eBook readers, often just called eReaders, have come a long way since the earliest days of the likes of the Amazon Kindle. Not only do some of them now support pen input for jotting down notes, some even have color E Ink screens that add a bit of life to There are also some that are practically Android tablets with e-paper displays instead of LCDs or OLEDs, offering a more eye-friendly digital lifestyle. Unfortunately, those new features do add up, making the newer generation of these devices more expensive than their forebears. That means that these color eBook readers are even more of an investment than before, and their longevity is now more important compared to the past. Thankfully, manufacturers are taking notice and may have started the journey toward a greener future for this market with Kobo blazing the trail.
Amazon’s Kindle might be the household name when it comes to eBook readers, but it is hardly the only game in town, not by a long shot. In fact, when it comes to innovation, you could even say that it lags terribly behind, banking only on its industry clout and expansive library to maintain its lead. As far as major brands are concerned, Kobo can be considered second place, but its latest moves have definitely put it ahead of the game in some aspects.
It has recently launched three new eReaders, two of which have color E Ink screens. While the technology is hardly new, it is the first time a major brand adopted it. In contrast, Amazon has only been rumored to be working on a similar device, but given how long it took to come out with a pen-enabled Kindle, it might still take a while. Then again, now that Kobo has stolen its thunder, it might be a bit motivated to expedite its schedule.
What’s more interesting, however, and one that almost flew under the radar, is that Kobo’s three new readers will also be its most repairable devices. It has apparently partnered with self-repair experts iFixit in making the new Kobo Libra Colour, Kobo Clara Colour, and Kobo Clara BW more repair-friendly, which means that repair kits and instructions will be made available. As of this writing, details are still non-existent, but it’s still a huge step forward and a first for the eBook industry.
What this practically means is that these three devices could very well become the longest-lasting of their kind, allowing owners to replace certain parts for as long as those parts are available. As eReaders graduate from cheap and almost disposable plastic devices into powerful and sophisticated machines, the need to make them more durable and resilient also grows. To its credit, Kobo has been making major strides toward sustainability, including the use of more than 85% recycled plastic in its devices. This pleasant surprise goes above and beyond what any eReader manufacturer has so far done, putting Kobo on the same track as the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Google in the smartphone market.
Foldable phones are generally considered to be less durable than their single-form counterparts because of the fragile flexible screen as well as the hinges that give them their titular feature. Considering the complications of this design, repairing foldable phones is relatively more expensive and more difficult to pull off by trained technicians, let alone even the most advanced phone user. It’s, therefore, a bit surprising but nevertheless welcome move that Samsung has announced that you can now legally and officially repair its latest foldable phones on your own. That said, there are still details that are left unknown, making it questionable how meaningful this announcement really is.
It wasn’t too long ago when phone manufacturers vehemently denounced any repair done by anyone other than authorized service providers. Officially, this is meant to protect their intellectual property and product quality, but some see it as a cunning ploy to monopolize the repair service industry and squeeze out more money from customers. Brands such as Apple, Google, and Samsung have reached a sort of compromise where they provide official parts and replacement guides via a third party like iFixit, practically allowing anyone or any shop to repair some phones on their own.
Unsurprisingly, the list of supported devices under these Self-Repair programs is rather short, but Samsung just made a big splash in how it’s expanding that to more devices and more countries. 30 European countries, including Denmark, Greece, Hungary, and Portugal, have been added to the list, bringing the total to over 40 countries across the world. It’s still a small number, admittedly, but a lot better than the total sum of zero from two years ago.
Samsung is also expanding the list of supported devices to include its latest products, not just the Galaxy S23 series but also tablets such as the Galaxy Tab S9 and even the Galaxy Tab A9. More surprising, however, is that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 are included in the announcement. In fact, given their reputation, you could almost say that they’re the highlight of that announcement. After all, wouldn’t it be interesting to have a foldable phone that could be repaired by yourself or some third-party service?
While that’s technically true, the major caveat is that the official self-repair program only supports replacing a phone’s battery, rear glass cover, and USB-C charging port. With the design of Samsung’s foldable phones, even those might be more difficult compared to regular phones. Unfortunately, iFixit hasn’t updated its list yet, so we don’t have the full picture of what you can do with this new information, but you can definitely be sure you won’t be replacing that foldable screen on your own any time soon.
Chairs are designed to be comfortable to sit on unless they’re meant to be art or statement pieces rather than usable furniture. Of course, not all designs hit the mark, and some tend to value other traits like aesthetics or features over comfort. That isn’t always intentional, though, especially for chairs that are meant to be sold commercially. This lounge chair, for example, seems to check off boxes like minimalism, repairability, and sustainability, but its rather imposing industrial aesthetic might make some think twice about parking their bodies on its thin body, even if there’s a comfy cushion on the seat.
Truth be told, the AL13 lounge chair doesn’t inspire much confidence because of its super thin construction. Each component is made from laser-cut aluminum sheets that seem to be too thin to support heavy objects, like your body for example. Of course, looks can be deceiving, and this chair was designed to be really stable and safe, at least enough to be sold and used both for indoor as well as outdoor use.
The chair’s extra-wide seat is flanked by extra-wide armrests that might seem too high for actually placing your arms on them. Instead, they function better as small side tables to hold your phone, book, or drink, though you have to be careful with the latter that you don’t accidentally knock it over with your arm. It can also hold your laptop, but it might not be comfortable much less ergonomic to use it in that position.
Perhaps the more interesting aspect of the AL13 lounge chair is its somewhat modular construction so that parts can be easily disassembled. This makes it easy to repair, replace, or recycle parts, which are just bent sheets of aluminum. Its distinctive shape and the added function of the armrests make the chair suitable for any spatial environment, whether indoors or outdoors.
That said, the rather hard and cold appearance of the chair might feel a little intimidating, especially if you’re a fan of softer and cozier chairs. There’s an option for upholstered seat cushions, but that still leaves out the back and armrests, not to mention making it unsuitable for outdoor use. It’s still an interesting brutalist design, though, and could be an inspiration for other variations that add a bit more comfort to the equation.
Although probably not as numerous as smartphones, laptops are still a common sight in almost any situation that calls for a computer. Sales of PCs have even skyrocketed in the past two to three years thanks to the rush to buy new portable computers for working and studying at home. This, of course, means that we will also see a rise in the e-waste and total carbon emissions of laptops, especially as they become older and get broken over time. While smartphones and tablets are still closely guarded walled gardens, laptops have slowly started to open up their secrets, but just enough to upgrade memory and storage or replace a battery. They still lack the flexibility and freedom offered by desktop computers, but the new Framework Laptop 16 is proving that you can go big in size and power while also providing an upgradable, repairable, and sustainable laptop.
The Framework Laptop 16 is the brand’s biggest attempt at a modular laptop in more ways than one. As the name suggests, it breaks into 16-inch territory, up from its standard 13-inch models. More than that, however, it also brings in the big guns in terms of silicon, providing top-of-the-line AMD processors, including optional discrete AMD Radeon graphics. The clincher is, of course, the fact that you won’t be stuck with that GPU forever and can even remove it if you want to go light for a bit.
Modularity is the name of the Framework game, and the Framework Laptop 16 seems to pull all the stops with this newer and larger offering. You can, for example, remove the discrete graphics module altogether and replace it with the Expansion Bay module, letting you, not the manufacturer, decide on the configuration you want or need at a given moment. And although there isn’t any other GPU module available, it’s not hard to imagine Framework making an upgrade available in the future. After all, that’s one of the benefits of a modular design, allowing owners to not only replace broken parts but also upgrade outdated ones.
Being a bigger laptop means it has more space to use, which also means more configuration options that owners can change at any time, presuming they have the right modules. For example, they can choose between a centered keyboard flanked by two spacers, or an offset keyboard with a numeric keypad to the side. The number of Expansion Card slots is now 6, providing more possible combinations of input and output ports that won’t be limited to just USB-C. Of course, all these modules are available from Framework itself, so you don’t have to sweat over where to get them.
The Framework Laptop 16 is definitely not cheap, but it’s surprisingly near the same figures as non-modular laptops with similar specs. The design and engineering done on this product prove that there are very few technical restrictions on a modular laptop. It’s simply an industry practice that has existed for decades, one that will hopefully change as more manufacturers become even more aware of their effects on the environment and their responsibility in ensuring the future of the planet that their customers live on.
Finally recognizing the important role they play in saving the environment, smartphone manufacturers have started to implement steps to minimize their adverse effects on the planet. But even before “sustainability” started trending in the smartphone industry, there was one startup that dared to get the ball rolling and discussions started on how sustainable smartphones ought to be made. Since 2013, Fairphone has been putting out easy-to-repair handsets, though its limited availability has made it a deal-breaker for many interested buyers. That narrative is changing a bit with the arrival of the Fairphone 4 in the US, but it comes with a very big caveat that can be just as much a deal-breaker anyway.
When it comes to sustainable and eco-friendly smartphones, it’s hard to deny that the Fairphone is the cream of the crop. Although it’s practically impossible for now to have a 100% sustainable phone, the Fairphone still checks the most boxes compared to any other brand. It uses recycled materials where possible and ensures they are all ethically can responsibly sourced. It has a system in place for the proper disposal of completely dead devices, but it also delays that inevitable fate by making it easy for owners to repair their own phones with replacement parts they officially sell. The latter is a practice that is thankfully now getting traction even among the likes of Apple, Google, and Samsung, though with more limited components and heart-stopping tedious processes.
The biggest problem with the Fairphone (aside from its slightly outdated specs) is its availability, limited primarily to the European region unless you’re willing to take the extra steps and risk importing one. That is changing now that the Fairphone 4 is being made available in the US, one of the largest smartphone markets. Fairphone isn’t the one selling it directly, though, and has partnered with another company named Murena not only to distribute the phone but also to put the latter’s own version of Android on it named /e/ OS.
Therein lies what might be the biggest determining factor for those who want to buy the Fairphone 4 in the US. /e/ OS is billed as a privacy-focused mobile platform, which practically means it doesn’t ship with Google apps and services. Instead, it provides its own app store, replacements for Google services, and the like. It might be possible to install Google Play Store after the fact (“sideload”), but the process might also be more involved than what consumers would be willing to put up with.
In short, the Fairphone 4 now being sold in the US is both sustainable and very private, and you can’t easily separate the two. It might be fine for those who do espouse both ideals equally, but others who simply want the most sustainable “regular” Android phone might have to continue looking elsewhere.
Smartphones are probably the most common and most widespread consumer electronics today. Almost everyone has one or at least a non-smart cellphone. Some people even have different devices for work and for personal life. And while it’s not uncommon to see people desperately holding on to their phones despite cracked screens, some people do switch models as often as they change wardrobes, trying to keep up with the latest trends and technologies. What all these mean is that, just as there are millions of smartphones out there, there are just as many discarded devices and parts that litter our planet. But the harm that these modern-day necessities does to our planet isn’t just limited to the end of their life. Right from their very birth, they already have adverse effects on the environment, even if not directly. As dire as all these might sound, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel as manufacturers finally taking notice and acting responsibly. The idea of an environment-friendly phone might have been alien a decade ago, but now we can even list the Top 10 smartphones that are making a positive impact on the planet.
When it comes to sustainability, there’s no doubt that the Fairphone is king. It checks off all the right boxes, from choosing not only sustainable materials but also conflict-free sources. Even before the “Right to Repair” trend finally hit the larger brands, Fairphone was already providing the knowledge, tools, and parts that make repairing your own phone almost trivial. It might not be the fulfillment of the modular phone dream of Project Ara, but the Fairphone at least lives the implications of what a modular phone would mean in practice: the ability to easily swap out parts when you need to.
Where the Fairphone lags behind a bit is in offering the latest hardware features. The current Fairphone 4 flagship, for example, is an early 2021 mid-tier phone that offered pretty much only the basics. For people who do only need a reliable handset that will last them for more than just a few years, the Fairphone 4 definitely fits the bill. For others that might want a bit more, there are fortunately now more choices to consider.
Teracube 2e
Fairphone might have been the pioneer, but there are definitely others that took up the challenge to follow in its footsteps. One of those is the Teracube 2e, which found its success in crowdfunding. Fairphone, it is clearly not, but it does bring one of the most desired features that have long been lost in the age of modern smartphones: swappable batteries. Changing the battery is as simple as removing the biodegradable case and lifting the battery up, letting you quickly extend the life of your phone with a spare.
Packaging is also very minimal, throwing out the charger, and using soy ink and recycled paper for printed materials. The Teracube 2e does step a bit backward when it comes to the hardware specs, but it makes up for it with its killer price and four-year warranty. The latter is something that even bigger phone makers don’t dare offer, making this sustainable phone a true trailblazer in that regard.
Shift 6mq
There are plenty of aspects that make a phone sustainable, with repairability and the use of environment-friendly materials at the very top. There is, however, another angle often taken for granted: the sustainability of human resources. This means requiring safe working conditions, which includes the safe and responsible sourcing of fair and conflict-free materials. This is where German company Shift shines the brightest, focusing on making working conditions safer and more humane, and removing controversial materials that have resulted in poor working conditions, particularly in mining for minerals.
That said, the Shit 6mq, its current flagship phone, is no slouch in terms of repairability. In fact, Shift leads the pack when it comes to offering features that are close to today’s flagship standards. Unfortunately, the brand serves a very specific market only, limiting the reach of what could otherwise be the top sustainable phone today.
Nokia G42 5G
The old Nokia was notorious for its innumerable handsets but also popular for their durability and longevity. That’s a distinction that the modern caretakers of the Nokia brand seem to be keen on regaining as well. HMD Global just launched its second repairable phone, the Nokia G42 5G, proving that its commitment to sustainability wasn’t just a one-time fluke.
Compared to the previous three, the Nokia G42 5G easily disguises itself as a “normal” mid-range phone with a stylish design that stands out in a good way. That aesthetic, however, belies how relatively easy it is to open up and repair, at least compared to its peers. Its process isn’t as effortless as the Fairphone, mind, but it’s the closest you’ll get to an easy-to-repair phone from a well-known brand.
Realme GT 2 Pro Paper Edition
So far, the sustainable phones we’ve seen on this list might be branded as looking a bit drab or even cheap, except perhaps for the aforementioned new Nokia model. On the one hand, it’s understandable that manufacturers are more focused on making the design more durable, more modular, and easier to repair rather than fussing over their looks. On the other hand, it means there’s still plenty of room for improvement in this space. In the meantime, there are other ways to make smartphones more sustainable without going all out, and Realme showed us how with its special “Paper Edition” GT2 Pro in early 2022.
The two most notable things about this premium flagship are its unique appearance, designed to mimic both the look as well as the feel of paper. In fact, the material used for that cover is a sustainable bio-based polymer, which is the Realme GT2 Pro’s second special feat. It was sadly a one-time designer edition, but it did demonstrate what was possible in this area once the right pieces and creative minds are in place.
Samsung Galaxy S23
Samsung has the biggest number of smartphones in the market, potentially making it the worst offender in polluting our planet with e-waste. Fortunately, it has become more aware of its effect on and responsibility to the environment, and it has thankfully been taking important steps to improve that. Small steps they may be, but they all add up in the long run. The Galaxy S23 series, for example, isn’t just Samsung’s latest and greatest, it also happens to be the poster child for its sustainability initiatives.
Samsung has been talking a lot about how it has started to use recycled ocean plastics for a growing number of parts for its smartphones. This year, in particular, also saw an increase in the use of recycled aluminum and glass on the phone itself, as well as recycled paper for the packaging. Although it’s easy to scoff at how small these steps are, it’s important to also consider that it is Samsung making them, which is pretty much a free advertisement for sustainable phones in general.
Apple iPhone 14
Unsurprisingly, Apple also makes the list, and not just because it started the trend of excluding chargers from the phone box. Just like Samsung, the famed company has been making baby steps in using more sustainable materials and practices in making its phones. The iPhone 14 uses more recycled materials and fewer conflict minerals. It might even be its most repairable iPhone yet. Apple has also been very good at keeping its products updated for years, delaying their obsolescence and demise in landfills.
Apple’s biggest contribution to sustainability is the fact that it’s taking up the cause as well. As a role model for many other companies, its adoption of sustainable practices, including the right to repair its phones on your own, helps encourage other companies to do likewise. Other companies are often accused of copying Apple, but this is one aspect we certainly hope they copied more.
Sony Xperia
It might come as an even bigger shock that Sony is on the list (after the shock of learning that it’s still making smartphones). Although it has dialed down its production and sales, the brand continues to put out smartphones that admittedly challenge the status quo, either in their designs, their screens, or their cameras. Given its low presence, it’s also easy to take for granted how it’s also been taking steps to reduce its negative impact on the environment in its own small way.
In addition to the now-expected reduction of plastics and the use of recycled paper in packaging, Sony has also been increasing the use of recycled materials in its Xperia phones. It has even created its own “Sustainable Oriented Recycled Plastic” or SORPLAS that adds flame-retardant properties to recycled plastic, a must-have for consumer electronics like phones.
Nothing Phone (1)
As a phone that’s supposed to turn the market on its head through more transparent design and business practices, there is definitely a need for Nothing to do something in taking bigger steps toward sustainability. That said, Nothing is also a small and young company, so it won’t be fair to judge it by the same measure as larger and older companies. Fortunately, it doesn’t disappoint.
It uses 100% recycled aluminum for its frame and 50% of its plastics are made either from bio-based or post-consumer recycled plastics. For its packaging, it uses soybean-based ink and recycled fiber, throwing out plastic from the box completely. It’s pretty much setting up a challenge to the rest of the industry: if Nothing can do it, everyone should be able to as well.
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Although it has been making the Android mobile platform for years, Google is a relatively new player in actually making phones. Of course, that means that it should have all the data and knowledge from its hardware partners on how to steer the ship right from the get-go. Although there’s no helping the carbon emissions of its massive data centers, the tech giant is at least going in the right direction when it comes to making sure its phones do minimal damage to the planet.
The latest titleholder, the Pixel 7 Pro, makes generous use of 100% recycled aluminum, while accessory cases for the Pixel phones contain as much as 70% recycled plastic. Beyond just the materials, Google is banking on its long-term software support for the Pixel phones to keep them longer in people’s hands. Its sustainability strategy also extends to its supply chains, investing in safer working conditions and similar efforts. With all the resources under its fingers, it will be more shocking if Google didn’t do its due diligence in keeping the planet green.
Smartphones are one of the biggest constants in modern life, with almost everyone owning at least one. At the same time, however, they are also sometimes the biggest risks and gambles that we make, especially if they’re the more expensive ones that are almost ironically also the more fragile options. You’d think that by now, smartphones would be more resilient, or at least easier and cheaper to repair. Unfortunately, the current market setup doesn’t exactly encourage that, especially when it comes to rolling up your sleeves and doing the grueling work on your own. That has served to increase the harmful effects of hastily discarded smartphones on the planet as e-waste continues to pile up in landfills. Fortunately, a few companies have started to be more conscientious in how they design their smartphones, and the new Nokia G42 5G is pushing the envelope of sustainability in a way that more people will be able to appreciate.
There’s a reason why smartphone manufacturers are often accused of what has become known as “planned obsolescence,” which is to say that they were intentionally designing their phones to be easy to break and hard to repair. After all, they will be able to sell more pieces that way, especially if consumers have become hooked on their platforms or services. Although the market hasn’t completely made a turnabout, some companies, especially bigger brands, have started to take on a more responsible position, including HMD Global which makes the modern Nokia phones.
Following the Nokia G22 from earlier this year, the Finnish company is launching the Nokia G42, adding a few upgrades, most notably support for 5G networks. Like its predecessor, the focus is squarely on how easy it is to repair the phone even on your own. Let’s be honest, few of us will probably dare to take the plunge, but the fact that the company isn’t blocking attempts is a significant improvement over the status quo. Even better, guides and some replacement parts are available, the latter for about five years from the phone’s launch, though these are limited to the battery, the back cover, the screen, and the charging port. Coincidentally, these are also the four parts of a phone that get damaged the most.
HMD Global is also quite proud of its other accomplishments in the name of sustainability. That replaceable back cover, for example, is made of 65% recycled plastic. The box it comes in is also made from an FSC-certified mix, which means it uses more sustainable materials. The phone is also made to last both in hardware and software, though there will definitely be some worries caused by its lower-than-average water resistance rating.
The Nokia G42 5G is hardly the best of class, but what makes it notable is how it makes all these things more accessible. For around $255, you will be getting a serviceable smartphone that will last you a lot longer than more expensive brands, especially since the phone will have replacement parts available until 2028. Plus, it actually looks good, especially with the So Purple colorway, so it won’t be cramping your style despite its low price and replaceable parts.
Once upon a time, furniture was seen as more than just functional objects inside a house but also as heirlooms to be passed from generation to generation. That’s not only because of their ornate designs or luxurious materials but also because of the craftsmanship and longevity of these products. Mass-produced furniture these days has nothing on their ancestors, though, especially since they seem to be made to be short-lived in order to encourage buying new ones every so often. Then again, those elaborate pieces of furniture aren’t completely sustainable either, especially when they become completely useless when a single part or section gets broken. These qualities, however, don’t need to be mutually exclusive, and this simple yet stylish sofa tries to prove that by presenting a design that’s not only elegant but also long-lasting, even when parts of it need to be replaced.
Conventional sofas seem to be designed to be wasteful. Even those flat-packed minimalist pieces reach their ends early the moment a leg, backrest, or even cushion becomes unusable. They may come in distinct parts, but those parts are not easily replaceable when, not if, they need to be repaired or replaced completely.
The Spoke Sofa tries to provide an answer to the problem with a design that’s thoughtful, beautiful, and sustainable down to the smallest details. The parts used, for example, are made from recycled or recyclable materials that don’t compromise the product’s durability, integrity, and comfort. Of course, the processes are sustainable as well, like how the wood is treated with environment-friendly substances like pure oil or water-based lacquer that also let the surfaces develop unique patinas over time.
More importantly, every part of the Spoke Sofa is not only built to last but also built to be easily replaced. Even upholstery can be removed easily for cleaning, encouraging owners to take better care of the sofa. Replacement parts and upholstery will also be sold, so you don’t have to go out of your way to make your own wooden pieces to replace broken ones.
This sustainable sofa is designed to last almost forever, and that applies to its timeless aesthetic as well. Its minimalist appearance and functional form ensure that it will remain relevant, no matter the trend or time. And even if design tastes change, the Spoke Sofa’s modern style will remain a beautiful example of this era’s culture, turning it into an heirloom that doesn’t lose its usability, no matter how many generations it passes through.
Today’s smartphones are beautiful pieces of technology, but their power and appearance come at more than just a literal price. To ensure their durability and secrecy, they are closed shut to ward off people trying to pry them open, even if those people are just trying to repair the phone. Those old enough to have seen the early days of mobile phones might fondly remember handsets like those from Nokia that let you easily swap a dead battery for a fully charged one. The original Nokia has long stepped away from this industry, but HMD Global has resurrected not only the brand but also some of its most iconic models. Its latest trick now is to also revive what made the old Nokia phones, specifically with a new Nokia G22 that is meant to be easily repaired, unlike most other phones today.
Smartphones have gotten a lot more complicated these days, so it’s not exactly surprising that they wouldn’t be easy to fix. At the same time, however, the industry has made it too expensive and restrictive to get these devices repaired by authorized service providers that some people are willing to take the risk with third-party shops. Phone makers have also been very careful in protecting their image and intellectual properties that they penalize even well-meaning people who just want to prolong their phone’s life.
Although things seem to have slowed down a bit, that status quo has slowly started to change for the better, with smartphone makers easing up on those repair restrictions. Unsurprisingly, the bigger brands like Apple and Samsung are still extremely cautious, but HMD Global is making a huge leap instead. The new Nokia G22, for example, was designed right from the start to be easy to open and repair, and the manufacturer even partnered with repair expert iFixit to sell replacement parts and provide guides.
Of course, not every part of the phone is repairable, with only the back cover, battery, screen, and charging port provided with replacements. Using a plastic guitar pick and a screwdriver, however, is exponentially easier than heating the phone’s back to loosen adhesives. The battery can also be pulled out with some effort but without having to use some alcohol to also loosen the glue. Replacement parts will be available for five years, potentially making the Nokia G22 the company’s longest-lasting phone.
The catch is that, in terms of hardware, the Nokia G22 isn’t exactly noteworthy, except for its large 5,050mAh battery. Replacing the battery still involves a bit of work, but HMD Global says that the alternative would be to have a smaller battery and a thicker phone. We’re still far, far away from having a premium flagship be this easy to repair, and it’s doubtful we’ll reach that point. Thankfully, some, like the Fairphone and this new Nokia G22, are offering alternatives to those who care more about the environment than having the latest and flashiest model every year or so.
Coffee lovers and their friends often joke about how the world actually runs on coffee, but there’s no denying how much of the drink is made and consumed on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it’s a kind of human fuel that does have its own negative effects on the environment, even if indirectly. Used coffee grounds are thrown away and wasted by the tons, cups either increase plastic waste or paper use, and coffee machines get broken and disposed of indiscriminately. While there are already attempts to address the first two problems, there are very few solutions when it comes to the sustainability of coffee machines. Just like every other appliance, not much thought is given to their life cycles, which is what makes this modular coffee machine design rather revolutionary while also being aesthetically interesting.
Appliances are made for human convenience, not only in their use but also after they can no longer be used. While repairing broken appliances is ideal and more cost-effective, chances are people simply dispose of them and buy new ones. Whichever path they take, most appliances end up in landfills, and only a fraction of their parts can actually be reused or recycled because of their composition. Either way, it’s not a sustainable situation for our future.
Coffee machines might not be the most common consumer electronics in homes, but their widespread use and the way they operate make them ideal for a thought experiment. Kara is the result of one such process, resulting in a modular coffee machine that’s meant to last forever, even when the manufacturer has stopped producing replacement parts. The secret is that these parts can be 3D printed if access to the original is no longer possible. The more technical components can be replaced or substituted with other electronics, presuming those are still in production.
Unlike most designs that promote repairability, Kara doesn’t require advanced knowledge or skills to make that possible. Some parts are connected using magnets, making it trivial to take the coffee machine apart and put them back together again. For those parts that need a bit more handling, a small screwdriver is also included with the machine and replacement parts. The process is easy enough for anyone to do, but the machine also offers step-by-step instructions through its built-in screen or a connected smartphone.
Different parts of Kara use different materials, and these use different colors for easier identification. It also creates a unique visual of the coffee machine, which easily makes it stand out from other coffee makers that usually embrace black and silver motifs. It is definitely an interesting solution to the problem of sustainability, one that coffee enthusiasts can embrace to make them feel good while they sip their cup of Joe.
