Patagonia's winter sale offers substantial discounts across outdoor apparel and gear—from fleece headbands and beanies to insulated jackets, packs and rain gear—with many items discounted around 30–50%, highlighting recycled materials and eco-friendly fabrics.
Apple has replaced the Space Gray HomePod mini with a new Midnight color, which looks very similar but is made with 100% recycled mesh fabric. The new version is otherwise identical to the existing model and aligns with the color scheme of other Apple products. The Midnight HomePod mini is now available for order and will be in stores on July 17.
Apple has launched a new "midnight" color version of its HomePod Mini smart speaker, which will be available from July 17th in the US and 31 other countries for $99. The new color aligns with the midnight HomePod second-gen and is made with 100% recycled mesh. The features and price remain unchanged.
Volvo's new EX30 EV is a small crossover that prioritizes sustainability and carbon neutrality. The vehicle is built using recycled materials, including 25% recycled aluminum, 17% recycled steel, and 17% recycled plastics. The interior features eco-friendly materials such as denim, flax, and blended wool made from recycled polyester. The EX30 has a smaller carbon footprint compared to Volvo's larger electric crossovers, and it offers a range of up to 275 miles. With a starting price of $36,245, the EX30 is Volvo's least-expensive car and represents the company's commitment to becoming a fully electric carmaker by 2030 and carbon-neutral by 2040.
Lego has abandoned its plans to produce bricks made from recycled bottles, as the company found that using the new material did not reduce carbon emissions. The toy giant remains committed to making bricks from sustainable materials and is currently testing and developing alternatives. Lego has been exploring alternative materials to plastic in order to improve its green credentials, but finding a durable material that can last for generations has proven challenging. The company has invested over $1.2 billion in sustainability initiatives and aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 37% by 2032.
Lego has abandoned its plans to replace oil-based plastics in its bricks with a more sustainable alternative after finding that the new material would result in higher carbon emissions. The company had been testing hundreds of materials, including recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET), but was unable to find a suitable alternative that would maintain the same color, shine, and sound as the original bricks. Lego had previously pledged to transition to sustainable materials by the end of the decade.
RBK arquitectura has transformed an existing two-story chalet-style house into Casa Dominga, a sustainable family home. The project focused on enlarging the spaces and volumes to improve the quality of life for the family members. The design incorporated the reuse of materials from the existing house, including recovered roof trusses and wood from the construction process. Sustainability was a key aspect, with features such as rainwater collection, solar panels, cross ventilation, and water tanks with their own ecosystems. The layout of the house was organized to optimize orientation, visuals, and privacy. Casa Dominga blends with the surrounding landscape and creates a unique architectural personality.
Construction of a 19-foot-tall troll sculpture named Olebolle was completed at the Nordic Northwest campus in Southwest Portland. Created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, the troll is part of a six-sculpture exhibition called "Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King" and is made from 99% recycled and reclaimed wood. The public can visit the troll starting Sunday, Aug. 13, and it will be on site for at least three years.
Trek has released a new line of cycling apparel made from recycled materials, diverting 800,000 water bottles from landfills. The collection features earth-tone colorways and simple designs, with pieces such as the Evoke Tech Tee, Evoke Short, Quantum Fitness Short, and Rhythm Short. Trek has partnered with Alvanon to improve their sizing scheme, and all apparel is covered by a 30-day unconditional guarantee. While it's great to see eco-conscious apparel, the most sustainable option is to get the most out of what you already have.
Microsoft has released a new Xbox controller, the Remix Special Edition, made from reclaimed materials and recovered plastics to celebrate Earth Day. One-third of the controller consists of regrind materials from recycled Xbox controllers and other sources of reclaimed materials. The controller is available for pre-order for $84.99 and comes with a rechargeable battery pack. Microsoft aims to use less new plastic and reduce waste in its products and has a collection of controllers that use less new plastics on its Xbox Sustainability Hub.
Microsoft has announced the Xbox wireless controller Remix special edition, made partially from old Xbox One controller parts and CDs, and featuring recovered plastics with one-third of it made from regrind and reclaimed materials. The controller is the result of Xbox exploring ways to use less new plastic and reduce waste when creating accessories, and is available for pre-order now for $84.99 / £74.99.