The Kibu children’s headphones are more than just colourful and cute. A collaboration between London-based technology start-up Kibu, industrial design and innovation consultancy Morrama (responsible for the minimalist yet cheerful design) and circular manufacturing company Batch.Works (who produces them on-demand), the headphones have the lofty goal of encouraging a sustainable mindset from an early age and disproving that consumer electronics are inevitably – and irresponsibly – disposable. 

Each set of headphones is 3D-printed from post-consumer plastic waste – specifically agricultural packaging – with 70 per cent of the components being recyclable at end of life. Arriving as a modular kit of parts, the headphones are designed to be easy for children to build themselves (with perhaps a little guidance), which helps to teach about the in-workings of electronics, hone problem-solving skills and instill a responsible pride of ownership.

If damage does occur, the components – which can be customized for colour – are just as easily disassembled, sent back (where they will be recycled or made into new units), replaced and rebuilt. When they are outgrown, the entire set can be returned to be remade for someone new. Further, special integrated technology prevents excessive noise exposure to protect hearing and multiple pairs can be daisy-chained to a single audio source, reducing the number of individual devices needed – an economical option for families and classrooms.