Back Chat: How can we make tech better for the planet? [KS2]

Daz: Hey people in the past. Daz here! Just wanted to say thanks for looking after your tech because people didn't always do that. Look at this. Awesome, right? Well, not awesome. In your day the amount of devices people threw away each year weighed more than all the passenger planes ever built because, get this, back in your day people used to design tech to be replaced rather than reused.

But this all stopped when people made tech with replaceable parts. Now you can just upgrade the bits you need. You see, making devices is where we can damage the environment most. You realised that and took super good care of all your stuff.

You got it repaired when it wasn't working, you set it to low power mode to look after your battery and you gave game consoles, phones and tablets new homes by swapping them with family and friends. And when you did need something new, you asked if it could be bought refurbished.

Great for the environment, plus your family saved money. More money for games. Look, there's all sorts of materials in tech and if they end up in landfill they can harm living things. Some of the metals inside were rare and it was you that recycled tech to save and reuse them.

Like gold! That's right. People in your day put gold in tech, but then they threw it away. Weird! So people stopped mining the planet and we used the gold from old tech instead. And what was some people's strange obsession with keeping old tech in drawers? Have a look around your house, you might find some.

If old devices can't be repaired, ask where you can recycle them safely and become a planet hero. The other thing you did to look after your tech is you turned it off, so treat yourself now to some no-screen time. Turn this device off. Oh, unless you're in school right now, in which case do what your teacher says. Bye, bye past people!