Tag Archives: plastic

This 3D printed machine turns plastic bottles into 3D printing threads

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Despite their dangers to the environment, the use of plastics is still on the rise. The material does have desirable properties that make it too easy to ignore their long-term harmful effects on our planet. Recycling plastic products, especially PET bottles, is always an option, but the costs and energy involved make many businesses and individuals just turn a blind eye to the growing problem. What if you could recycle these bottles on your own at home? What if you could use these PET bottles as the very material to create other things? That’s the almost perfect circular economy that this open source machine is trying to make a reality, and the machine itself is 3D printed using the very same material it recycles.

Designer: Reiten Cheng

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3D printers have democratized the manufacturing and production industry, allowing almost anyone with enough resources to create the objects of their dreams. While it’s nearly possible to use a variety of filaments as printing materials, the most common are still thermoplastics like PLA and ABS. These only add to the growing number of plastic-based products out in the wild that will eventually end up in landfills. There is now another way to get plastic filaments without having factories churn out fresh new ones.

The Polyformer looks interesting from the get-go, and its name sounds like something taken out of fictional literature. Its translucent white appearance is thanks to the fact that it is made from recycled plastic PET bottles, giving it an appearance that also speaks to its purpose. In a nutshell, the machine slices up PET bottles and melts them to turn them into filaments only 1.75 mm in diameter. These recycled plastic threads can then be used in normal 3D printers to create more things, probably with the same distinctive translucent appearance as the Polyformer.

This is a rather ingenious and creative way to reuse plastic bottles, especially if you’re the type to use a lot of plastic material in 3D printing. If this kind of upcycling becomes more popular, it could help reduce the creation of virgin plastic for the purpose of 3D printing. At the same time, it offers an alternative to the traditional way PET bottles are recycled. Although those can be done en masse, the process often requires long-distance transportation and more water and energy. This way, you can do your own small part in making sure those bottles get a second lease on life.

The best part about this 3D printed upcycling machine is that its designer has made available all the information needed to recreate it yourself. In addition to 3D printed parts, the Polyformer also utilizes components used in normal 3D printers that could be bought off the shelf. The design is also modular, making it easy to swap out parts and customize the design to one’s needs and tastes. Hopefully, the idea catches on and, like in open source software, gets improved on by the maker community so that there could be more sustainable sources for the materials that, in turn, form other products from these creative minds.

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Realme GT2 Pro Review: Designing a Greener Tomorrow

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If you look at market intelligence numbers, millions of smartphones are shipped not just every year but every quarter. Given their small size and, in some cases, very affordable prices, these mobile devices have littered the planet, figuratively and literally. Although smartphones do use a lot of metal and glass, many of their parts and the processes used to create these technological wonders contribute to the deteriorating condition of our planet. It’s far too late to turn back on smartphones, tablets, and computers, so it is up to manufacturers to take steps to reduce the negative impact their products make on the environment. Many phone makers have started taking note and taking action, but Realme makes its biggest and boldest statement this year with the Realme GT2 Pro, embodying its vision of a greener future.

Designer: Realme x Naoto Fukusawa

It’s like there are two editions of the Realme GT2 Pro. There are the “normal” ones that come in Steel Black and Titanium Blue colors, while the most notable pair are the Paper White and Paper Green variants. Our review unit is the more common Steel Black, which sadly misses out on the sustainable material used in the Paper editions. Nonetheless, this review will take into account both editions as a whole, especially considering they share almost everything in common except for that special biopolymer case.

Aesthetics

Unless you grabbed the Paper White and Paper Green colors, the Realme GT2 Pro would look pretty commonplace. In fact, you won’t even realize what makes those Paper Editions special unless you take a closer look and a closer feel. Realme has opted to stick to a familiar design language, with a rectangular camera block that sits in the corner of the phone’s back. That back is made from AG (anti-glare) frosted glass or biopolymer, depending on the edition, with an aluminum frame that’s flat on the top and bottom edges but curved on the left and right.

While relatively plain in comparison to the likes of the Google Pixel 6, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, or even the OPPO Find X5 Pro, the Realme GT2 Pro’s design language has the benefit of familiarity and a bit of minimalism. Where its peers and rivals have camera bumps that span the entire width of the phone unnecessarily, Realme has remained more conservative in its camera designs, retaining the overall design and changing only the size of the enclosure to fit the number of cameras the phone has. There is an element of beauty in its simplicity, especially given how some phone designs today are so radical to the point of being unappealing.

The Paper White and Paper Green colors have a unique personality that goes beyond their makeup, which we’ll get to later. Closer inspection will reveal micro patterns on the surface of the cover, almost like magnified paper grains. Unsurprisingly, the back cover also feels different, though calling it paper-like wouldn’t exactly be accurate. The roughness of that surface does give the phone an easier grip compared even to matte glass, which is the perfect segue to the phone’s other design characteristic.

Ergonomics

The Realme GT2 Pro, particularly the ones with glass rears, is smooth and light to hold. Unfortunately, it might actually be too smooth, which could lead to some very disastrous meetings between the phone and the floor. The frosted look and feel of the Titanium Black’s AG glass do nothing to improve its grippiness. In fact, it might have even made the phone even more slippery compared to glass which sometimes has a bit of stickiness on its surface. Realme does provide a gel case for the phone, but it isn’t transparent like what most manufacturers provide.

The phone does nestle comfortably in the palm of your hand, thanks to the GT2 Pro’s curved sides and curved edge back. It bucks the current trend of going back to flat edges on all sides, making it look and feel like a blast from the past. Unlike the back cover, the screen is completely flat, another design cue that’s coming back into fashion lately. This “old-school” design has the advantage of avoiding unnecessary screen touches that often plague curved edge displays. All in all, the Realme GT2 Pro is comfortable to hold and use, but you’d be advised to use it with a case, especially if you opted for the Black or Blue models.

Performance

The Realme GT2 Pro bears the top-of-the-line hardware available to smartphones in the early parts of 2022. That means the somewhat current Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and 8 or 12 GB of RAM right off the bat. You can expand the RAM by 3GB, 5GB, and even 7GB by taking that much space away from the phone’s fast UFS 3.1 storage. You won’t be wanting in performance, though the phone tends to get a bit toasty under heavy use, a trait that seems to be common with phones using this particular processor.

The phone’s display is also topnotch, boating 2K resolution where some of its competitors have stuck with Full HD. It is bright and clear, even under the sun, and colors really pop with a wide color gamut that supports up to 1 billion colors. That comes in really handy when you start taking photos and recording videos. The 6.7-inch LTPO2 screen does have one hidden power you won’t see but will still hopefully notice. Although it can go as fast as 120Hz on some apps, the screen can remain at a steady 1Hz when viewing more static content, yielding a not-insignificant amount of battery savings per day.

Mobile photography is where it’s at these days, and the GT2 Pro is definitely up there with the market’s understated and unnoticed top performers. The phone has two major cameras, both of which have 50MP sensors. This means that you won’t have to sacrifice quality when you switch from wide-angle to ultra-wide-angle, though you will have to give up the Phase-Detect Autofocus and Optical Image Stabilization when you do. The one drawback to Realme’s camera team is the lack of a dedicated telephoto zoom camera, so you’ll have to make do with shooting at a full 50MP resolution and then just cropping out the section you want to zoom in.

In practice, though, it doesn’t matter much because the Realme GT2 Pro takes excellent photos, no matter the time of day. Colors are accurate, and details are well preserved, especially when there is abundant lighting available. The phone does have a night mode available, but it seems you can’t actually turn it off because the AI automatically detects the scene and switches to it at night. On an overcast day, the camera does have a bit of a problem with noise, especially on surfaces with a single color.

Sustainability

There’s no escaping the fact that smartphones are predominantly non-renewable packages of technology, so every little thing that offsets their negative impact on the environment goes a long way. Some smartphone makers have ditched shipping chargers inside their boxes, while others have started using recycled plastics in bits and pieces. Realme has those as well, but it is going beyond just packaging and manufacturing.

Realme does improve its packaging techniques, like reducing the use of plastic and using soy oil ink, but it also makes commitments that go beyond the sale of the phone. For example, it has a program in partnership with treedom that plants a tree for every Realme GT phone sold. Given how fast the brand is growing globally, that could translate to hundreds of trees that will be greeting our descendants in a few years.

Of course, the highlight of the GT2 Pro is its “Paper Tech Master Design,” made in collaboration with its long-time partner and famed industrial designer Naoto Fukusawa. More than just the appearance and texture of these special editions, the back case is also made from biopolymer, which helps reduce the phone’s carbon emissions during production. It is clear proof that it is definitely possible to use alternative materials that make a phone more sustainable while also giving it a stylish appearance.

Unfortunately, Realme is still a few steps short of establishing itself as the exemplar of sustainability in the smartphone market. It still has to embrace a repair strategy similar to Apple, Google, and Samsung, opening the doors to self-repair and easier purchasing of genuine spare parts. It also needs to give a stronger statement about how to make sure used or broken phones are disposed of properly or, better yet, sent back for recycling. The Paper Tech Master Design is definitely a step in the right direction, but it’s still a “limited edition” design that’s outnumbered by dozens of “normal” phones. Hopefully, Realme won’t let these efforts become a one-time publicity stunt and slowly but surely make it the norm for future phones.

Value

Although it might not look or sound like it, the Realme GT2 Pro is a high-end premium smartphone in heart and in deed. If you get the Paper Tech editions, you even get the chance to flaunt it as a stylish designer phone. It has hardware that’s comparable to Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S22 and has cameras that are surprisingly good, even without all the marketing buzz. Given those factors, it might almost be surprising to learn that the phone costs under $1,000, at least in markets where it is available.

The phone’s value, however, extends beyond its actual features and design. To some extent, it is an embodiment of Realme’s sustainability vision and commitment, especially with the Paper editions. When a single purchase of a Realme GT2 Pro gets a tree planted and reaffirms the use of sustainable materials and practices, $1,000 might not be enough to truly show the phone’s actual value.

Verdict

Truth be told, it’s hard to get excited over a phone whose design has been used over and over again, especially because the smartphone market has conditioned our minds to equate different with exciting. If not for the Paper Tech Master Design, even the White and Green colors of the phone might not be enough to call attention to it. Unfortunately, that would be a huge mistake, given how the Realme GT2 Pro, despite its subdued looks, is actually a powerful and impressive computer in your pocket.

The phone, however, is more than just its specs and its design. It stands for a different way of thinking and a different way of making phones. This year, Realme made a big splash about its sustainability efforts, putting its vision of a Greener Tomorrow front and center. Hopefully, it doesn’t stop with the GT2 Pro, and the company will continue making noise in every new generation of phones that will flood the market.

The post Realme GT2 Pro Review: Designing a Greener Tomorrow first appeared on Yanko Design.

This guilt-free fiberglass cutlery set will let you dine in style anywhere

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After more than a year of being stuck indoors, people have finally started meeting their urge to go out and enjoy the great outdoors. Some have even started working on their “revenge travel” plans. Whatever the reason or the distance, food is almost always involved, which often means dealing with utensils to eat them with. Cutlery has never been high on a lot of people’s priorities until they find themselves dealing with fragile plastic forks, bulky spoons, or deadweight knives. Carrying your own cutlery, even just for your meals at the office, can feel like a burden and a chore unless you get this handsome set that’s not only lightweight and easy to clean but also has an interesting sustainability story to tell.

Designer: Gary Lin

Click Here to Buy Now: $41.65 $49 (15% off). Hurry, sale ends May 3.

Utensils we carry around all the time are one of two kinds. There are the typical metal ones that can be a literal drag, weighing down our bags and taking up a lot of unnecessary space. On the opposite extreme is the typical plastic cutlery that weighs next to nothing and is also practically useless against tougher food. And despite their unassuming demeanor and clean, white surfaces, these are vicious killers of the planet like most plastics are.

Lightweight, toxin-free, and resistant to corrosion, making it the most ideal portable cutlery to help you go eco-friendly.

That is what sets the S+ Cutlery apart, offering the best of both worlds without the guilt. Taking advantage of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymers or GFRP, these utensils wrap lightness and durability in a reusable and recyclable package. And you won’t have to worry about that last part anytime soon anyway because these things are made to last a long time.

GFRP weighs about 6 times less than stainless steel and 3 times less than titanium.

GFRP is known for how light it is while still boasting mechanical strength, which means your knife and fork aren’t going to break on you just because that steak wasn’t cooked the way you liked it. As if that weren’t enough for portability, each of the members of this set can be split in half for even more compact storage. Thanks to medical-grade 316 stainless steel inside, it’s easy to screw and unscrew the parts but still maintains a firm connection so they won’t just suddenly split on you.

Free of n-Hexane / Cadmium / Mercury / Lead / PBBs / PBDEs / DBP / BBP / DEHP / DIBP, so you won’t be consuming toxic elements when enjoying your favorite meal.

Most travel utensils are also a headache when it comes to cleaning up. Of course, you’ll just throw plastic ones away, but that doesn’t mean they won’t ruin your dinner as it happens by soaking in too many sauces or oils from other foods. This cutlery, on the other hand, is resistant to odors, stains, heat (up to 110 °C or 230 °F), and acid or alkali. It’s the all-rounder tool you can use to poke, scoop up, or cut anything and everything you’d put in your mouth (that is edible, hopefully). Even better, it’s easy to wash, either by hand or inside a dishwasher.

This cutlery set includes anything and everything you need to enjoy your meal, including a fork, a spoon, a serrated-edge knife, and chopsticks. There’s even a chopsticks rest, so you don’t have to worry about where to place them when you’re not holding them in your hands. Of course, there’s an equally beautiful carrying case in matching color to safely stow your utensils after use. With this glass fiber-reinforced cutlery set, you’ll be able to focus on enjoying your meal using a handsome set of tools and feel good about doing your part in helping protect the environment, too.

Click Here to Buy Now: $41.65 $49 (15% off). Hurry, sale ends May 3.

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Solgaard Shoreline watch has a powerful story behind its minimalist face

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Watches are often displayed as complicated objects, whether they’re the tech-laden smartwatches that are starting to become more common these days or the exquisitely beautiful mechanical watches that continue to enamor horologists and collectors. It’s against this backdrop that a few minimalist timepieces have popped up here and there as a sort of counter-movement to extravagances in design. Many of these minimalist watches stop at that, however, content with presenting a clean and beautiful product on the surface. Those, however, don’t change anything but their appearance, offering no lasting impact on the planet. That is the indifference that Solgaard is fighting against with a minimalist watch that is not only visually striking but is also helping save our oceans.

Designer: Solgaard

As far as appearances go, the Solgaard Shoreline is clearly not your run-of-the-mill watch. Eschewing the typical circle and square shapes of watches, this timepiece embraces more lines and angles with its hexagonal form. Only a single object juts out of the otherwise unbroken body of the watch, a ridged crown that shares the same hexagon shape as the watch’s body.

The entire watch shares the same ocean-themed color throughout, from the watch body to the strap to the crown. The watch face has a slightly lighter hue to make it a bit easier to see the watch’s hands. That said, instant visibility might be a problem because of that aspect. That’s where the choice of a hexagon comes in. It wasn’t made on a whim and is supposed to make it easier to tell the time at a glance because of the six corners and six sides that divide the surface into 12 hours. As long as you can discern where the hands are pointing in general, you’ll be able to tell the time with no difficulty.

What makes the Shoreline watch special is something that you can’t exactly see. The accessory looks like it’s made from plastic, and that isn’t far from the truth. Instead of regular plastic, however, the company uses a new material it calls Shore-Plast, which is made from recycled ocean-bound plastic collected from beaches and riverways. The strap, on the other hand, is made from naturally biodegradable silicone, so almost all parts of the watch are made from sustainable materials.

The Solgaard Shoreline isn’t all just looks and recycled materials, of course, and boasts of a premium Miyota three-hand quartz movement and waterproof for up to 165ft. The company is so confident about the quality of its watches, despite the stereotype around recycled materials, that it says that the Shoreline is guaranteed for ten years. The most important part about it, however, is how each watch is said to prevent as many as 229 plastic bottles from polluting the ocean, making the watch more than just a fashion statement but also a lifestyle choice, helping people do a small but important part in saving the environment while looking good at the same time.

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Virén Chair can pick itself up after a fall to make a sustainability point

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Plastic is almost impossible to get rid of at this point in human history. Despite their known negative effects on the environment, they are still one of the most widely-used materials because of their often superior properties. As part of efforts to at least reduce the amount of new plastics produced and wasted, some have put their focus on recycling plastic instead. Finnish energy company Fortum is showcasing one such material in a chair that has been designed to send a message of resilience and named after an athlete that embodies what it means to make a comeback.

Designer: Fortum

In the 1972 Summer Olympics at Munich, Finnish long-distance runner Lasse Virén fell in the middle of the 10,000-meter finals. Not only did Virén get up to finish the race, he actually won the gold for that event and set new records, some of which he still holds today. Fortum chose to name its revolutionary chair after the famed athlete as the Virén Chair represents standing up again, without external help.

Some chairs have the tendency to topple over, but none are able to get up on their own, not unless there is some clever robotics involved. Fortum, however, decided to use the very laws of physics that caused the chair to fall down to also raise it up on its own. The chair simply uses the momentum of the fall to roll on its back, where a specially-designed structure causes it to roll upright again.

This “self-rising” action isn’t the only metaphor that can be associated with Virén. Even the very design of the chair is a nod to dynamism and motion. The legs of the chair, for example, almost look like a runner’s in the middle of a sprint.

Fortum is also using the Virén Chair to stand up for a sustainability push, one that uses its plastic recyclate to produce more complicated forms and products. Recycle plastics are not new, of course, but their use has often been limited to simpler applications. Fortum’s Circo, which mixes post-consumer plastic waste with other materials, like cellulose fiber, was created to push the envelope of where recycled plastics can be used.

In truth, the Virén Chair is a showcase of the Fortum Circo can do, particularly in how it can be used to design products with more challenging shapes. Unfortunately, that also means it isn’t yet a product you can buy but more of a prototype for Fortum’s clients to examine. Hopefully, that won’t be the case forever, and we’ll soon see the Virén Chair rise up to the challenge of selling recycled plastic chairs in the mass market.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 and future phones will have plastics made from recycled fishing nets

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You might feel less guilty about switching Samsung phones every year when you realize that it might be helping get rid of some of the biggest dangers to marine ecology.

The sheer volume of phones produced each year means that there is also a growing number of waste materials that pile up in landfills. It also means that there is a growing number of non-sustainable materials that are being produced to create these devices. Being one of the biggest smartphone makers in the world, Samsung is naturally one of the biggest culprits as well, and it’s announcing another major step forward it is taking to minimize its negative impacts on the environment.

Designer: Giuseppe Spinelli (Snoreyn)

Almost everything about a smartphone is non-sustainable, from the very materials they are made of to the processes used to make them. There are existing alternatives to these common components, but the existing mechanisms in place make switching to sustainable materials less feasible. Fortunately, phone makers have started to take heed of their responsibility in making the world a better place for future generations.

Image Credit: iFixit

Samsung’s next step is to replace the plastics it uses inside phones with recycled fishing nets. It cites figures that 640,000 tons of fishing nets are discarded annually, turning them into the biggest dangers to marine life, bigger than plastic bottles and bags. Repurposing these ocean-bound plastics doesn’t extinguish the use of plastics in phones, but it at least reduces the need to produce new plastic that will eventually add to more waste.

The tech giant says that it will be introducing the first devices to use this kind of recycled plastic at its next event, hinting at the Galaxy S22 series and possibly the Galaxy Tab S8 series. Samsung has also switched to using recycled materials for some of its phones’ packaging and made the controversial decision to remove chargers from the box in the of sustainability.

Designer: Samsung

These are baby steps for a company as big as Samsung, and we could only wish it would do more. Increasing the repairability of phones and making a hard push for recycling or upcycling phones will also help a lot in reducing the waste that these consumer electronics devices produce year after year. Unfortunately, it’s exactly these big companies that take longer to change their old habits and switch to more sustainable practices and materials, so every small step still counts towards achieving that goal.

Designer: Technizo Concept

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This biodegradable material made from seaweed is used to make ‘disappearing’ plastic-free packaging!

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Plastic is not biodegradable and is one of the biggest contributors to waste and pollution. Every year, 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped in the oceans and has resulted in a desperate need to change our behavior when it comes to single-use plastic. Meet Notpla – a sustainable material made by a start-up that’s on a mission to make packaging disappear naturally. The innovative seaweed-based material is a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic that is clogging up our pipes and our planet.

Notpla has created an evolutionary, biodegradable seaweed-based material that can be used to replace plastic cups and condiment sachets with this sustainable packaging solution. It can also be made into thin films or a coating for cardboard to create a wide range of products. “Consumers today are not just aware, but emotionally connected with the issue of plastic pollution. We joined its design engineers and backers to deliver the strategy, name, identity, and brand that would leave people in no doubt about its potential value in the world,” says the team.

Notpla’s products are geared towards cutting down on single-use plastic, giving consumer brands a significant advantage as audiences become more conscious about food packaging. It has been designed to be a simple, bold definition of who they are – not plastic, but a completely new material that is more than just a brand’s clever name.

notpla

The edible, biodegradable material is made from plants and brown seaweed – one of nature’s most renewable resources. It can be used directly to replace plastic cups at sporting events, festivals, and private parties, as well as sachets for condiments, and can be made into thin films or a coating for cardboard to create a wide range of products. It is durable and disappears without harming the environment.

Notpla was trialed in 2019 at the London Marathon with Lucozade and London Cocktail Week and since formed a partnership with Just Eat and Unilever to provide more sustainable food packaging, whilst creating a new and exciting experience for customers. Growing up to 1m per day, it doesn’t compete with food crops, doesn’t need fresh water or fertiliser and actively contributes to de-acidifying our oceans.

The products have featured at Virgin Money’s London Marathon and London Cocktail Week and the brand also has a partnership with Just Eat and Unilever. Conventional wisdom dictates that a brand should be defined by what it is, not what it isn’t. But when what it isn’t is one of the world’s biggest problems – plastics – that’s OK. (Particularly when what it is, is seaweed).

The minimal sachets make a big contribution toward cutting down on single-use plastic, giving consumer brands a significant advantage as audiences make more conscious choices about where and what they eat today. Notpla disintegrates naturally in 4-6 weeks – no micro-plastics, no waste for centuries. Unlike PLA, it is home compostable and doesn’t contaminate PET recycling. It is not too good to be true, it is actually true and you can shop the product here.

Designer: Superunion

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LEGO Infinity Gauntlet Set: I Am Inevitable

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Thanos’s Infinity Gauntlet: I wish I had it. I’d only use it for good though, I swear. Well, mostly good. But considering the power glove is entirely fictional, I may have to settle for this 590-piece LEGO set is due for release on August 1st. Obviously, if you don’t plan on attaching minifigs to all the knuckles, what’s the point?

The set will retail for $70 and measures approximately 12.5″ tall, 5″ wide, and 4″ deep. The fingers are all moveable, and due to the set’s “engrossing construction challenge,” it’s recommended for builders 18-years and older. Does that mean a 14-year old wouldn’t be able to follow the instructions and build it? I doubt it. Does that mean I wouldn’t be able to follow the instructions and build it? Almost certainly.

I added it to my birthday list, but I doubt my wife will ever actually get it for me. And even if she does, how many arguments are we going to have about how I shouldn’t keep the infinity stones in my mouth ‘for safekeeping’? Now that I think about it, it’s probably best I don’t get it after all.

[via Slashfilm]

Skullcandy’s $25 ‘affordable’ TWS earphones are going to be an absolute disaster for our environment

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What can you buy for $25? A great bottle of wine? Two large pizzas? A pair of TWS earphones? No, not those cheap ones off of AliBaba, I’m talking a real pair of TWS earphones from a bonafide audio company. Earlier today, Skullcandy launched Dime, a pair of budget wireless earbuds. They come with a 12-hour battery life (with the case), are IPX4 water-resistant, and cost 1/10th the price of the AirPods. At a price of $24.99, the Dime might be the cheapest pair of TWS earphones from a reputed audio brand.

“Dime breaks down all barriers formerly associated with true wireless,” says Jeff Hutchings, Skullcandy’s chief product officer, in a press release, “Offering stellar sound and unmatched simplicity at a price that makes it possible to throw a pair in every bag.” The TWS earphones come with a plastic construction and in 4 colours – Black, Gray, Green, and Blue. At their ‘throwaway’ price, the earphones really cut corners in a few places. They come with a 3.5 hour battery life, extended to half a day when charged in the case. The Dime doesn’t sport ANC (or any noise cancellation for that matter) or wireless charging. In fact, the earbuds don’t even come with touch-sensitive controls. They do, however, come with actual buttons (one on each earbud) that let you control volume, answer/reject calls, or cycle through music. Other than that, they’re just a pair of solid earphones with a secure fit and an IPX4 water-resistance rating, making them perfect for wearing while going on a jog or while at the beach. As far as sound-quality is concerned, $25 bucks will only get you so far… but given this is coming from a company as big as Skullcandy, they should sound pretty good for their price.

While this is a story about consumer-friendly innovation and how one company managed to make good TWS tech accessible to a large group of people by bringing the price down, it’s also a story of the environmental aftermath of such decisions. The earphones come made from plastic, although there’s really no indication of whether the plastic’s recycled or not (my money is on ‘No’). However, that’s just a small part of the Dime’s critique. The most important part about these earphones really is their price tag and the ‘throwaway’ culture that tag really feeds into, intentionally or unintentionally. At $25, there’s no way these earphones are designed to be repaired (repairing them may actually be more expensive), which means if and when they ever get spoilt, Skullcandy just expects you to throw out the old pair out and buy a new one instead. Given their size, and how ridiculously tiny the components within them are, chances are they’ll never be recycled for parts either… and once thrown, the Dime will just end up in a landfill or the ocean, resulting in plastic pollution, e-waste, and millions of tiny lithium-ion batteries entering our soil or waterways. Skullcandy? More like Skull-and-cross-bones…

Designer: Skullcandy

Look Inside a LEGO Factory to See How Bricks Are Made

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LEGO bricks: apparently they don’t grow on trees. I know, I’m as shocked as you are. Especially considering I just told my wife I was going to quit my marketing job to be a LEGO farmer. Hopefully, she thought I was kidding.

With footage captured by The LEGO Group, this is a behind-the-scenes tour of a LEGO factory, detailing the process in which LEGO bricks are manufactured, all the way from plastic granulate to sealed LEGO set.

If you really want to have your mind blown, check out the video around 5:40 that details how the LEGO bricks are stored until they’re needed for packaging, which involves warehouses up to 37-meters (around 117-feet) tall and an automated system for retrieving the necessary boxes of pieces. No wonder LEGO sets are so expensive. Plus I can only imagine the cost of hazard pay for the barefoot workers that have to clean up a spill in the event of an earthquake.

Here’s another video showing how they make LEGO Minifigures:

[via TheAwesomer]