Acer shows Apple how it is environmentally conscious with its pledge to collect the equivalent of 2.5 million plastic bottles together with the Plastic Bank
Sustainability Week 2024
This article is part of a series of sustainability-themed articles that we want to observe Earth Day 2024 and promote more sustainable practices. Check out all our Sustainability Week 2024 content.
When it comes to laptop makers committed to reducing their impact on the environment, Acer is one of the best – and the company just announced a major partnership with Plastic Bank to collect and recycle at least 50 tons of plastic waste by 2024 .
According to Acer, this involves a partnership with the Canadian social enterprise Plastic sofa wants to prevent the equivalent of about 2.5 million plastic bottles from ending up in the sea in Southeast Asia. Local Plastic Bank branches collect the plastic waste and pay the local market price for what is collected.
The idea is that this will not only benefit the environment by helping to prevent waste plastic from polluting the ocean, but it could also provide opportunities for local communities, many of which suffer from poverty and are at risk of rising sea levels. In addition to the compensation for collecting the plastic waste, other benefits are also offered, including meal vouchers and health insurance
Apple could still learn a thing or two
Acer has an excellent reputation for delivering on its green promises. I spoke with Acer’s EMEA president at last year’s COP28 event in Dubai about how important fighting climate change is for the company. In addition to working with companies like Plastic Bank, it has also released a range of eco-friendly devices, such as the new Acer Aspire Vero 16 laptop, made from a blend of more than 60% recycled plastic, and (relatively) easy to take apart and use. repair, resulting in less electrical waste. Moreover, there are some interesting AI-powered tools that help minimize the laptop’s power consumption.
The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is also the company’s first ever carbon neutral PC, and the company aims to become completely carbon neutral in the future.
It certainly puts other companies that like to promote their green credentials to shame. As Ny Breaking’s Sustainability Week 2024 shows, the environmental impact of our technology is a major concern for many people – and the companies behind this technology are keen to claim that they are doing everything they can to help reduce pollution and waste. Unfortunately, some companies claim they don’t comply.
Apple, for example, is a company that is often accused of this. Due to both its success and bold environmental claims, the company’s green efforts are under great pressure. A report last year suggested that Apple’s green claims were ‘exaggerated’, but that Apple was still doing well to make its technology more environmentally friendly.
One glaring area where the company is failing – and one where Acer is becoming increasingly impressive – is the repairability of its devices.
Apple’s iPhones, iPads and MacBooks have been accused of being designed in a way that makes it incredibly difficult for users to open and repair the devices. Instead, these devices, which may have only minor problems, are replaced with new devices. a report from Bloomberg suggests the secretive recycling process isn’t as green as some people might think, with faulty models being scrapped, which some people say creates unnecessary waste.
The sustainability of the technology we use is becoming increasingly important to consumers, and the companies we buy from must ensure they deliver on their promises with actions. Right now, Acer is doing just that, and many of its competitors should take notice.