Kibu headphones for children that can be built, repaired and recycled fuss-free

With the Right to Repair movement and booming circular economy, industrial design and innovation consultancy London-based Morrama collaborates with circular manufacturing company Batch.Works to launch Kibu headphones – a pair designed to be customized and assembled by children, with each component being repairable and recyclable.

Along with proving the potential that circular and replaceable consumer electronics is possible today – the innovative product, branded by Studio Don, is seamlessly created to be playful, customisable as well as sustainable reflecting on its environmental impact. 

Born in 205, Morrama embodies a fast-paced design process combining – user experience, manufacturing feasibility and sustainability considerations to craft products and experiences with a strong sense of storytelling and packaging that resonates with the user.

On the other hand, Batch.Works founded in 2018 – has pioneered circular manufacturing utilizing smart additive technology to make efficient, zero-waste and eco-friendly products from recycled and responsibly sourced materials. 

Eclectic but one-of-a-kind – “this project is the result of both Batch.Works and Morrama’s drive to shift the consumer mindset around product circularity and repairability at end-of-life. 

By starting with children’s products – we hope to set the next generation on a path to better understanding and appreciating the objects they use and interact with and do so in a playful and engaging way!” shares Jo Barnard, Founder and Creative Director Morrama.

Encompassing recycled PLA created from packaging waste from the agricultural industry using a unique fused deposition modeling method developed by the circular manufacturing start-up – these headphones will be produced by Batch.Works in Hackney, London. 

Inspired by the printing technique itself, the products are wired and adjustable with a soft TPU headband and foam ear cups.

Additionally, with each pair printed on-demand – children can effortlessly customize the multiple components with a range of colors to choose from. 

If any aspect of the headphones are damaged or need to be sized up as the child grows – its plastic parts can be sent back to Batch.Works, ground down, and made into new pairs of headphones. 

The circuit boards are fabricated with Soluboard® by Jiva materials – a unique material that allows electronics to be easily broken down and recycled, increasing yields of precious metal recovery and decreasing environmental damage in the process.

Further with the Kibu headphones – Morrama and Batch.Works demonstrate that local manufacture of technology products can be possible and transparent, sustainability can be achieved without sacrificing beautiful design or user experience. 

“We believe the future of manufacturing must prioritize recycled materials from traceable sources; it must be digital, making only what’s needed, when it’s needed and where it’s needed. 

It must take responsibility for its output by taking products back into the material cycle and it must enable short supply chains that offer reduced transportation costs, improved transparency, as well as increased agility. 

Kibu introduces these principles to younger generations who we hope will grow up to think of them as normal!” Milo McLoughlin-Greening, Partner and Head of R&D at Batch.Works concludes.