As they say, it’s the most wonderful time of the year once again. For many of us, this year will be very different. However, that doesn’t make it lose its meaning. This is why we at TechAcute have put together a list of tech gifts with meaning. Here is our list of socially-conscious and eco-friendly items that can make a genuine difference to someone during this very special season.
Calm subscription
It’s no surprise that 2020 has been the most exhausting year across the board in recent times. We’ve all been feeling some level of anxiety, losing sleep over concerns about our jobs and the health of our loved ones. This is why a subscription to the Calm app would be an apt gift for this Christmas.
The subscription gives the recipient one year’s worth of premium content about meditation, wellness, and sleep aids. Such a gift will remind them that you’re thinking of them and their well-being. What’s a better gift than that?
Take a moment to send love to the people who helped you to get through the ups and downs of 2020. https://t.co/THt3zZz5uN
— Calm (@calm) November 26, 2020
Fairphone 3 and Fairphone 3+
Staying connected is more important than ever. But it’s also important to be mindful of what you use that may affect our planet. The people behind the Dutch-produced Fairphone aim to help you do both.
Fairphone is an Android-based ethically-produced smartphone. It’s made of 40% recycled plastic, fairtrade gold, and conflict-free minerals. Created by a social enterprise in the early 2010s that encourages the re-use and repair of old phones and supply chain transparency, Fairphone focuses on making positive impacts such as putting people first. The enterprise is working with several NGOs and labor rights experts to develop programs that improve worker satisfaction and communication with managers.
This environmentally-friendly, long-lasting smartphone aims to create a fairer and more sustainable e-industry by putting the people and the planet first. We think this is a great Christmas gift that can genuinely make a difference – to the recipient and the world. Fairphone has recently released the Fairphone 3 and 3+ which is now available for purchase in Europe.
Phonesoap Go
In 2020, we’ve all seen the tutorials on how to disinfect your phone with soap to get rid of various germs. And that’s no surprise! Our phones spend a lot of time in purses, pockets, and hands – places riddled with germs, and they have no problem migrating to our screens. Device hygiene is more important than ever, so why not get a device that can make it happen conveniently?
PhoneSoap Go is a chargeable case that uses UV-C light to sanitize your phone, headphones, bus passes, credit cards, and other tiny things that we use daily. You can clean and charge your phone along with other items all at the same time while on the go. All you have to do is place your phone or other stuff into the box and leave it there for ten minutes to get cleaned.
PhoneSoap Go fits most devices. Your phone might not look as “clean” as you’d expect by the end of the sanitation process, but experts have confirmed that UV-C light does indeed kill germs.
Pela Vine Eco-Friendly Watch Band
Last year, we featured Pela’s eco-friendly smartphone cases. This year, they have the new Vine Eco-friendly Apple Watch that’s described as the “world’s first 100% compostable watchband”.
The biodegradable Vine Eco-friendly Apple Watch comes in five colors and fits 115-170 mm wrists. It’s made with Flaxstic – a plant-based bioplastic made in Canada. The band is equipped with a quick-release magnetic metal clasp which makes it super easy to change the band without needing to throw anything away. The company donates a percentage from every sale to Ocean Clean-up and Preservation Initiatives. Not to mention, it uses biodegradable and recyclable materials.
Freitag laptop case
Want something eco-friendly, convenient, and unique? Check out Freitag’s laptop bags and cases made out of recycled tarp.
Freitag laptop sleeves are a product of a Swiss company that’s been making recycled products since the 90s. They produce laptop sleeves, phone cases, bags, shoppers, wallets, and even clothes. Each item you buy from the company would be made from a unique piece of tarpaulin and other recycled materials – which makes each item one of a kind. They also have a lot of cool initiatives like SWAP that lets you swap your old Freitag bag for another one free of charge. This also helps in reducing the number of discarded bags. This year, they did it for Anti-Black Friday.
Caia Natural Light Robot
Remote work is here to stay. But it’s winter, and many places get dark long before you finish office hours. As a result, your electricity bill might take a toll and won’t be exactly environmentally-friendly. Enter Solenica‘s Caia, a robot that fills your home with sunlight.
Created by Dr. Diva Tommei who is a doctor of Biotechnology at Cambridge University, Caia is a robot that illuminates your home with real sunlight. It’s solar-powered which means that if you place it in a sunny spot, it’ll redirect the sun from outdoors to where you need it. It has the strength of 13 lightbulbs, can be installed anywhere in your home, and doesn’t need charging or plugging in. It can last a very long time – it only needs the sun to work.
The robot can give you 8-16 hours of light a day and comes with a 1-year warranty. So, if you have someone who desperately needs some light in their lives – literally – give them Caia to brighten up their Christmas.
We hope that you enjoyed our tech gift guide and found a meaningful gift to give to your loved ones this Christmas. You can also check out last year’s guide for more gift-giving ideas.
Photo credit: The feature image used is owned by Fairphone and has been provided for press usage.
Sources: Samuel Gibbs (The Guardian) / Danielle Gonzalez (HuffPost) / PhoneSoap blog / Aimée McLaughlin (Creative Review) / Nnaemeka Ugochukwu (Eco Warrior Princess)
