How Can Technology Be More Sustainable?

Fed up of gadgets that need replacing frequently and aren’t eco-friendly? The good news is tech companies are finally looking at ways to make products that are kind to the planet

Technology is moving at an incredible pace. And while that’s brilliant for a great many reasons, it has led to gadgets and tech becoming rather disposable – how many people keep a mobile phone for more than two years for example? Unfortunately, that’s not particularly sustainable. So what are tech companies doing to make our gadgets more environmentally conscious?

Naim’s Mu-Sso Wood Edition speaker is made from sustainable Ayous hardwood (Image Credit: JM Williams Productions LTD)

Sustainable materials
The most obvious starting point is to look at how our gadgets are made. Where do the materials come from? Are they recyclable? Take the Naim Mu-so Wood Edition speaker. The sound – as you may expect from Naim – is exceptional, but what’s important here is that the exterior is made of sustainable Ayous hardwood. And, it’s been treated, to make sure it lasts, too. 

Aivan’s Korvaa headset is made using synthetic biology (Image credit: Aivan Oy)

Elsewhere though, other companies are exploring more adventurous ways to reduce the environmental cost of the materials they use. Aivan’s Korvaa project used synthetic biology (Synbio) to create a headset made entirely from microbially grown materials – impressive, given the variety of materials needed. Using Synbio, new biological organisms can be designed and engineered to produce a wide range of useful chemicals and materials. This could well be the future of how our gadgets are made. 

Powerfoyle solar cell material harnesses light to power this Urbanista Los Angeles headset (Image credit: Urbanista – Exeger)

The right kind of energy
It’s also incredibly important to consider energy usage when weighing up the environmental impact of technology. Electric cars, for example, require more energy to be made than a conventional car, but require far less energy once on the road. Meaning they have a considerably smaller carbon footprint after a few years of use. 

With that in mind, some manufacturers are looking at more interesting ways to power our gadgets. The Urbanista Los Angeles headphones use solar cell material in the headband, which converts light – both outdoor and indoor – into electricity. Assuming you’re somewhere with a light source, the headphones will charge continuously. Other headsets with similar technology are also on the way.   

You can replace the battery of the Beosound Level using a screwdriver (Image credit: Bang & Olufsen)

Longevity is key
Making tech that lasts is difficult for a number of reasons, but the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level is an excellent example of the work being done to increase longevity. Like most Bang and Olufsen products, it’s aesthetically pleasing and the fabric and wood covers are changeable so you can match it to your decor.    

The design is modular, too. So if the battery degrades after a few years, you can easily swap in a new one with just a screwdriver. 

Often the biggest problem with tech is that it quickly becomes outdated, but the Danish audio maestros have thought of that too. The speaker uses a streaming module, which contains the wireless tech and antennas, as well as digital signal processing chip. The clever part is that there is plenty of processing headroom, so the module should be able to handle updates for the foreseeable future. But if the time comes when the module is simply too outdated – if a new wireless technology becomes available for example – you’ll be able to send it to Bang and Olufsen, to have it upgraded to the latest module.

Fairphone 4 also focuses on the human cost of our gadgets (Image credit: Fairphone)

Social responsibility      
It’s important to remember that while being kind to the environment is important, we also need to ensure that we apply that same kindness to the people involved in the production process. 

The Fairphone 4, for example, includes many of the measures we’ve talked about already. You can swap parts yourself, it’s electronic waste neutral, and comes with a five-year warranty to ensure longevity. But it’s also Fairtrade gold certified. They’ve achieved that by trying to use materials that are responsibly sourced and conflict free, while paying a living wage bonus to factory workers, too. At the same time, through initiatives such as Fairtrade Gold, Fair Cobalt Alliance and their Uganda Gold project, they hope to improve and strengthen mining communities while reducing the use of child labour.   

Let’s hope more and more tech companies put responsible sourcing, durability and sustainable materials at the top of their priorities.