How Big Brands are Tackling e-waste

We’ve received comments from over thirty brands providing insight into what they’ve done and what they’re hoping to achieve. The responses have come from companies that span across the Earth to ones that are small; brands that create premium experiences as well as ones at the more affordable end, from retailers and streaming services too.

The idea is that everyone is in it together. There’s no way it can be achieved alone or in isolation. And hopefully this article will inform and educate as to the steps companies are taking, and also what else can be done to safeguard the future.

Zeena Hill, Director of marketing for TV/AV, Samsung UK

“We are always looking at ways to reduce our impact on the environment within our TV and audio division.

A key initiative has been our SolarCell Remote that was launched in 2022 and is chargeable by sunlight or even indoor lighting, replacing the need for disposable batteries. Samsung estimates that an additional 99 million batteries would be disposed of per year, without us having introduced this innovative solution.

In 2020 we also launched Samsung Upcycle Packaging so that anybody can easily upcycle TV packing boxes into bookcases, shelves, pet items and more. We even have bespoke tutorials online where you can discover fun ways to reuse your packaging.

We are investigating ways to recycle plastics and other elements to continue to support moving our industry forwards in this area.”

Léopoldine Vivant, Global Sustainability Manager, Sennheiser Consumer

“At Sennheiser, we believe sustainability starts with longevity. That’s why our products are built to last — backed by rigorous testing and a commitment to quality.

The MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, for example, is designed for years of use, with a battery that could last up to 25 years. We also offer a wide range of spare parts to ensure our users can extend their product’s lifespan.”

Matthew Miller, Head of Marketing, Monitor Audio Group

At Monitor Audio Group, we design products to stand the test of time – not end up in landfill. By building with quality materials and expert craftsmanship, and switching to widely recyclable materials in our packaging with less plastic, we’re making sustainability part of everything we do.”

Stefan van Sabben, Global Director CSR and Sustainability, TP Vision

“At TP Vision – Philips TV & Sound – we believe that in everything we do, we must always balance business benefits (customer value) with societal benefits (ecological value). Only by continuously placing this as a core value we can build a healthy and growing business at the same time as making a positive impact on the planet.

Within our Future Proof Framework, repairability is one of the core elements to give our Philips TV products a longer lifespan by means of outstanding durability indexes, remote trouble shooting if needed and availability of spare parts in our web shop. We are thereby using postconsumer recycled (PCR) plastics in the manufacture of the TV sets’ back covers, with the ratio of PCR plastics increasing each year. 

Besides using more PCR plastics in our AVA-product portfolio we also introduce new product features for less energy usage, e.g. with our Philips Solar headphones, and we also comply with upcoming legislation with having headphones where you can remove/recharge the batteries.”

Kathrin Schlangenfeld, Manager of Sustainability – Environment & Communication, Panasonic

“Sustainability is embedded at the core of our business strategy and vision at Panasonic. With
Panasonic GREEN IMPACT we have set ourselves ambitious targets and not only for our own
activities, but also to provide and develop technologies that contribute to decarbonise society.

We’re focusing on two key pillars: cutting carbon emissions and transforming towards a circular
economy with regards to material efficiency and business models.

As for decarbonisation, we’ve been working hard to reduce the environmental footprint of our operations. In fact, we surpassed our midterm goal this spring by transforming 44 of our ca. 250 global manufacturing sites into zero CO2 emission factories, well ahead of our original target of 37 by March 2025.

But sustainability isn’t just about our own emissions. We also aim to help our customers reduce theirs, through clean-energy products and solutions. Furthermore, we focus on more energy-efficient products and smarter, longer-lasting technology as well as refurbishment initiatives for returned goods overhauling them and bringing them back to the sales cycle.

This is part of our Circular economy initiatives which also include programs and circular economy business models. We are convinced that all of us – including our customers – have to rethink the way we use products. We’re expanding our efforts to reuse materials, extend product life, and reduce waste, also building on over 20 years of experience in recycling of consumer goods.

We call this treasure hunting, and it happens at the Panasonic Eco-Technologies Centre in Japan,
where we’ve developed deep expertise starting with product design made for recycling and material
recovery.

Last year, we launched the ‘Panasonic Factory Refresh’ programme, which refurbishes a wide range
of products including TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, LUMIX cameras, and more. It’s currently
available in Japan, but we see this as a major step forward in how we think about product life cycles.

As well as this, we’re working to make our products themselves more sustainable from increasing our use of recycled materials to designing with longevity and repairability in mind.

Importantly, we want to bring customers along with us on that journey, encouraging choices that support circularity, like buying refurbished items or choosing energy-saving appliances. This all represents our long-term, holistic vision to enrich lives, help to protect the environment, and drive meaningful innovation in accordance with our brand theme “create today, enrich tomorrow.”

Antonio Meze, Founder, Meze Audio

“Meze Audio products are designed for life. We know our choices of today can have a great impact on the world of tomorrow, so we work hard to create products that you want to keep in your life rather than throw away or replace.

In this spirit, we make our headphones modular and fully serviceable: every part on the chassis can easily be disassembled and serviced, turning the headphone into an heirloom to be cherished and passed on to the next generation of audio lovers.”

Sharp Electronics

“We see green investment as a smart way to fast-track our sustainability goals. We’ve already hit a big milestone with zero landfill waste across our global operations for the second year in a row. Products and parts are being developed with longer life span in mind so that fewer engineer visits are needed, which helps cut emissions.

We’ve also made our packaging smarter, reducing transport-related CO₂ emissions by up to 35%, and we’ve cut plastic use on our latest multifunction printers by 17%. Plus, we’ve made solid progress at our production sites, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 13.9% in just the past year.

One great example of putting green investment into action is our partnership with climate specialists Atmoz. Together, we’re supporting the Brandon Project by O.C.O Technology. They’re using an innovative process called accelerated carbonation to capture CO₂ and turn waste into manufactured limestone. It’s clever, effective — and we’re proud to back a project that’s making a real impact.”

Aaron Ox, Co-Founder, POCA audio

“As a product designer, I focused on seven key areas when choosing the materials for the
PINE Beat speaker to ensure we could scale long-term: availability, minimum order quantities, logistics, performance, greenwashing checks, sustainability credentials and price.”

There are many eco materials still in development that haven’t been real-world tested or don’t have a manufacturer using them. Manufacturers spend hundreds of thousands on machinery, so it can be incredibly risky to put a new material through it they are unfamiliar with.

As a small business, we manufacture in relatively smaller quantities, which can limit the
materials we can explore, test and use. 

Materials must be close to us or near our manufacturers. I found a new sustainable material in the USA, but we don’t have the capacity to transport it to a manufacturer somewhere closer to home or to one of our other manufacturers.

A longer-lasting product is more sustainable, e.g. I’d choose aluminium over bamboo. Bamboo may feel more sustainable, but its endurance is limited so it would need replacing many more times than a processed material like aluminium.

To date, the offering of alternative materials is not extensive and sometimes not as good as we would hope, but the makers of these materials have their own mission to do better, so we
support their development by creating demand for these alternative materials. 

We’ve accepted the higher costs to offer customers a better choice.

Taran Rai, Corporate Sustainability Manager, Epson

“Customers today are looking for more ways than ever to reduce their environmental footprints and opt for more sustainable products. For manufacturers, this means it’s more important than ever to design better, more sustainable tech that delivers direct benefits to consumers.

What customers value are product longevity, lower energy consumption, and less waste. For home printing, cartridge-free solutions make a big difference. These printers use refillable ink tanks and come with bottles that are made from recyclable plastic. With enough ink to last for thousands of pages, they help cut down significantly on plastic waste, packaging, and the hassle of frequent replacements.

And for sustainable home entertainment, projectors with laser light sources can offer up to 20,000 hours of use which is enough to last years without needing a bulb replacement.

Extended warranty programmes are also becoming a key indicator of sustainable product design. As a customer, you should be able to trust that the tech you’re buying is built to last. Manufacturers and customers alike should be doing all they can to keep products in use for as long as possible.

And when products do reach the end of their life, recycling schemes and refurbishment are crucial for shifting to a more circular economy. This World Environment Day, it’s a reminder that making sustainable choices starts with the tech we use every day.”

Ramiro Gomez, Co-Founder, ALPAKA

“Protecting the planet isn’t a marketing line for us, it’s engineered into every stitch. We develop our own Axoflux recycled canvas, and we pair it with innovative fabrics like ECOPAK and X-Pac to create gear that lasts for decades.

By backing every piece with a lifetime warranty, keeping pre-loved bags in circulation through our RE:CARRYmarketplace, and giving 1% of sales to environmental partners such as 1% for the Planet, The Surfrider Foundation, and SeaTrees, we make sure every ALPAKA product helps the planet move forward, too.”

Cambridge Audio

“A key guiding principle for product development at Cambridge Audio is longevity. We do not produce disposable products. Our products are designed to be enjoyed for as long as possible, both in their out-of-the-box state and through repairability over time. Longer product lifetimes have a significant impact on reducing environmental impact.

Aside from the products themselves, packaging is also very important. We have removed all plastics from our headphone packaging, and in our heavier audio products, we are on a constant drive to eliminate plastic and increase recyclability. 

Despite our many efforts, we know that we have a long way to go and are continually learning from new features we have introduced in our products, such as pioneering a replaceable battery in our P100 headphone, FSC certified wood in our EVO ONE wireless speaker, and recycled neodymium magnets in our headphone speaker drivers.”

Bernie Thompson, Co-Founder and CTO, Plugable

“At Plugable, we believe smart design should go hand-in-hand with sustainability. With the PS-10CC, our goal wasn’t just to create the world’s first 10-port USB-C charger, it was to build a high-quality device that reduces e-waste, shipping emissions, and the clutter of redundant chargers.

It forgoes multiple bulky power bricks in favor of making better use of a single user-supplied USB-C adapter. By leveraging post-consumer recycled materials and minimizing our packaging footprint, we’re delivering on our promise of future-ready tech that’s lighter on the planet.

Online returns are an unfortunate and growing source of electronic waste. Unlike many overseas brands that landfill returns, Plugable refurbishes and reuses returned products at our Redmond, Washington facility.

It’s part of our broader commitment to extending the life of our technology and minimizing unnecessary waste. The PS-10CC is a great example of that strategy in action, built to last, engineered for efficiency, and designed with sustainability in mind.”

Simon Griffin, 2ndHandHifi

2ndhandhifi.co.uk offers the largest and most comprehensive selection of used hi-
equipment in the United Kingdom. Its inventory includes high-end pieces, big-name
brands, and rare items.

Each product is carefully sourced and evaluated to ensure it meets the company’s rigorous
standards for quality, performance, and value. Whether the customer is a serious audiophile
or simply looking for an affordable way to upgrade their sound system, 2ndhandhifi.co.uk
has something to suit every taste and budget.

Audio separates and loudspeakers are acquired in a number of ways, from local clients to
supplies of unwanted overstocks from other UK dealers and distributors. In all cases, the
products are thoroughly checked before dispatch and guaranteed for a minimum of three
months. Despite a high turnover of stock, more than half of the business comes from repeat
customers; clear evidence that people are happy to come back.

Unlike auction websites, classified ads, and some other dealers, 2ndhandhifi.co.uk only sells
items it physically holds in stock. This ensures the company and the customer can be
confident about what is offered. Pricing is kept broadly comparable with other sellers – many
of whom offer no guarantee – and in many cases, 2ndhandhifi.co.uk is priced the same or
even lower. This is especially true when compared with internet auction sites, where
untested (and, frankly, rubbish!) items are often oversold.

By extending the life of perfectly good equipment, 2ndhandhifi.co.uk helps reduce electronic
waste and supports a more sustainable approach to hi-fi ownership. Every reused amplifier
or speaker is one less product heading to landfill and one fewer new item that needs to be
manufactured.

2ndhandhifi.co.uk is more than just a retailer of Hi-Fi equipment. It is a community of like-
minded individuals who share a passion for music and the gear that brings it to life. The
company believes that great sound is more than a luxury – it’s a transformative experience
that can transport the listener to another time and place.

The seller invites everyone to join the growing band of ‘recycling’ customers on the path to
money-saving musical nirvana!

Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, Head of Product Circularity & Portfolio Planning, Bang & Olufsen

“Bang & Olufsen is proud to be leading the way in the growing movement towards reducing e-waste in the consumer electronics industry. Our commitment to Cradle to Cradle certification reflects our belief that products should be long lasting, safe, responsibly made and support the circular economy.

Back in 2021, we launched Beosound Level – a modular speaker that was designed for a 10 year lifespan and prepared for a life after the first – by design. We have implemented these principles in our latest launches, which have achieved status of Cradle to Cradle Certified at the bronze level, including our latest portable Bluetooth speaker, Beosound A1 3rd Generation and our flagship headphone Beoplay H100.

Furthermore, since 2020, our Recreated Classics Series has brought iconic designs back to life, beginning with the Beogram 4000c recreated turntable, followed by the Beosystem 9000c in 2024, and most recently the Beosystem 3000c in May 2025.

Each project demonstrates our dedication to creating long-lasting products that marry timeless design with modern innovation. As we mark World Environment Day, it is a reminder of the role thoughtful craftsmanship and circular design can play in supporting our ecosystem for generations to come.”

Eddie Latham, Co-Founder & Director, Majority Audio

“At Majority, we’re committed to creating great-sounding products that don’t cost the earth – literally. We’ve been using recycled materials in our range for years, quietly building sustainability into our design process.

More recently, we’ve started to talk about it more openly, because we believe affordable, quality audio should be part of a more responsible future.”

Aslan Khabliev, CEO, Loewe

“We are committed to producing beautifully designed, highly functional, modern and timeless objects.

By selecting the finest, highest-quality materials, Loewe creates sustainable products with careful precision work that impress with energy efficiency, software updates and years of reparability, thus underscoring our sustainability concept.”

Alex Lilienfeld, ESG & Climate Manager

“Sonos has long believed one of the most meaningful ways we can support sustainability in tech is to create products that last, and this commitment to longevity has been core to Sonos since we were founded. This mindset guides our approach to responsibly designing products that use less energy and incorporate recycled and sustainably sourced materials wherever possible.

As we continue working to minimise the environmental impact of our products, we’re also taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from production and operations.”

Matt Bartett, MD, Chord Electronics

Since 1989, Chord Electronics has been hand-building some of the world’s finest hi-fi equipment in Kent, embedding sustainability into its operations in a way few other audio companies can match. Its dedication to a minimal environmental footprint begins with everything being made in the UK, primarily at the Kent factory.

A cornerstone of the company’s sustainability ethos is the exceptional longevity of its high-end audio products, which are built to last for decades, not just years, and are frequently passed down through families.

The products are precision-machined from aircraft-grade aluminium, and are designed for impressive lifecycles that defy the obsolescence seen in common devices such as phones and PCs. Further emphasising their commitment to durability, Chord Electronics maintains a UK-based service and repair department capable of fixing almost anything.

A testament to this is the repair in 2025 of the fourth amplifier the company ever made, back in 1989, which continues to be enjoyed by its owner today. This same robustness and reliability, along with class-leading sound quality are why so many of the world’s leading recording and mixing studios trust and continuously use Chord Electronics’ amplifiers and DACs.

Dan Mackta, Managing Director, Qobuz

“Qobuz doesn’t offer a free, ad-supported tier. This can encourage people to more actively choose what they listen to, rather than letting music run in the background for hours on end – something that can help reduce the energy used by constant, passive streaming.

Subscribers can download high-resolution music for offline listening. This means fewer data transfers while you’re out and about, which helps reduce energy use from streaming.

Qobuz also gives users the option to buy and download music – something most streaming platforms don’t offer. Whether you’ve purchased the tracks or downloaded them for offline listening as part of your subscription, you can enjoy them without needing to stream every time.

Qobuz pays artists more fairly than most platforms – an average of $0.01873 per stream. This helps support musicians in a more sustainable way and may reduce their need to tour as heavily to make ends meet.

With over 100 million tracks available in at least CD quality – and a large chunk in studio-grade Hi-Res formats – Qobuz is built for people who care about sound. By focusing on quality, not quantity, listeners are less likely to search for different versions or re-stream the same songs unnecessarily.

Qobuz Magazine is published online rather than in print. It brings artist interviews, liner notes, and music journalism to subscribers without using paper or ink, offering the experience of traditional album extras with less waste. The platform features curated playlists, interviews, and editorials that encourage more meaningful listening.

Qobuz’s album-first approach, including digital booklets and credits, recreates much of what fans love about physical formats like CDs or vinyl without the environmental impact of manufacturing and shipping physical products.

For those who still enjoy buying records or CDs, Qobuz offers a way to ‘try before you buy’, in full, high-quality sound. That means fewer impulse buys and more thoughtful additions to your collection.

On average, Qobuz brings in more money per subscriber than many other platforms – around $121 a year. That extra income helps fund fairer artist payments, so musicians can earn more from fewer streams.

Unlike many services that rely on algorithms to serve up songs, Qobuz prioritises human curation. This encourages people to listen with more care, helping music feel more personal, and reducing unnecessary streaming.

Gustaf Living Rosell, Chief Product & Innovation Officer (CPIO), Marshall

“With a focus on product longevity – durability, repairability, re-use and circular business models to support it – we want to deliver products made from responsible materials that can be used for generations.

When we build products we choose materials with the lower impact, both recycled and recyclable options, as often as possible when available. We strive to make our products just as long-lived as the icons that use them.”

Françoise Cardoso, Global Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, L-Acoustics

“At L-Acoustics, we’ve pioneered sustainability in professional audio by co-creating an alliance of professional audiovisual companies to adopt and extend throughout Europe a ‘repairability index’—originally designed in France for consumer electronics.

We’ve achieved an average index score of 6 out of 10 across our installation loudspeaker range by creating comprehensive repair documentation, strategic component standardization, and product designs optimized for field maintenance using commonly available tools.

Our commitment to extended product lifecycles is demonstrated not only by legacy systems like our V-DOSC line arrays, launched in 1994 yet still performing on major tours today, but also through our substantial support infrastructure—we distributed over 24,000 repair kits in 2023 alone and provide comprehensive educational outreach to our global network of certified partners, empowering them with the technical knowledge and preventative maintenance expertise needed to maximize system longevity.

Rather than pushing replacement cycles, we actively extend product life through customer-installable upgrade solutions, enabling existing Kara owners to self-upgrade to Kara II and LA-RAK users to upgrade to LA-RAK II AVB locally without factory returns or the need to purchase new product.

To encourage a circular economy, our Certified Pre-Owned program with partners like GearSupply ensures professional-grade refurbishment and extended warranties, giving L-Acoustics systems multiple productive lifespans in the market.”

LG Electronics

“At LG Electronics, our commitment to elevating the customer experience is equalled by our dedication to environmental sustainability. This is outlined in our “3C Strategies for the Planet” focused on Carbon Neutrality, Circularity and Clean Technology.

By 2030, we plan to achieve Carbon Neutrality, through process improvement, the introduction of energy-saving technologies the use of renewable energy to reduce GHG emissions and the purchase of UN carbon credits. We have also set a goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2050, at Korean and overseas business sites.

Our focus on Circularity, sees us recycle waste generated at all Korean and overseas business sites, with plans to expand the Zero Waste to Landfill Certificate for all global business sites. The 95% waste recycling rate goal for 2030 was achieved, ahead of schedule, and will maintain at 95% or higher. LG uses high-efficiency energy products to reduce GHG emission intensity at the product use stage.

This Clean Technology, saw us be the first Korean home appliance company to receive Science Based Targets initiative verification for product use stage carbon reduction targets. These three strategies underscore our comprehensive approach, as we strive to create a circular economy that minimises waste and resource consumption, and promise to build a better planet for all.

Matt Simmonds, Product Manager, Bluesound

“At Bluesound, we carry forward the HiFi tradition where products were crafted with meticulous attention to quality and detail — built to last decades and worthy of being passed down through generations.

This heritage drives our design philosophy today: whilst we can’t predict every challenge modern electronics will face, our commitment is decidedly not planned obsolescence—we leave that approach to ‘computer’ and ‘tech’ companies.

From day one, we over-specified our products with substantial processing power, which is why customers with original Generation 1 Bluesound products still receive identical software updates, run the same core BluOS platform, and operate through the same BluOS Controller app as our newest releases.

Over the past five years, we’ve intensified our focus on sustainable design and serviceability, implementing simpler mechanical architectures that eliminate glues and adhesives wherever possible. Our Engineering team has prioritised creating electronic layouts with multi-sourced, pin-to-pin compatible components, reducing waste by extending board design lifecycles significantly.

Even our packaging reflects this commitment—from launch, we’ve used exclusively cardboard and paper materials, ensuring customers can easily recycle everything that arrives at their door. This isn’t just about environmental responsibility; it’s about honouring the HiFi tradition of building products that serve customers faithfully for years to come.”

CEO, Win Cramer, JLab

“At JLab, building better sustainability in tech isn’t just about following trends – it’s about doing what’s right. As electronics become a bigger part of our daily lives, the amount of waste generated is a growing concern, and with right to repair laws on the horizon, we’re committed to making our products built to last.

We’ve been ahead of the curve for nearly a decade, putting sustainable practices in place long before it became industry standard. Our goal is to maximise the use of recycled materials in our products; currently, JLab plastics are made from 20 – 40% recycled content, and we strive to use our own recycled materials whenever possible.

For example, by designing 100% recyclable packaging and battery covers, from corrugated hang tags to paper charging receivers. It’s an exciting time for JLab and the industry as a whole. By taking risks and working together, we can create a more sustainable future for everyone.”

Sarah Mansell, Marketing Director UK & Ireland, Anker Innovations

“We are living in an era where environmental sustainability is more crucial than ever and Anker has made significant strides in eco-friendliness and sustainability. We are determined to increase the use of post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) in new packaging projects with a vision of achieving zero plastic starting by 2027.

Anker isn’t just minimising it’s environmental footprint, they are also offering products and services that strive to live smarter be it the materials we use, packaging or even our product design. The Materials we use Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for us at Anker, it’s a core belief. That’s why we are lessening our dependence on petroleum-based plastics and finding eco-friendly alternatives.

Our commitment to sustainability has led us to reimagine the materials we use, paving the way for a more responsible future.

In September 2024, Anker launched six new products, including chargers, power banks, wireless chargers, and cables, all of which feature housings made from PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) materials. Additionally, in response to customer demands, customised products incorporate no less than 75% PCR materials.

Enhanced Product Design & Minimal packaging We actively seek ways to reduce plastic material in our product design and development process. We redesigned the Anker Charger (120W, 3 Ports) to make it a lot smaller. It’s now 70% smaller than an original 30W charger, saving 30.9 g of plastic with a single charger.”

Brock Guclu, Co-founder and President, Satechi

“As part of our commitment to sustainability, we’re constantly looking for ways to minimising plastic packaging and reducing environmental burden. In 2024, we have greatly minimised the use of single-use plastics and continuously addressed the challenges of eliminating plastics from packaging.

For new products in the mobile charging and headphone categories, over 80% of the packaging uses paperboard or pulp trays instead of disposable plastic trays, saving 150 tons of plastic. We will continue to strive and endeavour to achieve our goals we set out to do.

At Satechi, we’re taking meaningful steps to lower our environmental impact across the board, from using eco-friendly materials like recycled aluminum and vegan leather, to minimizing packaging waste and removing perfluorinated chemicals (PFCAs) from all products. We’ve been able to take these important steps to reduce our footprint while continuing to produce the same durability and style our customers expect and value.

Sustainability is also connected to the longevity of a product, which is why we’re committed to designing products that can be used for years to come. This is evident in our new FindAll™ collection that integrates rechargeable batteries to reduce the need for disposable power sources and future-proofs travel essentials with wireless charging. With these eco-conscious design choices, we are cutting down waste while offering long-term, convenient solutions for our customers.”

Fiona Ball, Group Director Bigger Picture and Sustainability, Sky

“Embedding sustainable design principles into the development of our products at Sky is a key part of our sustainability strategy. Our product packaging is 100% recyclable, responsibly sourced and single-use plastic free and we’re continuously exploring how we increase energy efficiency, use more recycled materials, and reduce emissions throughout the entire life cycle of our products.

For example, our Sky Glass Gen 2 55” and 65” models are more efficient than the original Sky Glass models of the same size, it contains parts made from recycled aluminium, recycled solder for the printed circuit board, and recycled plastic and electric lorries have replaced diesel journeys in the manufacturing supply chain.

All this work is underpinned by our science-based target to reduce absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2018 base year.”

Heinz Lichtenegger, CEO, Pro-Ject Audio Systems

“Located in Austria’s Weinviertel region, the headquarters utilises a heat-pump-supported, self-sufficient heating and cooling system and a 910,000-litre ice storage tank, minimising energy consumption.

The building’s heating system operates using solar energy, ambient air, and water crystallisation energy, with a photovoltaic system supplying power year-round. Excess energy is fed into the grid during summer and withdrawn in winter.

95% of Pro-Ject’s products are manufactured within 440 km of their factories in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Additionally, 97% of raw materials are sourced locally, reducing transportation emissions.

Pro-Ject offers a 25-year spare parts availability guarantee for phono (turntable-related) products, promoting product longevity and reducing electronic waste.

Instead of cramming as many features as possible into a single unit, their products are mostly focused on specific tasks. This approach extends the life of components such as speakers and amplifiers.

Components that are heavily software-based and get outdated sooner don’t render those units useless, which have a lot more years of life in them.

Pro-Ject’s products are designed with simplicity in mind, focusing on essential features to reduce unnecessary components and materials. The MaiA S3 amplifier is 1/5 the size of conventional amplifiers, using 5 times less aluminium and enabling 10 times more efficient transport, thus conserving resources.

Pro-Ject uses packaging and advertising materials sourced from the immediate vicinity of their factories, emphasising recyclability and reducing environmental impact.

Product internal box packaging has undergone an overhaul over the last year or two in an effort to use more recycled materials and reduce the overall amount needed.”

TCL’s Chief Commercial Officer at TCL Electronics Europe, Fredric Langin

“At TCL, we see design as a powerful tool for driving sustainability. This is demonstrated by our new remote control, made with ENABS™ Tea-Based Polymer, launching alongside our TCL NXTVision TV range.

This material innovation exemplifies circular economy principles by repurposing waste tea residue, helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels while offering a thoughtfully designed user experience. It’s about making sustainability something you can see, touch, and feel in everyday life. This remote is just one example of how we bring our TCL Green commitment to life.

From reducing energy consumption across our product lineup to rethinking materials and manufacturing processes, we prove that tech innovation and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”

Luke Tyson, brand leader, Fell Audio

“Fell Audio, based in Cumbria, home to the beautiful Lake District, demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability, deeply rooted in its appreciation for the region’s natural beauty and the planet.

The company has significantly minimised its environmental footprint by meticulously sourcing components predominantly from the UK, reducing air miles and localising nearly all aspects of the product lifecycle — from design and manufacturing to assembly.

The products are also designed with repairability in mind, promoting longevity and reducing waste. Furthermore, Fell Audio champions eco-friendly packaging, utilising 100% recycled cardboard for their boxes and earth-friendly inks, and replacing unnecessary plastic wrappings with a tote bag made from 100% recycled cotton.

A five-year warranty with a UK repair facility echoes its commitment to sustainability.”

Edifier

“At Edifier, our commitment to sustainability goes beyond innovation in sound — it echoes through every aspect of our operations. Through projects like our Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation initiative, we are not only reducing carbon emissions and optimizing energy use, but also creating a more comfortable, environmentally conscious workplace.

As we continue to pioneer green practices and adopt clean energy solutions, we reaffirm our belief that protecting the planet is not just a responsibility — it’s a rhythm we proudly move to, every day.”

Sam Liu, Vice President, Tribit

“Our mission has always been to deliver incredible sound whilst being kind to the planet,” said Sam Liu, Vice President at TRIBIT. “Earning the Climate Pledge Friendly badge validates our ongoing efforts to make sustainability an integral part of how we operate and innovate.

TRIBIT’s core product line including popular speakers like the XSound Go, XSound Plus 2, StormBox 2, StormBox Blast, StormBox Blast 2, StormBox Micro 2, and StormBox Lava are now certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). This ensures that products are made with responsibly sourced recycled materials, safer chemicals, and with a strong focus on employee well-being.

Depending on the model, 35–55% of materials used, including ABS, TPU, and PC plastics, are recyclable. All outer packaging and shipping cartons are made from 100% recyclable and sustainable paper materials.

Products meet or exceed rigorous environmental safety standards including CA65, ROHS, and REACH. All batteries comply with (EU) 2023/1542 and ROHS directives.

TRIBIT goes beyond compliance by fostering a responsible work environment where employees benefit from social insurance, housing funds, and wellness activities such as health seminars and regular team-building events.

Green habits are encouraged through company-wide “Green Commuting Challenges”, reinforcing TRIBIT’s role in promoting eco-conscious choices among its workforce.

TRIBIT reduces its carbon footprint by prioritising ocean freight and consolidated shipping over air transport, reserving the latter only for urgent deliveries.”