Have you ever bought a pair of earbuds and immediately thought “These are wasteful and ecologically irresponsible?” Probably not, but you wouldn’t be wrong — most are made from plastics and metals that don’t biodegrade.
House of Marley preaches sustainability, utilizing recycled materials to craft audio equipment and honor the late reggae icon’s memory. The company’s newest offering, the Smile Jamaica wireless earbuds, reflect that philosophy while adding a few awesome features to boot.
The Bluetooth earbuds are built with “regrind” silicone, recycled aluminum alloys, and sustainable Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods. They represent House of Marley’s first stab at workout earphones, weighing in at just 26 grams and featuring IPX4 certification for sweat-resistance. Nine-millimeter dynamic drivers and noise-isolating eartips make sure you get the best listening experience possible.
The Smile Jamaica are available in four attractive colorways — black, copper, denim, and brass — each of which boasts durable, woven in-ear cables and wood-grain accenting on the monitors and control bands. Speaking of the neckband, it’s ultra-flexible and built for comfort during long periods of exercise. A noise-isolating inline microphone means you can take calls on the go, and the simple three-button controls are easy enough to master.
Since its inception, House of Marley — founded by the descendants of Bob himself — has espoused ecological responsibility and a commitment to charitable causes worldwide. Purchases of House of Marley products support the 1Love Foundation, a global nonprofit started by members of the Marley family to honor Bob’s vision of a better tomorrow.
The company offers a wide gamut of in-ear and on-ear headphone selections, but that’s not all — from speakers to turntables, House of Marley’s got a litany of eco-friendly audio tools to choose from. Their Stir It Up entry-level turntable, for example, is built largely from recycled bamboo, hemp, and organic cotton, and it actually sounds pretty great.
Invoking Marley’s legacy is a tactic many companies have used alongside product releases with charitable causes; Ben & Jerry’s recently rolled out a Marley-themed “One Love’ ice cream flavor , and Snapchat even debuted a Marley filter last year on April 20th (to mixed reviews, despite the support of the Marley estate). House of Marley has also partnered with reforestation nonprofit One Tree Planted for the Project Marley initative, aimed at helping plant 75,000 new trees across the planet.
The Smile Jamaica are available now for $60 via House of Marley’s website; you can also find them in select brick-and-mortar stores across the United States.
A version of this post was published on our “brother site,” Digital Trends.
