Tech Design is Getting More Sustainable – Here’s Why it Matters

Plus, the latest tech to meet sustainable goals.

This article is presented in partnership with Microsoft Surface.

These days, making ethical and sustainable choices is at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds.

We’re out there buying energy-efficient light bulbs, plastic-free food items and electric cars – but there’s one area that we can all improve on.

It can be really hard to make ethical sustainable choices when buying tech – and some of the info out there can be pretty hard to understand.

“E-Waste” is a major environmental concern right now, and although a lot of it can be recycled, that’s not often the case.

But some companies are working hard to design and create technology that aims to protect our environment.

In comes the Microsoft Surface Range.

The team at Surface have put sustainability at the forefront of design and have made devices like the Surface Pro 9 and the Surface Laptop 5 sustainable in three key ways.

1. Gold-Rated Devices.

Surface laptops and tablets are EPEAT gold-registered, which means the Global Electronic Council (GEC) have given both the Surface Laptop 5 and the Surface Pro 9 their highest rating possible.

This means both of those devices have achieved at least 75 per cent of the required sustainable and ethical criteria, which includes lack of hazardous chemicals, recyclability, low power intake and much more.

What’s more, both devices met at least 80 per cent of the optional criteria for sustainability, meaning they’re really going the extra mile.

The Surface is a big part of Microsoft's commitment to both carbon negative rating and zero waste by the year 2030.

2. Recyclable Packaging and Devices.

When you buy a device, you’re not just buying the device - you’re also buying all the packaging that comes with it.

With more 11 billion tonnes of waste generated every year, the Surface team has pledged a major goal:

100 per cent recyclable packaging and devices on all Surfaces by 2030.

Every gram and iota of each Surface will be recyclable, which is a huge objective that is set to remove a heap of waste from the global system. 

The Surface Pro 9 is also the most repairable pro to date with 12 replaceable components, 99 per cent recyclable packaging and 20 per cent post-consumer recycled plastic content in its power supply unit. 

3. Sustainable Peripherals.

Finally, sustainability in tech doesn’t solely come down to the device itself. Every peripheral also has an environmental impact, and it’s important to understand how to avoid that.

Take the Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse.

Unlike other peripherals, this mouse is made with recycled plastic recovered from our oceans.

Image: Microsoft.

It also features 100 per cent recyclable packaging and is energy efficient, requiring just one AA battery for 12 months of life.

Keen on picking up some sustainable tech? The Surface Pro 9 and Surface Laptop 5 are available now from JB Hi-Fi*.

*Available at all major retailers.

@studentedge First impressions of the Surface Pro 9 💅 #surface #microsoft #tech #fyp ♬ original sound - Student Edge