Technological innovation is here to stay. With it comes the struggle to control e-waste and its assault on the environment. The three co-founders of Nimble for Good, PBC combined their extensive experience to launch a brand of cell phone accessories. The brand commits to ethical material sourcing, manufacturing, and post-consumer disposal. The concept is simple really–develop and use products made from recycled materials to divert them from the landfill, be transparent as a business, and give customers an easy way to support those efforts with eco-friendly cell-phone products they use every day.
The team offers a strong background in the industry. This experience garnered them a quick $2.5 million from investors as a startup just two years ago. Nimble wasted no time jumping in with the Bottle Case–a cell phone case made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles. With the sale of each case, the company donated “5% to those working to protect the planet’s oceans and marine life.” The Bottle Case was a stand out release that set the stage for a variety of other products. Ross Howe, CEO summarized the vision by saying, “Our oceans are drowning in plastic. We’re not interested in creating new plastic to make phone cases. Virtually all phone cases made today require production of virgin materials, while there’s an overwhelming abundance of plastic material already in the ecosystem. We want to keep existing plastic in the economy and out of our oceans and landfills.”
The newest product from the team lead by co-founders Ross Howe, CEO, Kevin Malinowski, Head of Brand & Marketing, and John Bradley, Head of Creative is simply named the Disc Case™. It’s the world’s first protective case for iPhone made from 100% recycled compact discs. The process involves collecting the CDs, cleaning them, and using the polycarbonate components for the phone cases. Using recycled materials obviously eliminates the need for virgin plastics, but the phone cases are also recyclable at the end of usable life.
Ross Howe explains the simplicity and environmental power of the project by saying, “Think about how many CDs, DVDs, and software discs are no longer being used. Facing obsolescence, most go to landfills or incineration, creating a massive stream of toxic waste and pollution. We’re continuing to demonstrate how recycled materials in new products are essential to achieve a more sustainable future.”
Nimble also manufactures portable chargers with an interior composed of hard, plant-based plastics made from materials like corn and sugarcane. The devices also incorporate recycled aluminum and the natural mineral crystal, mica, which provides the non-slip exterior. Other, similarly earth-conscious products include wireless chargers and fast-charge kits.
All products come with a biodegradable bag and prepaid main-in label that makes it easy to participate in the e-Waste recycling program called One-for-One Tech Recovery Project. All devices, phone cases, cables, and cell phones ship directly to an e-waste recycling partner for proper disassembly and recycling. According to the company website, “Since Aug 2018, we’ve collected over 1,000 lbs. of e-waste from our customers for proper reclamation by Homeboy Electronics Recycling.”
The team focuses on minimizing the business’s impact from shipping and manufacturing as they continue to explore recycled materials for cell phone accessories. Some options include recycled plastic, organic hemp, recycled aluminum, plant-based bioplastic, and more. Each product ships using 100% plastic-free options, recycled scrap paper, and no harmful inks or dyes. Every shipping package is fully recyclable and biodegradable.
Not everything in business is controlled in house, so when Nimble selects suppliers, they must agree to conform to the Supplier Code of Conduct. This means all suppliers undergo evaluation in order to ensure they share Nimble values regarding workers’ rights, sustainable materials, and reducing environmental impact. In further highlighting their dedication to corporate responsibility, Nimble is one of around 3,600 Certified B Corporations® in the world to date, meaning it meets the highest standards of human and environmental considerations. In addition, Nimble donates at least 1% of annual sales to environmental non-profit organizations as a member of 1% for the Planet.
While every consumer decision to support earth-conscious businesses is a step in the right direction, the power of the movement comes in the numbers. With that in mind, Nimble partnered with like-minded cell phone giant Verizon Wireless earlier this year. The partnership aligns with Verizon’s initiative to provide more eco-friendly options to environmentally conscious customers as well. In this case, it comes in the form of recycled materials cell phone accessories.
“The world is changing. Customers are seeking more ethical options in all product categories from apparel to home goods. Personal technology should be no different,” said Howe. “We created Nimble to push consumer electronics in a better direction. Today, thanks to Verizon’s vision, we’re helping play an even larger role in reducing the impact these products create.”
Note: The author originally wrote a version of this article for publication on www.Inhabitat.com, a website dedicated to environmental news and supporting eco-friendly businesses.
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