebook.
Ecosia App: Plant trees with every search
Many people ditch their phone’s native search engine when they get a new phone; some phones may have a pretty decent default search engine, but many don’t. So if you’re already going to upgrade your search engine, why not go with one that’ll plant trees as you search? Enter: Ecosia!
As if its tree-planting benefits weren’t reason enough to download it, the Ecosia appis also fantastic because it protects your browsing privacy.Your data is never sold for profit, and your searches are always SSL-encrypted and never saved. The Ecosia app can be downloaded if you so desire. Ecosia extensionYou can also use Chrome as your browser.
Listen Sustainably: Reveal Solar Speaker
Reveal’s bamboo speakerIt is more than one way that it can be sustainable. You can plug it into a power outlet and charge it, but you can also use the built-in USB port to go cord-free. monocrystalline solar panelsThis simply means that each panel is made from one silicon crystal. If you live in a place that’s sunny enough, you can leave it on a windowsill and probably never have to plug it in.
The speaker is made with sustainable bamboo that’s also stunning to look at it. Most speakers are plain or come in black. But this Reveal speaker looks great with its bamboo face.
You can charge your smartphone or tablet using the USB-A port. Bluetooth streaming music can be streamed from the speaker. The speaker can run for approximately 15 hours on a full charge. So even if you have a few rainy days, you’ve still got plenty of charge to last until the sun comes back out.
Listen Sustainably
For Your Phone: Pela Phone Case
You use your phone every single day, so why not cover it with a case that’ll make you feel good about yourself every time you look at it. A Pela phone case is excellent for the environment and looks fantastic on your phone, whether you have an iPhone(5 – 13, SE), a Google Pixel (3a – 6), or a Samsung Galaxy (S8 – S22). You can also find cases for the OnePlus 9 as well as the Huawei P50/P50 Pro models.
Pela phone cases are made of proprietary Flaxstic—a combination of flax straw materials and a compostable bioplastic elastomer. The cases are 100% compostable, which means they’ll fully break down and not harm the environment when composted. Or, you can Pela will return your phoneThe company will reuse the case in a new generation phone cases.
Pela also uses fully Recyclable packaging paperFor your case, you can either recycle it or compost. Despite being super sustainable, Pela’s phone cases are still incredibly durable. If you’re clumsy, don’t worry. A Pela case will protect your phone from scratches and drops.
Solar Charger: Anker PowerCore Solar 20000
A list of the best sustainable tech wouldn’t be complete without a solar charger. This solar charger is made by Anker, a company known for making the best portable batteries.
It has a massive 20,000mAh cell and dual-chargingcapacitythat can charge your devices effectively and repeatedly. The USB C port can output 18W while the USB A port can output 12W. Although it needs solar power to build up the battery, it’s built to withstand rain, dust, and drops. There’s also a handy built-in flashlight!
Solar Charger
Environmentally-Friendly Buds: Skullcandy Sesh Evo
While there’s nothing specifically sustainable about Skullcandy’s Sesh Evo earbudsThe company is committed to being eco-conscious as a whole. Skullcandy believes sustainability is crucialFrom implementing more recyclable packaging to partnering climate change organizations to upcycling and recycling an old pair, there are many options.
If you have an old pair of headphones, earbuds, or headphones (any brand), then you can use them. Skullcandy will accept themGet a 30% discount coupon for your next Skullcandy purchase. That 30% is off your whole order, by the way, not just one item.Since Skullcandy’s sustainability program started in July 2019, the company has diverted over 500,000 units from landfills.
Skullcandy evaluates your headphones or earbuds and determines if they can either be reused or upcycled. Skullcandy will upcycle any electronics that are still in good condition and sell them at a reduced rate. A portion of the proceeds will go to charity. Winters are important. If the device can’t be refurbished, it’s broken down and properly recycled.
Environmentally friendly Buds
Skullcandy Sesh Evo
Skullcandy can be a truly sustainable company. Consider buying more than these amazing Sesh Evo headphones.
Framework Laptop: An easily-repairable computer
The Framework laptopcan be repaired and customized as many times as you want, and what’s more sustainable than that? You don’t have to buy a new laptop each time yours stops working. Instead, you can replace the part that failed with the Framework laptop.
It’s thin and lightweight, with a 13.5-inch screen, and it gives you the ability to customize just about everything else. The DIY configuration starts at $749, and will increase depending on the features and parts that you add.
RadRunner Electric Bike: Be Earth- and Health-Conscious
You can be more kind to the Earth by riding your bike instead driving. Whether that’s to work, to the grocery store, or anywhere else you frequent, riding your bike is always going to be better for the environment than driving your car. But depending on how far those locations are, riding your bike isn’t always an option.
That’s where an electric bike can help you out. The RadRunner 2It is an electric bike that runs on a battery and your pedaling foot. The RadRunner 2 electric bike is much more affordable than other models on the market and is a great option to test whether it is right for your needs.
It might not seem so difficult to bike a short distance instead of driving if you have a motor. Although you will still need to exert some effort to recharge your bike between uses, it makes riding your bike much more enjoyable.
