40% of the cables’ components are made of plants.
Plastics are a huge problem in today’s society. It has undoubtedly changed since its “wonder material” reputation in the 1950s, with microparticles contaminating our water, bisphenol A, and its roots in petroleum extraction. Manufacturer Anker has released a new line of USB-C cables that do away with the plastic outer sheath in favour of one made partially of plants as the industry starts to investigate alternatives.
To be clear, Anker’s new cables’ material isn’t entirely repeated here: Corn and sugarcane fibres will make up 40% of the new outer sheathing’s material composition (likely cellulose). Additionally, it is likely that the inner sheaths protecting the individual wires running from pin in to pin out are still comprised of plastic. And if you’re wondering what’s insulating those wires, it’s probably a rubber polymer made from petroleum. The connector covers are also made entirely of plastic. However, these new cables represent a start in the right direction towards minimising the potential effects of our e-consumption. If durability is a priority for you, the business claims that its new cables can withstand 20,000 bends.
Both the 543 Type-C to Type-C cable and the 541 USB-C to Lightning cable are available in 3- and 6-foot lengths and pastel shades of black, white, blue, and green. The Type-C cable can deliver up to 100W whereas the Lightning cable can only offer 30W to devices. Inventory is currently available for direct purchase from Anker and will soon be accessible on Amazon. The cost of a Type-C cable is $17 for a 3-footer and $20 for a 6-footer. For each length, the Lightning variants cost an additional $2. Additionally, customers can use a site-wide promo code to save 10% on all purchases through September 19.
According to Anker, more environmentally friendly items, such as bio-based cables, are on the horizon. The future? They might even make our list of the top USB-C cables.