Responsible materials: Our preference for recycled plastics over traditional materials

We’ve been dedicated to responsible product design since the launch of our first headphones in 2010. We are continuously improving and increasing the proportion of recycled plastics in our products.

When it comes to consumer electronics, traditional materials like aluminium, steel, or wood are often the go-to choices. However, since launching our TMA-1 headphones in 2010, we've steered away from these norms. We've chosen what we've found to be a more responsible path, prioritizing the use of recycled plastics in our products.

We know that plastics have a reputation for being harmful to the environment, and mismanaged plastics are indeed harmful polluters. Therefore, we've committed to manage plastics responsibly by minimizing waste, extending product life via modular design and easy repair, and through initiatives like Remixed with lifetime trade-in and buy-used.

It’s also important to differentiate between single-use plastics and recycled, durable plastics. We've found that when handled responsibly, recycled and durable plastics provide a range of benefits that traditional materials can't match. 

Here are three of our core design principles to minimise our carbon footprint and promote a circular economy:

Designing for minimal carbon footprint

By using recycled plastics, we reduce our demand for new raw materials, which means less extraction from the environment and lower energy usage. 

An easy way to show this is by the melting point of aluminium (660 degrees) and steel (1500 degrees), compared to ABS plastic (200 degrees). Plastic is also much lighter than traditional materials, so less energy is consumed transporting our products to you.

By sourcing recycled plastic, we are not contributing to the growing plastic mass on our planet, and we also help prevent plastics from other industries from entering the environment after use. 

Designing for longevity

The adaptability of recycled plastics gives us a creative edge. It lets us push design boundaries, experiment with unique shapes, and develop products that are comfortable, easy to use, and durable. 

Lightweight plastics ensure you can wear our products for extended periods without discomfort. Despite their light weight, these plastics are resilient, capable of withstanding daily use and accidental drops. 

In many ways, we’ve found this combination of adaptability, comfort, and durability to outperform traditional materials.

Designing for circularity

Even with the best durability and repairability, all products will eventually reach their end-of-life phase. The process of transforming our used products into new ones consumes less energy than traditional materials like steel and aluminium, and plastics can be recycled several times without significantly losing their quality. 

This circular economy is further made possible by designing for disassembly and with modular product design so elements can be taken apart and recycled.

With recycled plastics, we strive to create products that not only sound and feel great, but also are a responsible choice. We hope you appreciate this delicate balance we're trying to maintain. 

We’ve been dedicated to responsible product design since the launch of our first headphones in 2010. We are continuously improving and increasing the proportion of recycled plastics in our products. If you’ve ideas on how we can do better, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out on [email protected].