We are not sustainable And neither is any other device maker. This industry is full of “feel good” messaging, but generates 50 million metric tons of e-waste each year. We believe the best way to reduce environmental impact is to create products that last longer, meaning fewer new ones need to be made. Instead of operating on feels, we operate on data and actions. With funding from Intel, we commissioned Fraunhofer IZM to do a detailed life cycle analysis (LCA) on Framework Laptop 13 to help us understand where we are today and where we can continue to improve. Check out our thoughts on reducing environmental impact and download the LCA report here…
The number one problem of modern appliance is indeed longevity I’d say. The so called “planned obsolescence” is probably what mainly drives or consumption of electronics and, accordingly, our production of e-waste. But Framework might just be saying that for green washing purposes.
I have toyed with the thought of framework laptops a few times. But the pricing is just too high. I rather buy used company laptops ~3 years afterwards and get way cheaper high quality laptop. Plus, buying used is pretty much always better than buying new in an environmental sense.
I’ve never used one of their computers or even seen one in the flesh, but from what I’ve seen they look cool and I will consider them next time I need a new laptop. But for now I’ll reduce e-waste by using my old Acer Chromebook with Linux until it kicks the bucket.
I like the aim and ethos, but not so much the design (other than interesting modularity) and certain things rub me the wrong way. And the pricing is just very out of line.
In the end, I’ll just continue to do what I have been and keep old laptops running as long as possible. Have been using old IT-recycled housings or eBay purchases of “just the right thing” and swapped parts around, rebuilt the OS, etc. That’s where much of the fun is anyway, heh.
I do wish the Fairphone were easier to come by in the US, tho.
And the pricing is just very out of line.
It’s not really. You’re just used to subsidized pricing. Framework doesn’t give you a computer with bullshit anti-malware trial things or whatever other bullshit manufacturers install these days plus Microsoft bulk pricing. If you compare the a Dell Inspiron 5630 to the a similarly spec’d framework, the framework is only like $100-150 more dollars.