7 genius gadgets made from recycled materials

Let's be honest, gadget makers don't have the best track record when it comes to helping saving our planet's precious resources, but there are signs that that is beginning to change.

Sony arguably got the ball rolling by incorporating vegetable-based plastics into some of its kit, while Apple, of course, now makes computers like the MacBook from recyclable aluminium and glass.

What we're looking at here, though, are seven products that have either been completely recycled - or use components that feature recycled materials, so peace out, hug a tree and flex your eco-friendly plastic friend at these...

Recycle USB Stick
€19 / £17.83 (8GB version)
Good news, everyone! Available in a range of sizes from 1GB to 16GB, the Recycle USB stick has a shell made from old newspapers, with space for a personal or company logo. It supports USB 2.0 and 1.1 and works with all major operating systems including Windows ME to Vista, Mac OS 9.0 or greater and Linux 2.4. The Recycle USB stick is currently available for sale in Sweden, although you can order it online.

Nokia E3110 Evolve
£TBC
Greenpeace's favourite tech maker has a long history of producing eco-friendly kit, thanks to its habit of eliminating hazardous substances. The E3110 Evolve takes that one stage further by featuring a case design made from 50 per cent recycled plastic. It also boasts an energy-efficient charger that drastically cuts the amount of energy it sips when the phone is fully charged. Going green needn't mean that you skimp on features, either - the Nokia E3110 Evolve is GSM triband ready and packs in a 1.3-megapixel camera, MP3 and video playback, plus a stereo FM radio. Battery life is pegged at 370 hours, talk-time is more modest four hours. For more info, check out TechRadar's review.

ATP EarthDrive
£14.49 (4GB) £22.99 (8GB)
ATP is claiming a double-first for its EarthDrive - its the first USB stick to be made from recycled materials, which in turn can also be recycled themselves. That's in part due to the fact that the EarthDrive's housing is made from a biodegradable polyester called Polylactic Acid, which in turn is derived from corn. The EarthDrive is available in wide range of sizes from 1GB to 16GB and is USB 2.0 / 1.1 compliant. It's also been designed to be completely waterproof, dustproof and shockproof. It's a winner, then, all round.

Motorola MOTO W233 Renew
£TBC
First shown at CES 2009, the MOTO 233 Renew boasts eco-credentials aplenty. Its case has been made from recycled plastic bottles, and is itself 100 per cent recyclable; and it's the world's first first phone to be truly carbon neutral - Motorola offsets the environmental impact of its manufacture, distribution and use thanks to an alliance with the Carbonfund.org. Key features include a 4cm colour display, 2GB of removable memory and, dual-band GSM network connectivity and a built-in MP3 player. Motorola says the battery will last for up to 19 days between recharges; or 9 hours if you make a lot of calls. The MOTO 233 Renew is currently only available in the US, but it should make its debut here within the next few months.