Circular design and repairability have been a long time coming in much of the consumer electronics sector, but there are signs this may be changing. One example is a new generation of wireless earbuds from Dutch electronics manufacturer Fairphone, which challenges the throwaway culture of consumer electronics by combining modular construction, replaceable batteries and increased use of recycled materials to extend product lifetimes and reduce electronic waste.
Launched on 14 October, International E-Waste Day, the Fairbuds 2 feature seven user-replaceable components, including the batteries in both earbuds and their charging case. The design is intended to overcome one of the principal limitations of conventional wireless earbuds, which are frequently discarded when their batteries deteriorate.
The product has received a 10/10 repairability score from independent electronics repair organisation iFixit, seemingly attributable to its construction without glue or the need for specialist tools when replacing components.
According to Fairphone, the global market for earbuds could reach 1.2 billion units annually by 2030, and many existing products are designed with limited provision for repair. Batteries in conventional earbuds can deteriorate within two years, potentially rendering otherwise functional devices unusable.
Materials and manufacturing
Fairphone says approximately 49% of the materials used in Fairbuds 2 are recycled or sourced through its responsible procurement programmes. These include recycled rare earth elements in speaker magnets, recycled tin in solder paste and more than 70% post-consumer recycled plastics.
The company also reports using SGS-tested, PFAS-free plastics and silicone in components that come into direct contact with the user’s skin.
Other features intended to tick a box with the environmentally-conscious consumer include the use of renewable electricity during assembly and an electronic waste collection programme. Fairphone describes the earbuds as 100% e-waste neutral, meaning it arranges for the collection and recycling of an equivalent weight of discarded electronics for every unit sold.
The environmental impacts associated with manufacturing, using or eventually disposing of the product are presumably still present.
Extending product lifetimes
The new earbuds are 37% smaller than their predecessors, with a charging case reduced in size by 32%. Despite the smaller dimensions, Fairphone claims improved battery performance, offering up to 40 hours of playback when combined with the charging case.
The product comes with a three-year warranty and launches in the UK at £99, approximately 20% below the price of the previous generation.
“A worn out battery should never be the reason you throw away something you love,” said Fairphone CEO Raymond van Eck.
The approach illustrates how modular design could help reduce electronic waste by allowing individual components to be replaced rather than entire products.
Its wider environmental value will surely depend to a large extent on the continued availability and affordability of replacement parts, and whether consumers take advantage of the repair options to extend the useful lives of their devices.
The Fairbuds are available through Fairphone.com and select retailers and network operators.
Find the full spec sheet and more info on the reviewers’ guide.