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The new packaging replaces previous single-use plastic versions with fully recyclable paper pulp. | Photo source Microsoft
Computer mouse recycling programme reduces ocean waste
Old accessories are recycled and new versions are made from recycled ocean plastic
Spotted: Microsoft’s wireless Ocean Plastic Mouse contains 20 per cent recycled plastic and comes in 100 per cent recycled packaging. The case of the device is made from plastic removed from waterways. After processing and cleaning, the waste is turned into plastic pellets for use in the final product. The mouse is a collaboration with Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).
The new packaging replaces previous single-use plastic versions with fully recyclable paper pulp, the latter deriving from sugarcane fibres and recyclable wood. And for users wanting to responsibly replace their current mouse with a new one, the company offers a mail-in service in a number of different countries to collect the old devices for recycling.
Currently available for pre-order in North America, Microsoft says it plans to offer the mouse for sale worldwide from mid-October 2021 at a cost of around €21.
Ocean plastic reclamation is speeding up, with increasing numbers and scale of projects removing ever greater volumes of waste. A recent tournament with cash prizes rewarded fishers for removing as much plastic as they could from the area water, and a robotic beach cleaner specialises in removing microplastics from clean-looking beaches.
Written by: Keely Khoury
Explore more: Work and Lifestyle | Sustainability
International E-Waste Day is held every year on 14 October to raise awareness of “the crucial part each of us has in making circularity a reality for e-products.” With 57.4 million tonnes of e-waste estimated to be produced in 2021 alone, the need for cost-effective, efficient, and carbon-negative solutions is urgent. Rice University researchers recently discovered a way to recover precious metals and useful chemicals from e-waste with minimal energy output, thereby releasing materials for reuse without further damaging the planet. As with many promising innovations, scale and speed are hugely important at this time.
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