Latest news with #sustainabletech
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Assurant Enters Strategic Partnership with Plug® to Fuel Growth In Certified Devices and Expand Capabilities in the Secondary Market
ATLANTA, July 08, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), a premier global protection company that safeguards and services connected devices, homes and automobiles in partnership with the world's leading brands, today announced a strategic partnership with St. Louis-based Plug®, a fast-growing direct-to-consumer (D2C) commerce platform delivering certified pre-owned (CPO) smartphones, tablets, computers, and accessories to consumers nationwide. As a global leader in device circularity and CPO solutions, Assurant's investment in Plug is designed to accelerate the company's growth and expand access to trusted, affordable, high-quality devices at scale. With its strong D2C platform, bold marketing approach, and fast-growing customer base, Plug is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of consumer adoption in the secondary device market. "Our enhanced relationship with Plug reflects Assurant's commitment to expanding the mobile device ecosystem and advancing circularity," said Jeremy Purvis, Senior Vice President, CPO Solutions at Assurant. "Plug's bold brand, strong D2C presence, and innovative approach to social commerce make them an ideal partner in helping more consumers access reliable, certified pre-owned devices. Together, we're extending device lifecycles and accelerating the shift toward a more sustainable tech future." Plug currently sources devices through a network of suppliers, carriers, and enterprise clients, using proprietary systems to inspect, grade, and fulfill orders efficiently from its U.S.-based facility. The partnership with Assurant adds a new layer of scale and expertise, connecting Plug to Assurant's global network of refurbished device inventory, advanced testing protocols, and logistics infrastructure. Customer Benefits Include: Expanded Inventory and Lower Prices: With access to a broader supply of high-quality pre-owned devices, Plug will offer more choice at even more competitive prices. Enhanced Quality Assurance: Plug's inspection process, covering more than 90 criteria, will be further strengthened by Assurant's global refurbishment and protection standards. Improved Customer Experience: The partnership supports Plug's existing policies, including a 12-month limited warranty, 30-day satisfaction guarantee, and fast, free U.S. shipping. Reduced Environmental Impact: By extending the life of more devices, Plug and Assurant are helping reduce electronic waste and advance the circular economy. Founded in 2020, Plug is a leading direct-to-consumer CPO device commerce platform. Since launch, the brand has quickly emerged as a trusted name in the secondary device market, offering high-quality, affordable tech and industry-leading customer service. Plug distributes products in over 150 countries and offers a range of services across the supply chain, all while maintaining a bold digital brand presence and a deep commitment to sustainability. "Partnering with Assurant is a major step forward in our mission to bring trusted, affordable tech to more people," said Alex Alyatim, CEO of Plug. "This partnership strengthens our ability to scale without compromising what matters most: delivering value, quality and exceptional experiences to our customers. This is just one step in our mission to create a larger, consumer-first ecosystem rooted in CPO education, value, and long-term impact." # # # About AssurantAssurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ) is a premier global protection company that partners with the world's leading brands to safeguard and service connected devices, homes, and automobiles. As a Fortune 500 company operating in 21 countries, Assurant leverages data-driven technology solutions to provide exceptional customer experiences. Learn more at About Plug®Plug® is a leading direct-to-consumer brand delivering certified pre-owned smartphones, tablets, computers, and accessories to customers around the world. Built on a foundation of trust, transparency, and sustainability, Plug® leverages advanced technology to ensure secure storage, real-time inventory tracking, and efficient, responsible fulfillment. From online purchase to unboxing, Plug® is making premium tech easier to access, better for the planet, and entirely focused on delivering an exceptional customer experience. View source version on Contacts Media Contacts: For Assurant: Louis For Plug: Chloe HuardChloe@
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers discover mind-blowing method to give old smartphones new life: 'A new way of thinking about the old'
In a time when the average smartphone is replaced every two to three years, researchers in Estonia have found an innovative way to give old devices a meaningful second life — by turning them into tiny data centers. This new approach could reshape the way we think about electronics, pollution, and the digital systems that power our lives. It's a sustainable tech breakthrough that offers more than just a clever reuse — it has the potential to reduce electronic waste, save money, and unlock new possibilities for greener data processing. Every year, the world produces over 1.2 billion smartphones. Manufacturing them uses up energy and precious raw materials and contributes heavily to pollution. And while some of these phones are recycled, many end up in landfills — sometimes with their batteries still inside, leaking toxic chemicals into the environment. But the problem doesn't stop with waste. There's also growing demand for data centers — the massive facilities that store and process information for everything from email to AI. These centers are energy-intensive and expensive to build. At the University of Tartu's Institute of Computer Science, researchers have created a working prototype that turns old smartphones into mini data centers. The devices are deconstructed — their batteries removed and replaced with safer, external power sources — then mounted into 3D-printed holders and linked together. The whole setup costs just around €8 per phone, or about $9. Once connected, these upcycled phones can collect, store, and analyze data. One early test involved marine life monitoring. Instead of relying on a diver to manually capture footage, the underwater phone-powered center automatically identified and recorded sea creatures — all in real time. Another potential application? Urban environments. These smartphone clusters could be installed at bus stops to count passengers and help improve public transportation schedules. The research, published in IEEE Pervasive Computing, shows that with just a small investment, smartphones once considered "e-waste" can take on important new jobs — no cutting-edge chips or big budgets needed. And while consumer behavior shifts — like holding onto your phone longer — remain the most sustainable solution, innovations like this provide a smart, realistic way to reduce pollution and extend the usefulness of our devices. As Associate Professor of Pervasive Computing Huber Flores put it: "Innovation often begins not with something new, but with a new way of thinking about the old, re-imagining its role in shaping the future." Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to recycle old clothes and electronics? Giving me money back Letting me trade for new stuff Making it as easy as possible Keeping my stuff out of landfills Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Right now, the data center prototype is still in its early stages. But researchers say future versions could be easier to assemble and adapt to more types of hardware. With further development, we could see these tiny data centers powering smart cities, community centers, and conservation projects — all using tech we already have. It's a small idea with big potential — and a reminder that sometimes, the smartest solution starts with what's already in our hands. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CNET
25-06-2025
- CNET
Want a More Sustainable Android Phone? The Modular Fairphone 6 Could Be the Answer
Sustainable tech leader Fairphone unveiled its latest modular device on Thursday at an event in Amsterdam, presenting a clear challenge to mainstream phone makers everywhere. The Fairphone 6 is a fully repairable Android phone built to last, which the company says has the lowest carbon footprint of any device its made yet. Fairphone is a phone maker like no other. Rather than being yet another tech company making yet another generic Android phone, Fairphone is a value-focused Dutch social enterprise, which sources materials ethically, pays fair-wage bonuses to its workers across the supply chain in factories where they're protected from harmful chemicals and given a voice to enact change. It also actively encourages people who buy a Fairphone to seek out replacement parts rather than throwaway their devices and upgrade on a regular basis. While this is technically the Fairphone 6, the company wants it to be known as just the Fairphone -- the thinking being that you shouldn't need to upgrade your phone every few years to the next generation of devices. With this device, Fairphone promises seven Android updates with software and repairable parts support lasting until 2033. Fairphone's previous phone, the Fairphone 5 scored 7/10 in our review, but also worth paying attention to is the 10/10 teardown score given to the phone by iFixit. iFixit is a leader in providing the tools and knowledge for people to repair their electronics, and has been at the forefront of pushing right-to-repair legislation. The Fairphone is entirely modular, with replaceable elements that make it both easy to fix and more fun. As well as being able to replace the battery, screen, camera, ports and other elements of the phone, you can click off the rear cover to attach alternatives with accessories, such as a carry cord or a card holder. A lime green switch on the side of the phone allows you to toggle between the standard Android 15 interface, complete with all the Google Gemini AI features you might expect, and a pared-back monochrome "essentials" interface that offers access to core fuctions, including calling, messaging and web browsing. Our biggest criticisms of the Fairphone 5 were the poor battery life and camera performance. According to Fairphone, its new device packs a bigger battery that can last 53 hours, along with an AI-enhanced 50-megapixel camera. We're hoping that these live up to their promise, which will be crucial to truly future proof this phone as the rest of the industry sticks to its annual upgrade cycle. The chip inside is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 from Qualcomm, which also provides the chips for all of the best Android phones on the market. The performance of this chip will also help determine the longevity of the phone. The Fairphone 6 will be available for £499 ($680) from YourCoop and AO in the UK and will be available through Murena in the US.
