The Best Eco-friendly Tech Gifts this Holiday Season
Tech gifts are hard to beat - especially when they're eco-friendly. At both the packaging and product levels, sustainability and environmental awareness are more important than ever in the tech world. This holiday season, shop for more sustainable versions of your favorite devices.
E-waste is a huge problem in our world. When our devices break or become out-of-date, they often end up in landfills. In fact, we produce over 50 million tons of e-waste each year, and less than 20% is recycled. Plus, e-waste contributes to 70% of our toxic waste. So, you can help the planet when you buy eco-friendly tech gifts.
Ready for sustainable Christmas shopping? Here are the 10 best eco-friendly tech versions of everything you need, from mousepads to laptop cases made by Acer.
1) Affordable Eco-friendly Laptop: Aspire Vero
For giving sustainably, the Aspire Vero is a green laptop range made from recycled plastic that packs impressive performance in a compact, slim design.
Aspire Vero is the first laptop manufactured from PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic. PCR is reclaimed plastic that has been recycled and reused to reduce global E-waste - 21% of CO2 emissions are reduced during manufacturing. PCR offers the same strength and protection as virgin plastic but is a more sustainable option.
Aspire Vero's chassis and screen bezel are all made from 30% PCR plastic, with 50% PCR plastic in the keycaps to reduce your carbon footprint and landfill waste. The paint-free chassis lowers the negative impact of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), harmful solvents released into the air when the paint dries. The 15.6" Full HD display is 99% recyclable. As a result, the Aspire Vero has earned an EPEAT Silver certification eco-label, designated by the Global Electronics Council (GEC).
The OceanGlass™ Touchpad is made from ocean-bound plastic (OBP) that would have polluted our oceans if not collected and repurposed. Zero Plastic Oceans estimates ocean-bound plastic contributes to 80% of plastic marine litter.
The sustainable design uses standard screws for easy disassembly to make it simple for you to upgrade, repair, replace, or recycle. Acer's intelligent battery management app, VeroSense™, lets you control your energy efficiency through four performance modes. A solid-state drive (SSD) comes with faster performance, uses less power, and is lighter than standard HDDs.
The packaging contains no plastic, is 85% recycled paper, and is 100% recyclable. The innovative packaging can be repurposed as a DIY laptop stand and a 2021 Red Dot Packaging Award winner.
A final touch, the backlit keyboard, perfect for dimly-lit rooms, comes with the R and E keys playfully stylized to remind us of the three REs:
- Reduce
- Reuse
- Recycle
Aspire Vero Laptop Specs:
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-1255U
- Screen: 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9
- Graphics Card: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
- Memory: 16 GB, DDR4 SDRAM
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- Weight (Approximate): 3.88 lb
- Battery Life (up to): 11 hours
- OS: Windows 11 Home
2) Best Green Business Laptop: TravelMate Vero
Looking for a powerful yet green laptop this holiday season? The TravelMate Vero is an eco-friendly business laptop that doesn't sacrifice specs or performance. Made for those who champion sustainable business practices.
TravelMate's chassis and screen bezel are made with 30% Post-Consumer Recycled plastics (PCR) - reclaimed, recycled, and repurposed plastic that helps reduce global waste. Using PCR in the manufacturing process cuts CO2 emissions by 21%. The keyboard keycaps also use 50% PCR for a lighter carbon impact. Further your green credentials with easy disassembling, perfect for quick repairs, upgrades, and recycling.
With the power of an 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor, no job is too big or complex. Multi-task efficiently and accomplish more with 16 GB of RAM and a large 1 TB SSD. With up to 9.5 hours of battery life, you'll be able to work on the go.
Acer's VeroSense smart battery management app includes several eco-friendly power plans, plus those that already come with Windows 11. The VeroSense Eco and Eco+ options lower fan speed, disable USB charging, and help preserve battery life.
Finally, Vero's BIOS allows you to customize the logo on start-up to let your clients know how on-trend your business is.
TravelMate Vero Laptop Specs:
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1155G7
- Screen: 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9
- Graphics Card: Iris Xe Graphics
- Memory: 16 GB, DDR4 SDRAM
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Weight (Approximate): 3.97 lb
- Battery Life (up to): 7 hours
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
3) Best Green Chromebook: Acer Chromebook Vero 514
The Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is built for performance, productivity, and versatility. It is the most eco-friendly ChromeOS laptop on the market. It integrates recycled plastics with 30% PCR plastic in its thin chassis and 50% PCR for its speakers and keycaps. The touchpad uses recycled ocean-bound plastic. All of this improves sustainability and reduces E-waste.
This touchscreen Chromebook is equipped with a 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD to effortlessly multi-task and store all your files.
The fast-charging battery keeps you on the go, capable of charging up to half its 10-hour battery life in just 30 minutes. Because durability is key to sustainability, this Chromebook is long-lasting and military-grade durable with independent MIL-STD-810H4 certification.
Acer Chromebook Vero 514 Specs:
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1235U
- Screen: 14" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9
- Graphics Card: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
- Memory: 8 GB, LPDDR4X
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
- Weight (Approximate): 3.09 lb
- Battery Life (up to): 10 hours
- OS: Chrome OS
4) Eliminate Waste: Acer Canvas Tote Bag
This chic shoulder tote is excellent for taking with you on shopping runs to help eliminate plastic bag use. Plus, it's made from strong, durable, and sustainable 8oz canvas. Canvas bags can carry around 5 times as much as conventional plastic bags and can be used countless times. With the perfect eco-friendly message, you can help shoulder Acer's mission of protecting the environment.
Size: 30*30cm
5) Best Ergonomic Green Mouse: Vero ECO Mouse
Acer continues to focus on sustainability with its new Vero Eco Mouse, constructed from 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. With wireless connectivity up to 32.81 ft and 1200 dpi sensitivity, it's ergonomically designed for comfortable use, whether left or right-handed. Additionally, it arrives in 85% recycled paper packaging that is 100% recyclable.
6) Stylish PCR ECO Design: Acer Vero Mousepad
Made from nearly 95% recycled materials, Acer's Vero Mousepad will protect your surfaces and the environment. The top comprises 100% RPET recycled plastic bottles, and the non-slip bottom is 80% recycled natural rubber. Comes in stylish black or gray for those who want great mouse action while helping to save the environment.
Dimensions: 8.66" (L) x 7.08" (W) x 0.12" (H)
7) Best Green Monitor: 27" Acer VERO BR7 Monitor
Commit to a better future with an environmentally friendly Acer Vero BR7 27" monitor, boasting green energy efficient certifications from:
- ENERGY STAR®
- TCO
- EPEAT Silver Award
You'll enjoy stunning visuals on the FHD IPS display loaded with Acer VisionCare™ technology to reduce eye strain. Built using more than 65% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic with a durable design that helps lessen its environmental impact. The sustainable design comes in 100% recyclable packaging.
8) Best Sustainable Laptop Sleeves: 15.6" Acer Vero ECO Protective Sleeve
The Vero Eco Sleeve is the perfect way to protect your laptop and help the environment. Made from 100% Recycled Materials utilizing 4.5 600ml plastic bottles to divert them from landfills.
The sleeve fits most 15.6" laptops and features a front zipper pocket for all your accessories. It's versatile, durable, and lightweight.
9) Eco-Friendly Utensils: Zero Waste Cutlery Travel Set
Quit the disposable cutlery. Single-use plastic can take a 1,000 years to decompose. This stainless-steel cutlery set comes with one pair of chopsticks, a knife, fork, spoon, two metal straws and a nifty straw cleaner, all packed in a soft travel case for your convenience. This set has everything you need when eating at work, school or on the go and helps eliminate needless waste.
10) Eco-Friendly Mug: Acer Mug
Ditch disposable coffee cups to decrease your environmental footprint and reduce your waste. The Acer Mug reflects our commitment to protecting the environment with the spirit of green thinking. A reusable ceramic mug is an eco-friendly option that can last a long time.
If you're committed to a greener lifestyle, why not start swapping out your loved one's tech gadgets for eco-friendly options? Wrap some of our suggestions in recycled paper and lead a more eco-conscious life!
*The opinions reflected in this article are the sole opinions of the author and do not reflect any official positions or claims by Acer Inc.
About Robert Stark: Robert is a Taiwan-based writer and digital marketer at iamrobert design. He has a passion for helping people simplify their lives through tech.
Robert is a Taiwan-based writer and digital marketer at iamrobert design. He has a passion for helping people simplify their lives through tech.
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