for the planet.
And for everyone.
Our approach
There are three ways we cultivate sustainability.
From product design to manufacturing and across our supply chains, we are working to address our environmental and social impact at every step.
“Designers are problem solvers. And sustainability is the biggest problem for our generation to solve.”
– Ivy Ross, Head of Design for all Google hardware products
OurProducts
Design choices
We’re designing processes that eliminate waste and pollution. While providing better support to give our products a longer life so they don’t have to be replaced often.
Of all plastic waste in the world – amounting to billions of metric tons – only a fraction is recycled. That’s why we’re partnering with our suppliers to develop safe, durable, and high-quality recycled plastic while cutting down usage of non‑recycled plastic.
Portfolio-wide commitment
All Made by Google products launched since 2020 are built with recycled materials.
Reusing plastic
We’re committing to using recycled or renewable material in at least 50 percent of all plastic in all our hardware products by 2025, prioritizing recycled plastic everywhere we can.
Packaging goals
By 2025, we’re committing to making our product packaging 100 percent plastic-free and 100 percent recyclable.
Portfolio-wide commitment
All Made by Google products launched since 2020 are built with recycled materials.
Reusing plastic
We’re committing to using recycled or renewable material in at least 50 percent of all plastic in all our hardware products by 2025, prioritizing recycled plastic everywhere we can.
Packaging goals
By 2025, we’re committing to making our product packaging 100 percent plastic-free and 100 percent recyclable.
A large part of manufacturing waste ends up in landfills. To reduce our carbon footprint and impact, we’re maximizing the use of recycled and renewable materials across our operations, products, and supply chains.
Recycled aluminum
Using recycled aluminum helps us reduce our carbon footprint. The aluminum in the housing of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro is 100% recycled content.
Thoughtfully designed cases
The Pixel phone cases have been redesigned to contain 30-70% recycled plastic.
Refined textiles
The Nest Audio enclosure is made from 70% post-consumer recycled plastic including textile made from recycled water bottles.
Recycled aluminum
Using recycled aluminum helps us reduce our carbon footprint. The aluminum in the housing of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro is 100% recycled content.
Thoughtfully designed cases
The Pixel phone cases have been redesigned to contain 30-70% recycled plastic.
Refined textiles
The Nest Audio enclosure is made from 70% post-consumer recycled plastic including textile made from recycled water bottles.
There is immense strain on our natural resources with an urgent need to balance consumption and consequences. So we’re trying to reduce the waste generated at all levels – from manufacturing to retail.
Simpler construction
The Nest Thermostat is now made with 36% fewer parts for a less complicated design.
Versatility
Our cameras feature flexible designs, making them more versatile so they can continually adapt to people’s evolving preferences.
Simpler construction
The Nest Thermostat is now made with 36% fewer parts for a less complicated design.
Versatility
Our cameras feature flexible designs, making them more versatile so they can continually adapt to people’s evolving preferences.
Our devices are designed to stand the test of time, so people can enjoy them for longer.
Future-proofing
Regular feature updates for Pixel and Nest devices help improve our in-market products over time so they can grow with you.6,7
Up-to-date security
We’re committing 5 years of security updates for our Nest and Pixel devices (starting with Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro).8,14
Worry-free repairs with iFixit
Extend the life of your Pixel with iFixit's easy-to-follow guides. When you opt to fix your phone instead of replace it, you help keep e-waste out of the landfill.
Future-proofing
Regular feature updates for Pixel and Nest devices help improve our in-market products over time so they can grow with you.6,7
Up-to-date security
We’re committing 5 years of security updates for our Nest and Pixel devices (starting with Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro).8,14
Worry-free repairs with iFixit
Extend the life of your Pixel with iFixit's easy-to-follow guides. When you opt to fix your phone instead of replace it, you help keep e-waste out of the landfill.
“We work with our suppliers to drive real change across our value chain.”
– Adi Narayanan, Head of Materials Science & Engineering at Google
OurSupply Chains
Supplier communities
Partnering with the communities where we operate.
We’re working to improve the lives of people across the supply chain.
Safer manufacturing. Healthier communities.
We’re investing in infrastructure to generate more social and economic opportunities and promote global well‑being.
Investing in communities and resources.
We are working to take better care of the communities in which we operate. From partnering with mining companies to investing in renewable energy, we want to help build comprehensive approaches to our impact commitment.
We believe that clean energy is key to accomplishing our goals. It’s the cornerstone of our sustainability efforts, and we've been carbon neutral since 2007 in our operations here at Google.
Advancing renewable energy
Google is the world’s largest annual corporate purchaser of renewable energy. Google has signed more than 55 power purchase agreements, which will provide nearly 6 GW of renewable energy that is new to the grid.
Investment commitments
We've committed to investing roughly $150 million USD into renewable energy projects in key manufacturing regions, aiming to catalyse roughly $1.5 billion USD of capital into renewable energy.
Net Zero Emissions by 2030
At Google, our goal is to achieve net zero emissions
across all of our operations and value chain by 2030.
Advancing renewable energy
Google is the world’s largest annual corporate purchaser of renewable energy. Google has signed more than 55 power purchase agreements, which will provide nearly 6 GW of renewable energy that is new to the grid.
Investment commitments
We've committed to investing roughly $150 million USD into renewable energy projects in key manufacturing regions, aiming to catalyse roughly $1.5 billion USD of capital into renewable energy.
Net Zero Emissions by 2030
At Google, our goal is to achieve net zero emissions
across all of our operations and value chain by 2030.
We’re working on making the mineral-tracking process more transparent for everyone.
Joining forces
In 2018, we joined Cisco, SGS, Volkswagen, and Peruvian mining company Minsur to launch a plan for end-to-end mineral traceability.
Phase one
The pilot focuses on tin from Minsur’s San Rafael mine, which produces approximately 6% of the world’s tin supply.
Conflict-free minerals
As part of Google’s conflict minerals program in Congo and neighboring countries, we partner with governmental organizations, industry groups, and NGOs to aid conflict-free gold sourcing.
Joining forces
In 2018, we joined Cisco, SGS, Volkswagen, and Peruvian mining company Minsur to launch a plan for end-to-end mineral traceability.
Phase one
The pilot focuses on tin from Minsur’s San Rafael mine, which produces approximately 6% of the world’s tin supply.
Conflict-free minerals
As part of Google’s conflict minerals program in Congo and neighboring countries, we partner with governmental organizations, industry groups, and NGOs to aid conflict-free gold sourcing.
“When we build products at Google, we think in terms of building for everyone, with everyone. This is hard work...it’s a journey, and we’re committed to learning and improving.”
- Annie Jean-Baptiste, Head of Product Inclusion at Google,
Building for Everyone
ThePeople
Building for the users
Supporting a clean energy future.
Nest Renew is a new service for compatible Nest thermostats9 that makes it easy to support clean energy, right from home.9
Electricity from the grid is often a mix of non-renewable energy from gas and coal, and clean energy from solar and wind farms. Nest Renew can estimate when energy in a region is cleaner and works with Nest thermostats to help users in the US automatically shift usage to times when the grid is cleaner, or less expensive.
When we each do a little, it adds up to a lot.
And for those who want to extend their impact even further, Nest Renew Premium (available in select markets in the US as a paid subscription) can match the estimated fossil fuel electricity consumed at home with clean energy from US wind and solar plants.
Which means the more people join, and the more renewable energy sources are created, the more our whole planet benefits.
With a Nest thermostat, people can also track how much energy they use every day and see how they can use less.
Since 2011, Nest thermostats have saved
kWh of energy
Building technology that’s truly helpful.
From hospitals and low-income households to caregivers and users with disabilities – we’re committed to developing programs and products that put people first.
We’re working to help underrepresented researchers aiming to improve health outcomes in underserved populations.
Expanding knowledge
In 2020, Fitbit was recognized in a Harvard-MIT study as the fourth most frequently used “connected digital product” in clinical trials from 2015 to 2018.
Aiding research
Fitbit devices have been used in more clinical research than any other consumer wearable.
Fostering greater equity in health research
Our Health Equity Research Initiative will award up to $500,000 in Fitbit products and services to researchers who are actively working on related projects in the US.
Expanding knowledge
In 2020, Fitbit was recognized in a Harvard-MIT study as the fourth most frequently used “connected digital product” in clinical trials from 2015 to 2018.
Aiding research
Fitbit devices have been used in more clinical research than any other consumer wearable.
Fostering greater equity in health research
Our Health Equity Research Initiative will award up to $500,000 in Fitbit products and services to researchers who are actively working on related projects in the US.
With Google Nest.
We’re working with different organizations in the US to tackle some of their biggest challenges – from helping families to supporting people living with paralysis.
Supporting Black-owned businesses
We partnered with The National Urban League to provide Nest Storefront Kits, services, and training to over 1,000 small and medium Black-owned businesses.
Thoughtful partnerships
We teamed up with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to provide up to 100,000 Google Home Minis to people living with paralysis.
For patients and retirees
We’ve provided Nest devices to hospitals for patient recovery monitoring, and to retirement communities so they can keep in touch with their families.
Supporting Black-owned businesses
We partnered with The National Urban League to provide Nest Storefront Kits, services, and training to over 1,000 small and medium Black-owned businesses.
Thoughtful partnerships
We teamed up with the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to provide up to 100,000 Google Home Minis to people living with paralysis.
For patients and retirees
We’ve provided Nest devices to hospitals for patient recovery monitoring, and to retirement communities so they can keep in touch with their families.
Our new store is LEED platinum‑certified.
With the opening of the Google Store Chelsea in New York City, we’re among a handful of retailers around the world to receive the highest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.
“From day one, continuing Google’s commitment to sustainability was integral to the design and build of our first store - every material, every mechanical system, every lighting fixture was painstakingly considered and selected.”
– Nathan Allen, Head of Store Design & Special Projects
Join us
Want to help?
Here are a few ways you can join us in reducing our impact on the environment.
Follow our progress.
Connect with us to stay up to date on more news from the Google Store.
Take a look around.
from the Google Store.
1
Made by Google products are designed with between 9%-68% recycled content across their respective plastic parts in 2020 and 2021. This does not include plastics in printed circuit boards, labels, cables, connectors, electronic components and modules, optical components, electrostatic discharge (ESD) components, electromagnetic interference (EMI) components, films, coatings and adhesives.
The aluminum in the enclosure of Pixel 5 is 100% recycled content. (Back housing only. Recycled aluminum is approximately 58% of the Pixel 5 enclosure based on weight.) The aluminum in the housing of Pixel 6 is 100% recycled content. (Recycled aluminum (in the housing and other recycled aluminum components) is approximately 14% of product based on weight.)
The aluminum in the enclosure of Pixel 5 is 100% recycled content. (Back housing only. Recycled aluminum is approximately 58% of the Pixel 5 enclosure based on weight.) The aluminum in the housing of Pixel 6 is 100% recycled content. (Recycled aluminum (in the housing and other recycled aluminum components) is approximately 14% of product based on weight.)
2
Minimum percentage of recycled or renewable plastic content calculated as a percentage of total plastic (by weight) in all products manufactured in 2025. The following may be excluded from the calculation of percentage: printed circuit boards, labels, cables, connectors, electronic components and modules, optical components, electrostatic discharge (ESD) components, electromagnetic interference (EMI) components, films, coatings and adhesives. Renewable content consists of plastic made from bio-based material.
3
Recycled aluminum (in the housing and other recycled aluminum components) is approximately 14% of product based on weight.
4
Based on product weight of cases for Pixel 4a, 4a (5G), 5, and 6.
5
Enclosures consist of fabric, housing, foot, and a few smaller parts.
6
Your Pixel will receive feature drops during the applicable Android update and support periods for the phone. See g.co/pixel/updates for details.
7
See g.co/nest/deviceupdates for what to expect during updates.
8
Pixel security updates for at least 5 years from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US. See g.co/pixel/updates for details. For details on updates for Nest devices, see here for more details.
9
Nest Renew is available in select locations and requires a 3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat, Nest Thermostat E, or the new Nest Thermostat (sold separately), connected to a Google account.
10
Adjustments only shift electricity usage from your heating and cooling.
11
Only available in areas served by major continental US grids, see here.
12
Only available for customers on certain electric utility time-of-use rates (check availability).
13
Learn how this is done with renewable energy credits. During the preview phase Nest Renew’s RECs will be sourced from the Bethel Wind project in Castro County, TX which also provides renewable energy for Google.
14
Not available in all regions.
15
These energy savings are calculated based on the typical percentage of heating and cooling savings found in real-world studies of the Nest thermostats. To calculate the total savings, we apply these savings percentages to the actual heating and cooling hours of all Nest thermostats. Energy savings are an estimate, not a guarantee that any individual user will save energy.
May not be available in all regions.