Neowin News Feed for: Environment

Phones may come without bundled USB cables in the future, if OEMs have their way

Usama Jawad — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:16:01 +0000

It seems like OEMs are becoming brave enough to stop bundling a USB charging cable in their phone's packaging. Read more...

As millions of Windows 10 PCs await eWaste dump, Seagate claims SSDs are way worse than HDDs

Sayan Sen — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 11:48:01 +0000

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 later this year, and that means millions of unsupported PCs will be dumped. Seagate has published a new report considering the e-waste aspect of that. Read more...

Save your computer from Microsoft's Windows 10 end-of-life planned obsolescence

Paul Hill — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 13:00:01 +0000

With Windows 10's end-of-life less than a year away, up to 240 million PCs could be expedited to landfill. Here are some ideas to delay that end well past 2025. Read more...

Apple shares progress on energy commitments at event

Paul Hill — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 18:28:37 +0000

During its event today, Apple shared with us its latest progress in being environmentally friendly. More than 300 manufacturers in its supply chain have committed to 100% renewable energy use. Read more...

All Apple-designed batteries will have 100% recycled cobalt by 2025

Aditya Tiwari — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 15:30:02 +0000

Apple announced that by 2025, its new batteries found on iPhone, iPad, etc. will have 100% recycled cobalt. The company has similar goals of using 100% recycled rare earth elements and gold plating. Read more...

Sonos reveals Era 300 and Era 100 smart speakers built out of recycled materials

Anushe Fawaz — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 15:26:02 +0000

Sonos has unraveled two new speakers as part of its Era family, the Sonos Era 300 and Sonos Era 100 which are made out of recycled material and come with long-lasting serviceability. Read more...

Microsoft and partners to launch 'first-of-its-kind living atlas' ahead of COP27

Fiza Ali — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 20:28:01 +0000

Ahead of COP27, Microsoft, along with Planet and The Nature Conservancy, will launch the Global Renewables Watch designed to map renewable energy installs using AI and satellite images. Read more...

Phyn Plus and Moen Flo water monitors now integrate with ELAN Control Systems

Christopher White — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 04:08:02 +0000

If you use Elan Control Systems for your home automation, you'll be happy to learn that the Phyn Plus and Moen Flo water monitors now integrates with the system to streamline your automation needs. Read more...

Vodafone to green up its European operations from Spring

Paul Hill — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 21:56:01 +0000

Vodafone is planning to offer a range of new services in Europe that will extend the life of devices. This will help the company become a circular economy business where little is thrown away. Read more...

New carbon emissions calculator shows TikTok and Reddit to be the worst offenders

Paul Hill — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 19:00:01 +0000

Compare the Market has released a new calculator that works out your social media-related carbon emissions. TikTok and Reddit were found to be the worst offenders among the top ten platforms. Read more...

Mobile crypto platform, SwissBorg, announces environmental and fee reduction plans

Paul Hill — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 04:22:01 +0000

SwissBorg held its annual meeting earlier, it outlined plans to scrap fees for P2P payments between SwissBorg users and its plan to reduce emissions related to crypto use on its platform. Read more...

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy phones will be made with old fishing nets

Paul Hill — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 16:12:01 +0000

Samsung will be using single-use plastics from the ocean in future products to help clean up the planet and make its devices more eco-friendly. The upcoming Galaxy phones will use these materials. Read more...

Phyn Plus releases second generation water monitor that's smaller, lighter and cheaper

Christopher White — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 00:52:01 +0000

If you like the idea of the Phyn Plus, but it was too large for your area, or you felt it cost too much, you should check out the second generation that's smaller, lighter and $200 cheaper. Read more...

While not Jurassic Park, woolly mammoths could certainly be walking the Earth real soon

Sayan Sen — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 19:06:01 +0000

Woolly mammoths could soon be walking the Earth as a couple of individuals - a scientist and an entrepreneur - are devising such genetically engineered beasts, in order to help with global warming. Read more...

Phyn Plus review: A water and leak monitor can save your home from a burst pipe

Christopher White — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 16:00:01 +0000

If you worry about water usage or what would happen if your house sprung a leak, check out the Phyn Plus, a whole home water sensor that breaks down your usage and can shut your water in an emergency. Read more...

Microsoft products must be repairable for a sustainable future, insists shareholder body

Sayan Sen — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 04:50:01 +0000

Microsoft must introduce the Right to Repair to reduce the enormous e-waste, says As You Sow. As You Sow is a body overlooking the environmental impacts of corporate practices and expansion. Read more...

Tesla stops taking Bitcoin for vehicle purchases after just 49 days

Subir Kathuria — Thu, 13 May 2021 07:56:01 +0000

Tesla has stopped accepting bitcoin as payment for its cars out of concern that it will contribute to greater consumption of fossil fuels, according to a statement by CEO Elon Musk. Read more...

Ecosia will fund tree-planting with spend on wooden debit card

Paul Hill — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 14:52:01 +0000

Ecosia has announced that it now partially owns TreeCard, a firm that makes wooden debit cards. The search provider said that purchases with the card will fund its tree-planting efforts worldwide. Read more...

Apple commits to being carbon neutral across its supply chain by 2030

João Carrasqueira — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 15:44:01 +0000

Apple has announced its intentions to become carbon neutral across the entire supply chain for its products by 2030. Companies such as Microsoft and Amazon have made similar commitments. Read more...

Microsoft announces five new initiatives to advance toward its 2030 carbon negative goal

Hamza Jawad — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 15:00:01 +0000

In terms of sustainability initiatives, the new steps announced at Inspire 2020 today are specifically aimed at accelerating progress towards Microsoft's goal of being carbon negative by 2030. Read more...

Ecosia search engine approaches 100 million planted trees

Paul Hill — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 03:46:02 +0000

The ethical search engine, Ecosia, has announced that it has almost planted 100 million trees since its launch at the very end of 2009. It should reach the milestone sometime later this week. Read more...

Amazon announces climate fund to help firms reach net zero

Paul Hill — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 16:30:02 +0000

Amazon has announced the creation of The Climate Pledge Fund to help further develop new technologies and services that will allow it and other firms to become net zero by the year 2040. Read more...

Samsung boosts eco-credentials with better packaging for TVs

Paul Hill — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 12:16:02 +0000

Samsung has announced new packaging for its Lifestyle TVs that can be reused for other purposes. The firm will include a manual which contains QR codes with instructions on items you can build. Read more...

BT announces new plan to have customers return routers after contracts end

Paul Hill — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 19:50:01 +0000

BT has announced that it will charge new customers who decide to hold on to their old routers and YouView set-top boxes. The firm hopes to keep 1 million devices from going into landfills. Read more...

Google sets out 'Made by Google' sustainability commitments

Paul Hill — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 15:34:01 +0000

Google has announced that its 'Made by Google' consumer products will start using more and more recycled materials from 2022. From 2020, shipments to and from customers will be carbon neutral. Read more...

Microsoft and Vattenfall team up to develop advanced, sustainable datacentres

Hamza Jawad — Wed, 29 May 2019 11:12:01 +0000

Microsoft and Vattenfall have collaborated yet again to commit to the spread of green energy, by building sustainable datacentres that employ use of 100 percent renewable energy sources. Read more...

Microsoft details how scientists have used its innovations in AI to help the environment

Hamza Jawad — Wed, 22 May 2019 13:08:01 +0000

Microsoft has outlined how scientists and conservationists are understanding, analyzing, and confronting environmental issues using its artificial intelligence and eco-centric applications. Read more...

Apple announces Earth Day plans and expands recycling programs

Paul Hill — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 19:22:01 +0000

Apple has unveiled a raft of initiatives to celebrate Earth Day on April 22. The firm also released its yearly environmental report which outlines the environmental achievements in 2018. Read more...

Apple encourages more suppliers to go green, succeeding goals

Paul Hill — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 15:22:01 +0000

Apple has announced that it will succeed its goal of introducing 4 gigawatts of renewable energy into its supply chain by 2020 after it persuaded more suppliers to pledge to use green energy. Read more...

Samsung renews green pledge planning to expand renewables

Paul Hill — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 10:46:01 +0000

Samsung has restated its commitment to expanding its use of renewables. The firm plans to particularly focus on the U.S., Europe, and China. It also plans to help firms in its supply chain be green. Read more...

Apple announces a raft of initiatives for Earth Day 2018

Paul Hill — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 18:56:01 +0000

Apple has announced that it will make a donation to Conservation International every time someone submits an iPhone through the GiveBack programme. It also launched a disassembly robot called Daisy. Read more...

Increase in suppliers lead to more labor violations for Apple

Gurkaran Singh — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 19:46:01 +0000

In its annual audit of working conditions among its suppliers, Apple found that the environmental and labor violations had doubled over the previous year. The company found 44 core violations in 2017. Read more...

Using Apple's HomePod shouldn't increase your electric bill

John Keefer — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 22:14:01 +0000

Apple's new smarthome device is supposed to be a step up from competitors such as Amazon Echo and Google Home. So while the power draw is higher, it is expected to need less than as a 10W LED. Read more...

Microsoft announces AI for Earth, to help "solve global environmental challenges"

Andy Weir — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 13:56:02 +0000

Microsoft has announced its new AI for Earth program, aiming "to solve global environmental challenges by increasing access to AI tools and educational opportunities, while accelerating innovation." Read more...

Apple Watch owners can earn a badge today as part of Earth Day

Paul Hill — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 16:52:01 +0000

Apple has launched some initiatives to celebrate Earth Day. They include a short-video series which was made in collaboration with artist James Blagden, and a limited edition badge for Watch owners. Read more...

Google starts celebrating Earth Day early, offers tips on how to save the planet

Florin Bodnarescu — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 21:06:01 +0000

Google has kicked off its celebration of Earth Day 2017 by announcing a few small tweaks to the search experience. The firm also points out it's on track to be 100% powered by renewable energy. Read more...

Apple pledges to eventually only use 100% recycled materials

Vlad Dudau — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 17:28:01 +0000

Apple touted its advances and focus on using renewable energy and recycled materials in its products. The company also said that one day it will fully rely on recycled minerals and end mining. Read more...

Apple releases its 11th annual Supplier Responsibility progress report

Cage Appleby — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 07:28:01 +0000

Apple has released its eleventh annual Supplier Responsibility progress report detailing how manufacturers that make and assemble Apple components and products treat their workers and the environment. Read more...

Microsoft is teaching your plants to have a chat with you

Justin Luna — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 10:18:01 +0000

A way for humans to "talk" with plants has recently been discovered. Through sensors, a person can type into a computer which is then translated into signals that plants can understand. Read more...

Apple reaches new milestone with 93% of its facilities running on renewable energy

Adrian Potoroaca — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:46:01 +0000

One of the first things that the Cupertino tech giant has announced at the Apple event is an update on the environmental progress that the company has made with its renewable energy initiatives. Read more...