It’s time to flick the switch on sustainable electronics that keep you connected without harming the planet.
But with so many tiny working (and often non-recyclable) parts sourced through devastating supply chains, can electronics be eco-friendly at all?
We’re not here to argue that the tech sector is actually sustainable but they’re making improvements, driven by some eco-friendly electronics brands choosing better materials, being transparent about their supply chain, and creating a strategy for their products’ end-of-life cycle.
They also tackle the 40 million tons of e-waste that gets dumped in landfills every year, leaching toxic substances like mercury, lead, and arsenic.
Whether you’re looking for headphones, chargers, smartphones or laptops, electronics manufacturers are pioneering a new frontier.
Speaking of new frontiers, we at SJ are moving to a new model of featuring brands on our site. Going forward, we will start rating brands (who choose to be rated) on 22 different sustainability criteria. Learn more about this here and find rated brands here. As brands get rated, they will start to pop up on our list below.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Our Top Picks: Eco-Friendly Electronics Brands
The sustainable brand of electronics Nimble makes all manner of phone chargers made from recycled BPA and PVC-free plastic. We love their compact size and use ours regularly both at home and for travel.
House of Marley ethically elevates your music listening experience with headphones made from bamboo and recycled materials.
Index: Sustainable Electronics
- Nimble Jump to store
- Amazon Renewed Jump to store
- House Of Marley Jump to store
- Gazelle Jump to store
- Anker Jump to store
- Apple Refurbished Jump to store
- Best Buy Refurbished Jump to store
- Paper Shoot Camera Jump to store
- Fairphone Jump to store
Nimble
About Nimble’s Eco-Friendly Technology Products
Price Range: $20–$125
Nimble’s motto is “Tech for Good.”
Their eco-friendly electronics accessories include portable chargers, USB-C cables, wireless chargers, wall chargers, and phone cases.
If you’re sick of endless cables, the WALLY Pro Portable Wall Charger is the one eco charger to rule them all.
It features multiple ports and is compatible with Apple MacBook, tablets, smartphones, fitness trackers, and other USB-powered devices.
It’s made with 72.5% certified recycled plastic and has 63W of charging power.
It’s also ultra-compact for easy storage and has a self-charging 10,000 mAh battery to power anything up to 30W on the go.
Nimble’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Nimble accessories start out with better materials, like bioplastics, recycled aluminum, organic hemp, and recycled water bottles.
Every purchase comes with a biodegradable bag where old tech can be sent back to be recycled for free.
Nimble’s chargers also help reduce energy consumption, with about 8.42 lbs fewer carbon emissions than alternative chargers.
The brand is also a Certified B Corp and a member of 1% for the Planet.
My Personal Review of Nimble’s Wally SubNano Wall Charger:
“Does it drive anyone else crazy when the wall adaptor to charge a device is twice the size of the device? Bulky storage aside, talk about a waste of plastic. That’s why I love Nimbles Wally SubNano Wall Charger, which really is sub-nano in size. I use it both at home and for travel, paired with Nimble’s super high-quality, fast data-transferring USB-C cord.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Amazon Renewed
Amazon Renewed’s Greener Electronics
Price Range: $3–$14,466
Secondhand tech products are always best, which is why Amazon Renewed is a good option from a sustainability perspective.
Their range includes smartphones, computers, tablets, cameras, gaming, headphones, home entertainment, tools, home and kitchen appliances like eco kettles, lawn and garden, office products, and portable speakers.
Take a look at their refurbished Apple smartwatches which have been professionally inspected, renewed, and tested. This entails a full diagnostic test, repair/replacement of faulty parts, and cleaning.
It’s backed by the 1-year Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
We’re big advocates of shopping from sustainable brands which means (almost) always choosing alternatives to Amazon where possible.
Here’s one exception.
We typically wouldn’t think of Amazon as one of the ethical places to buy electronics, but this offshoot of Amazon is a great place to buy pre-owned, refurbished, and open-box products.
House Of Marley
About House of Marley’s Eco-Friendly Music Tech
Price Range: $35–$650
House of Marley is dedicated to carrying on Bob Marley’s legacy by combining his love for both music and our planet.
They’re one of the best brands for new eco-friendly electronics such as headphones, speakers, and turntables —so you can listen to Songs of Freedom as it was meant to be heard.
Crafted from sustainable materials, Redemption Anc 2 True Wireless Earbuds make sure you never miss a beat with 24-hour play time and a six-hour battery life.
They’re sweat and water-resistant, plus active noise and echo cancellation keeps you in the zone with top-quality sound. Choose from three ear sizes to find the perfect fit.
House of Marley’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
House of Marley’s materials include bamboo, REWIND™ fabric (30% reclaimed organic cotton, 30% reclaimed hemp fabric, and 40% recycled PET), recycled aluminum, reclaimed silicone, FSC-certified wood, and organic cork fabric.
Their Project Marley regularly supports global reforestation and ocean preservation through donations to organizations like One Tree Planted and the Surfrider Foundation.
Gazelle
About Gazelle’s Sustainable Refurbished Electronics
Price Range: Varies
Wondering how to dispose of electronics responsibly?
Gazelle gives life to used smartphones and other devices through their easy electronics disposal service.
They provide an option for both buying and selling phones, laptops, and tablets from a range of brands, like Apple, Google, Samsung, and Motorola—to name just a few.
Gazelle’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Gazelle tackles the problem of e-waste with secondhand, eco-friendly electronics that are “certified pre-owned devices”.
This means that, while the device in question may have some wear and tear, it’s been subjected to a 30-point quality inspection.
Plus, customers get a device at a price that’s only a fraction of what it would be to buy new.
If you have old devices you aren’t using, they make it easy for you to do your part in extending the eco-friendly technology product’s lifecycle by buying your devices fast and outright via an Amazon Gift Card, PayPal, or check.
Anker
About ANKER’s Eco-Friendly Technology Products
Price Range: $13–$3,900
ANKER is a global leader in sustainable charging technology, specializing in chargers, power stations, power banks, cables, and portable solar panels.
Their Nano Power Bank delivers high-speed charging with dual USB-C ports.
It has a foldable charging connector to make tangled wires a thing of the past. Plus, it features a temperature sensor, so your gadgets don’t get too hot.
The power bank is compatible with most USB-C electronics like AirPods and smartphones. Its lightweight, compact size means you can slip it into your pocket or stash it in a bag for on-the-go. It has a choice of six colors too.
And if you need the off-grid means to charge up your power bank and devices, we highly recommend the ANKER 531 200W solar panel.
ANKER’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
ANKER tackles electronic waste by creating chargers with an exterior made from 75% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, so you can charge your devices more responsibly.
Their packaging contains zero plastic and their new alkaline batteries are free from cadmium and mercury.
Their products are also certified carbon-neutral by the Carbon Trust.
My Personal Review of Anker’s 531 Solar Panel (200W):
“I love using Anker’s 531 Solar Panel (200W) both for off-grid travel and as a way to reduce my energy consumption on sunny days. It’s super easy to set up, is IP67 waterproof and scratch-proof, and converts 23% of sunlight to solar power using monocrystalline technology. If you live in a harsh climate like we do, it’s also an excellent piece of kit to have on hand for unexpected power outages”.
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Apple Refurbished
About Apple’s Sustainable Second Hand Electronics
Price Range: $139–$1,949
The most ethical and eco-friendly way to upgrade your iPhone or get a “new” MacBook?
Apple may pump out new gadgets at lightning speed, but did you know they also try to keep older ones in use?
That’s why they’ll buy back your old devices when you upgrade.
Their certified refurbished line comes with a one-year warranty and their electronics repairs include all products in their usual lineup: Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, iPod, Apple TV, and accessories.
Apple Refurbished’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
While Apple as a whole has a long way to go before we’d count them as a sustainable brand for electronics, Apple Refurbished is a start.
It can provide more ethical consumer electronics by keeping a single item in rotation longer.
Every “like new” device has been tested to meet Apple’s high standards. In some cases, it’s also been repaired with original Apple parts.
Taking a bite out of electronic waste, giving that iPad a second life prevents it from being dumped in a landfill, where it will release toxic chemicals like mercury, beryllium, and lead.
Best Buy Refurbished
About Best Buy Refurbished’s Ethical Electronics
Price Range: $20–$5,000
Best Buy Refurbished offers devices that were returned, checked, repaired (if necessary), and listed for resale.
Their sustainable electronic product range is impressive: laptops, monitors, computer accessories, printers, smartwatches, cellphones, audio equipment, TVs, home theater equipment, video game consoles, and more.
You don’t need to splash the cash on a brand-new MacBook as Best Buy Refurbished has got you covered with the latest (refurbished) models. The easy-to-use website lets you compare different models to help you make the right choice.
Every product sold on Best Buy Refurbished is put through strict testing routines to ensure it works like new.
Some items are Geek Squad Certified, meaning that they meet the strictest standards for repair and are backed up by a 90-day Limited Warranty.
Best Buy Refurbished’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
As the largest electronics recycling program in the US, Best Buy offers a Trade-In service along with some resources for a proper recycling process for old devices. This keeps perfectly usable tech out of landfills.
You also get money off qualifying new purchases when you trade in a similar electronic device.
Paper Shoot Camera
About Papershoot’s Eco-Friendly Cameras
Price Range: $25–$250
Dubbed “‘the cutest digi-cam on the internet”, Papershoot cameras are stylish, unique and sustainable.
It’s a simplistic digital point-and-shoot camera designed to mimic a 35 mm film camera—except that it runs on rechargeable AAA batteries and records to a micro SD memory card with a maximum 128GB capacity.
The idea is to combine the aesthetic and experience of film photography with the convenience of digital, all in an eco-friendly package that’s crafted from highly durable stone paper constructed out of pressed limestone and biodegradable resin.
This casing is water-resistant, drop-resistant, and more durable than plastic.
They’re also easily interchangeable by simply removing two screws, so you can mix it up to suit you too.
The Old Classic Black has a retro design that nods to film cameras of the past, or you can go with a jungle theme (as we obviously had to) with the Zen Matsuba.
The camera lens has an 18MP CMOS image resolution, time-lapse capabilities, a 1440p 10-second video clip in MP4 format, and four color effects for fun and creative photography.
Papershoot’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Papershoot’s award-winning eco electronics give a much-needed makeover to film and disposable cameras.
They swap out plastic for repurposed, biodegradable, and recycled materials—like the innovative stone paper that makes up the exterior body and skins of the camera.
All cameras are ethically manufactured in Taipei, Taiwan, and a portion of the profits of every camera sold is donated to charity.
My Personal Review of Papershoot’s Camera:
“I tested Papershoots camera and was honestly super impressed by both how quick and easy it was to put together, and how well such a pocket-sized package shoots photos. Sure, you’re not getting DSLR quality (and you aren’t meant to), but you are getting a fun, low-impact way to capture your favorite moments, and the unpolished film-like aesthetic adds character to each shot.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Fairphone
About Fairphone’s Sustainable Electronic Devices
Price Range: £4.50–£650
We’re not trying to cell you on a new phone if you don’t need one—but if you do, give Fairphone a ring.
This Certified B Corp is in a class all their own as the maker of the world’s most sustainable smartphone.
For a powerful smartphone that’s competitive with the top name brands on the market (*ahem* Apple), take a look at Fairphone 5.
It has intuitive Android 13 software for easy use, lightning-fast speed, and its screen is made from sturdy Gorilla glass. It has a battery life of up to 32 hours and a 50-megapixel dual-lens camera.
Throw in that it comes with a five-year warranty, and you can say goodbye to flimsy phones that break or go obsolete after two years.
Fairphone also offer sustainable audio equipment (like their Fairbuds), USB-C charging cables and phone cases.
Fairphone is now available in the US via Murena and worldwide via Vireo.
Fairphone’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Fairphone phones include Fairtrade-certified gold, conflict-free tin, responsibly sourced tungsten, recycled rare earth, post-consumer recycled plastic, and roughly 50% recycled copper.
They have a transparent supply chain and are working towards providing all workers at their final assembly factory with living wages. That may sound like a long way off from being truly ethical, but compared to the rest of the industry, it’s huge.
They also have a Uganda Gold project and are members of the Fair Cobalt Alliance to try to prevent child labor in their supply chain.
It’s easy to get hyped up on new tech, but truly smart and sustainable electronics are those you already have in your home or in your pocket.
When you do need to upgrade, be sure to utilize proper eco-friendly electronics disposal channels for your old electronic devices and opt for secondhand where you can.
