Technology has become an inseparable part of most of our lives – yet its environmental impact seems to be in conflict with our increasing awareness of sustainability issues. However, it doesn’t have to be that way if we cultivate some habits which will make our use of sustainable tech even more efficient and planet-friendly.

Here are 5 of our top sustainable tech tips which will help you reduce your environmental impact.

1.   Unplug

Did you know that most of your tech is still consuming energy when turned off?

Thankfully, this is easy to solve – make sure you’re using sustainable tech such as smart strips which cut off this ‘vampire energy’ consumption, or simply unplug your tech when you’re finished using it.

2.   Second-hand tech is sustainable tech

One of the best ways to ensure you’re buying sustainable tech and reducing your environmental impact is by buying it second hand.

This doesn’t have to mean you’ll need to buy your new phone from a stranger over eBay – there are companies specialized in selling refurbished second-hand tech, with warranty.

3.   Dispose of your tech responsibly

One of the most important sustainable tech tips is to dispose of any items responsibly. Under any circumstances, don’t throw your old phone or laptop into general waste.

If the tech still has some life in it (as it usually does when we’re disposing of it), you can sell it to a refurbished tech company which will polish it up and resell or donate it to a local school or library. If your tech is beyond saveable, give it to a responsible recycling programme.

4.   Maximise the benefits of your tech by going paperless

If you’re using a lot of tech, make sure you’re using it for everything that you can.

One of the simplest ways to do so is to go paperless – you don’t need to invest in any new tech to do this, you’re simply maximising the benefits of your current tech.

5.   When you buy new, buy green

Sometimes, what we’re looking for may not be available second hand. You may truly need the latest technology for work or may be looking for something very specific.