In the modern world of constant connectivity, we may be losing connection with the one thing we can’t afford to: the Earth. Thankfully, a rise in sustainable gadgets is making it so we don’t always have to choose between the two.
Speaking of which, there are a few ways we can define green technology gadgets.
It could mean sustainable electronics made from ethically-sourced and circular materials. Or solar-powered devices that reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Or even tech which simply helps us live a more sustainable lifestyle. Sustainable devices would ideally be all of these things, but given the tech sector still has a long way to go in the name of sustainability, that’s currently not a realistic expectation.
Still, these pieces of tech can have a significant impact, like a phone charger made from renewable resources or a smart thermostat that helps you save energy. So with that in mind, we’ve compiled our favorite sustainable devices, so you don’t have to do any digging or compare any stats.
We’ll also soon be applying our new Brand Rating System to help refine our brand search. This system looks at a comprehensive range of eco-related criteria—everything from energy use and mining impacts of the metals used in these devices to biodiversity impacts and green business practices. You can read all about it here.
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 Favorite Sustainable Devices To Use
High-quality gadgets made of all-natural wood for your phone? No need to cell us on that. Oakywood knows precisely what our office space needs with its range of natural phone chargers, docks, desk organization tools, and more. We’ve tested several of their gadgets and love the minimalist aesthetic and warmth that the natural wood brings to a room.
Nimble keeps us on our toes with its catalog of portable chargers, cables, smart plugs, and accessories made from better materials. We wouldn’t be without their portable charger, which accompanies us every time we take a trip.
If you’re looking for kitchen gadgets to help you say goodbye to kitchen waste, mix it up with Vitamix’s Food Cycler. The compost bin fits seamlessly on your kitchen counter and can reduce food waste by up to 90%.
Index: Eco-Friendly Gadgets
- Oakywood Jump to brand
- Nimble Jump to brand
- House Of Marley Jump to brand
- Wave Case Jump to brand
- Anker Jump to brand
- Vitamix Jump to brand
- Brondell Jump to brand
- Ecobee Jump to brand
- Fairphone Jump to brand
Oakywood
Oakywood’s Desktop Gadgets
Price Range: $25–$1,100
If you couldn’t guess, Oakywood crafts gadgets from natural resources, like solid Polish oak, American walnut, and stainless steel.
Items like the Geometric Dock and Charging Pad are not only eco-friendly but downright gorgeous. Both devices adjust to the speed of the device, with a capacity of up to 15W.
About Oakywood
Oakywood has a wide selection of green products, like laptop stands, headphone stands, chargers, cases, and other accessories. The sustainably sourced materials provide a durable, damage-resistant construction that will last years of use.
Plus, the Polish brand prioritizes transparency with details on all pricing—where the money is going, and who it benefits.
My Personal Review of Oakywood’s Geometric Dock & OakyBlocks Charging Pad:
“I’ve tested a few of Oakywood’s green gadgets, like the Geometric Dock and Charging Pad, and I’m super impressed with their quality and aesthetics. With a smooth-polished natural wood texture, the Geometric Smartphone Dock is sturdy enough for one-handed controls and provides a tidy solution to charge my devices. It can be a little tricky to plug in the device, so this one is for when you want to let something set and fully charge. With the wireless OakyBlocks Charging Pad, however, I can quickly charge my phone for little chunks at a time, then grab and go without any clunky cables.”
Review by Christopher Ryan, SJ’s Menswear Tester
Nimble
Nimble’s Energy Gadgets
Price Range: $20–$125
Nimble makes eco-friendly gadgets out of recycled single-use plastic bottles.
The WALLY Pro Portable Wall Charger streamlines your charging process and removes unnecessary cables. It doubles as a smart plug and portable battery, working with Apple MacBooks, smartphones, accessories, and other USB-powered gadgets.
The compact design is made using 72.5% certified recycled plastic, offering 63W of charging power from the wall and 36W on the go. The best part? The WALLY Wall charger uses Gallium nitride (GaN) technology, which charges faster, uses less energy, and lasts longer than traditional silicon transistors.
About Nimble
The Certified B Corp produces exceptional portable eco chargers, cables, smart plugs, accessory cases, and more that minimize energy consumption, with roughly 8.5 lbs fewer carbon emissions than traditional options.
Besides recycled plastic waste, you’ll also find recycled aluminum, bioplastics, and even renewable resources like organic hemp. Nimble includes a biodegradable bag with every purchase where you can send back broken gadgets to be recycled.
My Personal Review of Nimble’s Wally SubNano Wall Charger:
“Am I the only one who gets annoyed when the wall adapter is bigger than the actual device? What a waste of space and plastic! That’s where the Nimbles Wally SubNano Wall Charger comes in. It’s super tiny, and I take it everywhere paired with Nimble’s super fast data-transferring USB-C cable.
I also own the pocket-sized Champo Portable Charger, which is perfect for travel as it can fully charge my phone several times. No more bulky chargers – just sleek and efficient tech that’s better for the planet!”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
House Of Marley
House Of Marley’s Gadgets
Price Range: $35–$650
Listen to your favorite albums with a wide array of green gadgets (think: headphones, earbuds, speakers, and turntables) from House of Marley.
The Get Together 2, with Bluetooth connectivity of up to 30 meters, is one of our favorites. 20-hours of battery life, quick-charge features, and multi-pairing mode make it a must-have for get-togethers. The speaker is dust-proof, water-resistant, and made from plant-based materials like bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton.
About House Of Marley
House of Marley lives Bob Marley and carries on his legacy by combining low-impact materials and music.
They use 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. Everything is shipped in 100% plastic-free packaging.
Through Project Marley, they support initiatives like global reforestation and ocean preservation through partnerships with the Surfrider Foundation and One Tree Planted.
Wave Case
Wave Case’s Gadgets
Price Range: $12–$32
Wave Case is a one-stop shop for phone cases, phone accessories, backpacks, and other valuable tools.
Although their claim to fame (and name) is from biodegradable, eco-friendly phone cases, we pretty charged up over the Bio-Based Charging Cable, which we use ourselves. The exterior of the USB-to-lighting cable is made from plant-based resources, reducing the reliance on petroleum-based plastics.
The 1-meter cable doesn’t skimp out on durability, either. It’s been military drop tested and has fast charging capabilities of up to 3A and data transfer speeds reaching 480 MBit/s. So far, we’ve experienced no cable coating, fraying or finicky charging positions needed.
The bio-based cable is secured by a recyclable sleeve made from paper and is delivered in recyclable packaging via carbon-neutral shipping.
About Wave Case
Based out of the United Kingdom, Wave Case was started by three friends to reduce plastic waste and transform it into useful tools. Teaming up with Climate Partner, they offset their carbon footprint and ship everything in minimal, recyclable packaging.
Anker
Anker’s Energy Devices
Price Range: $13–$3,900
Anker develops innovative solar-powered chargers, power banks, power stations, and solar panels.
About Anker
Energy conservation is the name of Anker’s game (not to be confused with that book you had to read in high school).
They accomplish this through re-using lithium-ion batteries electronic components, and crafting eco-friendly gadgets from post-consumer recycled materials. None of their packaging contains plastic, and their new line of alkaline batteries doesn’t have any cadmium or mercury.
Anker’s portable solar panels and other gadgets are certified carbon-neutral via Carbon Trust, and they’ve made an impact in times of need, like giving millions of masks to regions around the world.
My Personal Review of Anker’s 531 Solar Panel (200W):
“I tried the 531 Solar Panel (200W), which converts up to 23% of sunlight into solar power. It’s scratch-proof and IP67 waterproof, using monocrystalline technology to help you save energy. I adore the solar panel’s easy-to-use design, durable construction, and versatility for off-grid eco camping or at-home energy usage (or, if you live in a harsh climate as we do, being prepared for power outages). You can pair it with one of their solar generators, like the PowerHouse 767, to reduce your carbon footprint even further.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Vitamix
Vitamix’s Kitchen Gadgets
Price Range: $300–$815
Vitamix creates kitchen gadgets that tackle what is easily the most preventable source of household waste: food waste.
The FoodCycler Eco 5 is a fantastic example. Much more than a standard indoor compost bin, the large, 5-liter porcelain-coated bucket provides an effortless means of composting. It breaks down scraps and uneaten leftovers, reducing the amount of food waste by up to 90%.
It’s odorless, quiet, energy-efficient, and breaks down waste into a fine, dry powder. All you have to do is toss in your food scraps, press the button, and wait roughly eight hours for it to be broken down into ready-to-use plant food.
The ABS plastic housing has a nice modern edge that will fit on your countertop without looking out of place. Vitamix also provides a 3-year warranty in case of damage or broken parts.
About Vitamix
The family-owned sustainable tech company is based out of the United States, manufacturing all of its equipment from two sites in Ohio.
Their kitchen appliances use responsible materials and innovative technology, like aircraft-grade stainless steel blades, metal drive systems, and excellent running motors. This allows their devices to last ten times longer than alternatives. Despite this, Vitamix still provides lengthy warranties and free repairs.
Brondell
Brondell’s Devices
Price Range: $30–$450
knows a clean, pure space creates a better daily routine.
Brondell designs bidets, water filtration systems, and air purifiers for the home.
If you want to know how to purify water, the Circle Reverse Osmosis Water Filter is a slight change you can make to your kitchen that yields incredible results and some of the healthiest water money can buy—no plastic bottle required. It delivers clean drinking water using four-stage filtration and reverse osmosis technology. This filters out contaminants like sand, rust, lead, chlorine, volatile organic compounds, fluoride, and more.
It’s up to 10 times more efficient than traditional RO models, has certifications from the Water Quality Association, and undergoes several quality tests. While it does require occasional changes to the plastic filter cartridges, they’re infrequent—between six and 24 months, depending on your base water quality.
About Brondell
Based out of San Francisco, California, Brondell creates products to conserve non-renewable resources without compromising performance. They prioritize sustainable materials, like recycled plastics, recycled ocean waste, upcycled textiles, and high-quality all-metal components.
Ecobee
ecobee’s Home Gadgets
Price Range: $80–$900
Which sustainable devices will help you conserve energy at home?
Canadian-based brand ecobee has a few answers: home security cameras, smart thermostats, and doorbell cameras.
The Smart Thermostat is an easy way to save on electricity bills and energy use. As a smart thermostat, the device allows you to save up to 26% on annual heating and cooling costs. It has an easy-to-install design, automatic controls, programmable settings, and smartphone compatibility, so you never have to heat an empty house again.
About ecobee
Through innovative technology, ecobee has saved the equivalent of 28.8 TWh of electricity, or basically, removing all the homes in Los Angeles and Chicago off the grid for an entire year. Their thermostats have reduced upwards of 5.6 million tons of CO2e out of the atmosphere.
The Energy Star Certified products aren’t designed to end up in landfills, lasting upwards of 10 years with easy disassembly and repair. They also partner with community housing organizations, NGOs, cities, and utility providers to donate and subsidize thousands of devices.
ecobee utilizes more recycled plastics and ethically sourced materials, shipping everything in fully recyclable packaging.
Fairphone
Fairphone Devices
Price Range: €579–€699
Fairphone is the green phone manufacturer. From responsible material sourcing to advocating for workers’ welfare, Fairphone is creating new standards for the entire industry.
The Fairphone 5 is their most sustainable smartphone yet, with more than 70% fair-mined or recycled materials. It’s ultra-fast with a unique Qualcomm® QCM6490 (Octa Core) chipset built to last well past the five-year warranty into 2031. It’s durable and sleek, with a modular design that’s easy to repair and alter.
Plus, the 50-megapixel dual-lenses provide high-quality photos that are sharp even in low-light conditions.
About Fairphone
Every Fairphone 5 directly supports the people behind the phone with a $2.63 living wage bonus.
No more hidden updates that slow your phone, either. Fairphone designs each device for longevity, repair, and modularity. They want each device’s hardware to last as long as possible and provide software updates to keep it in check. The Certified B Corp has an EcoVadis Platinum Medal and an iFixit score of 10/10.
They ship each device in recyclable packaging and use fairmined gold in their devices.