Philips has launched a novel way of making you feel good about having breakfast: a kettle and toaster combo made from bio-based plastics.
Labelled the Eco Collection, the appliances feature a modern design with sustainability at the fore. The bio-based plastics they’re made from are based on used cooking oil and other plant waste, which Philips says reduces the environmental impact of product assembly. This includes reduced water pollution, fewer emissions, and less reliance on natural resources.
According to the company, the product construction cycle begins with the cooking oil produced from sunflowers. From here, used oil is processed in a factory, transforming the waste into bio-based plastic granules. It’s these granules that Philips uses to make the Eco Collection toaster and kettle.
As far as the appliances are concerned, the Eco Collection 5000 Series Toaster features two slots, eight browning settings, plus reheat and defrost functions. Keeping it clean should be easy thanks to its crumb tray and removable dust cover when not in use. Meanwhile, the Eco Collection 5000 Series Kettle has a 1.7L capacity with clear indicators for measuring how much water you need. It automatically switches off when boiled or when you remove the kettle from the base.
The appliances made from recycled resources are the result of a trend towards eco-friendly purchasing decisions, according to Geoff Hannaford, Country Manager, Australia and New Zealand, Philips Domestic Appliances.
“Our ambition is to eventually create a complete Philips Domestic Appliances collection of products designed with sustainability in mind.”
Both Eco Collection appliances are available from retailers now for $129 each. To add towards Philips’ sustainability push, the company has partnered with EcoMatcher – a tree-planting organisation using blockchain technology – to plant a tree, which you can name and visit online, with each Eco Collection purchase.
Producing plastic appliances from waste byproducts seems a clever and more sustainable method of manufacturing. While the new toaster and kettle may not have the same feature set as some similarly-priced appliances, it’s a promising start towards eco-friendly kitchen products.
