sustainable tech Archives

May 8, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Ethical Phone Cases UK 2026: Compostable, Recycled & Built To Last

Last updated: 8 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Your phone case is the thing you touch more than almost any other object you own. It's also one of the most frequently replaced accessories on the planet, and most end up in landfill within 18 months. The best ethical phone cases don't have to follow that script. We've tried cheap Amazon eco cases that fell apart in weeks, and we've tried premium ones that lasted years. The price difference is usually about a tenner. That tenner buys you a case that actually protects your phone and doesn't end up as microplastic in the ocean.

So we set ourselves a simple test. Does it look good? Does it protect the phone? And can we actually verify the sustainability claims? If a case ticks all three, it earns a spot on the list.

Some links in this guide are affiliate links. This costs you nothing extra, and it helps support the site.

Published by Stiv in Buying Guides, Gift Guides, Technology lover

Tags: agood company, Casetify, compostable phone cases, eco phone cases, ethical phone cases, Fairphone case, Gomi, Native Union, Otterbox, Pela case, recycled phone cases, sustainable phone cases, sustainable tech, Wave Case, Woodcessories

April 21, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Refurbished Laptops UK 2026: Top Picks and Where to Buy

Last updated: 21 April 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

A brand new MacBook Air costs over £1,000. A refurbished laptop with the same specs, a 12-month warranty, and a 30-day returns policy costs under £750. Same laptop. Same performance. Just without the new-box smell. If you have been wondering whether refurbished laptops UK buyers can actually rely on are any good, the answer is yes. We know because we buy them. Here is how to buy refurbished laptops in the UK without getting burned.

Two of us are typing this on refurbished MacBooks right now. One came from Back Market, the other from the Apple Refurbished Store. Both arrived looking and performing like new. The Back Market one was about 30% cheaper than buying new.

This post contains referral links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the site. As always, our recommendations are based on genuine experience, not commissions.

Published by Stiv in Money saving, Services, Smart Home, Sustainable Living, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: Back Market, laptop buying guide, MacBook Air, refurbished laptops, refurbished MacBook, refurbished tech, sustainable tech, ThinkPad

April 11, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Refurbished Phones UK 2026 – iPhones, Androids and Top Deals

Last updated: 11 April 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

There are two types of people at CoolCuration: those who would sell a kidney for the latest iPhone, and those who would rather eat their own SIM card than leave Android. The office group chat is basically a rolling debate about widgets versus AirDrop. However, there is one thing we all agree on: buying refurbished is the smartest phone move you can make in 2026. This guide rounds up the best refurbished phones UK buyers can get right now, covering flagships, budget gems and sustainable picks from both sides of the divide.

Here is a number that should stop you in your tracks. A refurbished iPhone 15 Pro on Back Market right now starts at around £400. That is roughly what you would pay for a brand new iPhone 16e. One gives you the same chip as an iPhone 15, a single camera and no ProMotion display. The other gives you a titanium flagship with a 48MP triple camera system, ProMotion, and full Apple Intelligence support. Let that sink in.

Published by Stiv in Buying Guides, Carbon conscious, Comparison, Comparisons, Money saving, Technology lover

Tags: Amazon Renewed, Apple Intelligence, Back Market, iPhone 15 Pro, Pixel 8 Pro, refurbished Android, refurbished iPhones, refurbished phones, refurbished phones uk, Samsung Galaxy, SIM only deals, sustainable tech

March 23, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Fairphone Fairbuds XL Review | Worth £219 in the UK?

Last updated: March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

The Fairbuds XL review you didn't expect to go like this: Fairphone's over-ear headphones are not the compromise you'd assume. The sound is genuinely fun, the build is impressively sustainable, and there is a single control feature that every major headphone maker should have nicked by now and somehow hasn't. They're not perfect — the ANC and feature set have real limitations — but as a statement of intent about what consumer electronics could look like, these headphones are hard to argue with.

Cool Factor

★★★★☆

4 out of 5 — Stone cold

Published by Stiv in Audiophiles, Reviews, Technology lover

Tags: audio, eco-friendly, fairphone, headphones, noise cancelling, review, sustainable tech, wireless headphones

November 1, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Back Market Review UK: Honest Verdict on Refurbished Tech

Last updated: 24 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Cool Factor: 4/5 — Stone cold

Cool Factor

★★★★☆

4 out of 5 — Stone cold

This Back Market review UK is based on our own purchases (one Apple, one Android), months of real-world use, and a deep look at what thousands of other UK buyers are saying in 2026. We cover what works, what falls short, and whether refurbished tech from Back Market is genuinely worth your money. For a factual overview of the service, head to our Back Market service guide. If you want a discount code, check our Back Market discount code page.

Want a Back Market discount?

Our Back Market discount code page has the current code and referral link for money off a refurbished device.

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Published by Stiv in Reviews, Services, Tech Hacks, Technology lover, UK Made

Tags: back market coupon, back market discount code, back market referral code, back market review, back market trustpilot, back market uk, best refurbished tech sites uk, buy refurbished uk, cool curation review, eco friendly gadgets, refurbished android uk, refurbished electronics, refurbished iphone uk, refurbished laptop uk, refurbished phones uk, refurbished tech uk, second hand tech, sustainable tech, tech deals uk