Skip to main content

Google to use recycled materials in all Made by Google products by 2022

Google wants to make sure that its impact on the environment is a little less damaging. The company has announced that all Made by Google products will use recycled materials by 2022. In other words, Pixel phones, Google Home speakers, Nest devices, and more will all be built with recycled materials, according to a new report from Fast Company.

According to the company, it has already begun using recycled plastic in Chromecast devices, as well as in the fabric covering on Google Home devices, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. It’s important to note that while Google will be using recycled materials in 100 percent of its Made by Google products by 2022, it will not be building any entire product out of recycled materials — though, over time, the company will be able to use more and more recycled materials to build its products.

The move isn’t totally new in the tech industry. Apple now builds the aluminum cases for its MacBook Air and Mac Mini computers out of 100 percent recycled aluminum, and the company has even built a robot called Daisy that disassembles iPhones and separates recyclable materials for use in future iPhone parts. Samsung has made pledges to be more environmentally conscious too — the company promised to use sustainable materials in its product packaging earlier this year.

Using recyclable materials isn’t the only pledge Google made. The company also said that it would make all of its shipments carbon neutral by 2020. The work on that has already begun — in the Fast Company report, Anna Meegan, Google’s head of sustainability for hardware, said that the team reduced emissions by a hefty 40 percent simply by switching from air shipments to cargo shipments.

Google has a recycling program for customers — so if you have a Google device that you no longer need, the company will send a shipping label for you to send back those products. Currently, the program is only available in the U.S.

Tech companies have a long way to go before they’re truly eco-friendly, but companies like Google, Apple, and Samsung are continuing to make steps toward having less of a negative impact on the planet.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
Does the Google Pixel 7a have a headphone jack?
Google Pixel 7a in Snow on a lamp post

The Google Pixel 7a is Google's latest addition to its midrange A-series smartphones. It's likely to be one of the best options for anyone who wants a strong handset with pure Android, solid performance, and an exceptional camera.

But we can't touch on the hardware without addressing one of the most common questions about any new smartphone. Namely, does the phone have a headphone jack? Smartphone manufacturers have been on a crusade against the venerable port in recent years, and the headphone jack has been excised from the vast majority of the phones you can buy today. So, does the Google Pixel 7a include a headphone jack, or will you need other ways to listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts?
The Pixel 7a does not have a headphone jack

Read more
Does the Google Pixel 7a have wireless charging?
Google Pixel 7a in Snow on park bench

The Pixel 7a has landed, and it does quite a few things better than its predecessor. While it still has the 6.1-inch OLED display as last year's Pixel 6a, the Pixel 7a bumps the refresh rate up to 90Hz from the original 60Hz. You also have the newer Google Tensor G2 chip inside, plus a huge jump to 64MP on the main camera compared to the 12.2MP camera on the Pixel 6a.

But what about wireless charging? The Pixel 6a did not have wireless charging capabilities, so did Google learn its lesson by adding that feature to its next budget-friendly phone?
Yes, the Google Pixel 7a has wireless charging

Read more
Everything announced at Google I/O 2023: Pixel Fold, Pixel 7a, and more
The Google I/O 2023 logo outside Mountain View.

Every year, Google takes to Google I/O to announce its plans and products for the coming year. While the event itself will run for several days, the opening keynote presentation covers all the major announcements, from the newest version of Android to the latest versions of the Pixel smartphones.

So, what did Google have in store for us with Google I/O 2023? Quite a lot! From the Pixel Fold to the Pixel 7a to a ton of AI updates and more, here are all of the biggest announcements from Google I/O 2023.
Google Pixel Fold

Read more