It's Bob Marley's 67th birthday next Tuesday [Monday — excuse our typo], and we're celebrating the life of the late and legendary reggae pioneer and social crusader by giving away a pair of headphones by the company (run by Marley's son Rohan) that's carrying on his legacy with a line of environmentally friendly listening products that we first looked at during our celebrity headphone shootout. We were excited about the sound of the Exodus then, and more recently the top-of-the-line TTR has impressed our reviewers.
Courtesy of the House of Marley, we're giving away a pair of Positive Vibration headphones (we'll be reviewing them soon, by the way, so look out for more). The nice folks at HoM will also be throwing in a T-Shirt and some other goodies for our lucky winner.
To qualify to win, as in our previous contests, all you need to do is leave us a comment below. The question you'll need to address: big consumer electronics firms have come under fire lately for alleged ethical and environmental lapses in bringing us the gadgets and gear we love. House of Marley has expressed a commitment to use recycled products in its supply chain, and to make it's own products sustainable, renewable, and recyclable; it also donates a percentage of its earnings to charity. Is it important to you that the firms that make your gadgets make those gadgets green or in an ethically responsible fashion? Or should they just focus on bringing us the biggest bang for the buck? Or maybe — depending on your economic beliefs — you feel that regardless of a few glitches along the way, in the long run they are doing the right thing by bringing us the best bang for the buck? Share your thoughts, and qualify to win.
We're not grading you on your political or moral position here — the winner will be chosen randomly from among those who leave on-topic comments below, so don't be afraid to speak your mind. You will have to register, however — no anonymous commenters, we need a valid e-mail contact address to inform you of your win. We'll take entries until midnight (Eastern Time), on [the day after] Bob's birthday (that's next Tuesday, February 7), and notify the winner via e-mail on Wednesday, February 7th. We'll then get in touch with the winner to get important details (like name, address, and T-Shirt size); HoM will then ship the headphones and prize package directly to the winner.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: We made a typographic error when we put this up, so we'll stick to the initial time period and end the contest on midnight the day AFTER Bob's birthday (His birthday is MONDAY the 6th — but we'll accept entries through midnight on Tuesday the 7th as originally stated.
Yes, companies absolutely should make an effort for green, sustainable, and ethical products. While many companies are now implementing greener policies, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Especially when one considers the number of simply greenwashed products out there. On ethics, I have seen far too few companies put any effort into creating ethical working conditions. As michaelmm pointed out, it is not Apple (or Microsoft or countless other companies) who treat their workers so poorly, it's Foxconn. But each company chooses to do business with Foxconn or any of the countless abysmally dreadful factories in China- and throughout Asia- to lower their costs and raise their profits. Both of these movements require either massive social support or government intervention to truly affect either of these. And while we are starting to see large support of the green movement and more emphasis on green products, there is simply not enough social pressure for companies to dig into their profit margins or raise the price of their gadgets to warrant any change in their manufacturing ethics. Additionally, the government in China tends to promote oppressive and downright deadly conditions with their labor laws, or lack thereof. Not to mention their explosive building of coal plants and apparent lack of compassion for their citizens. In the end, most of us just enjoy our "cheap Chinese crap" a little too much to make that change. Though I'd love to see it change.
I have dedicated my life's work to the environmental cause. It is very important to me that a company has sound environmental practices. I will pay more for a peoduct from a green company.
I think it is very important that we be environmentally and ethically responsible in creating, purchasing, using, and disposing of electronic gear. I have won a couple of products from a greatly revered company which has recently been exposed because of inhumane labor conditions both for adults and children. This is very discouraging. I am at least grateful that I did not purchase the objects. For those who are skeptical about how our choices affect the scheme of things, go see the film Space Junk. In another hundred years or so as the speed of the fragments from collisions and breakdown slow in space we will develop rings of junk like the planet Saturn. The pretty blue marble is not looking so good.
I feel a big part of the problem with making "green" products is that current idea that newer is alwayas better and many consumer goods aren't built to last but instead disposable.
If more companies look at their products impact from manufacture through disposal and made their good so that they were made with quality parts and allowed easy practical recycling or offered to recycle them for the consumer for free or possibly a credit towards a new item .
In this manner it would keep more waste from the landfills and also provide a 2nd source of materials and jobs for the companies that would do so and there is a lot of value show by such actions.
I would be much more willing to buy products made in this manner knowing that they would last and once they were to be replaced, doing so would have more benefits than me just getting a new product .
Happy Birthday Bob
Very nice looking. Be great to own a pair
Very nice looking. Be great to own a pair.
bang for the buck is good, but also like to make best of recycling....
I appreciate when companies use ethical (and green) methods to deliver gadgets, but I don't think I do a lot of research into a company's supply chain management methods and ethics prior to purchasing a pair of headphones, for example.
Ethical, green, the wave of the future
I would love great headphones, ones I can tell my daughters not to use, THEY ARE MINE, LOL
Rasta man your are missed.
money is always the bottom line with most companies. abusing workers, abusing expense accounts, wasting resources, etc...companies just need to put their best foot forward and stop the status quo from the past.
Manufacturing companies being responsible to/for the earth should be commended for their efforts. It's all our job to take care of our "home".
It should be both!
Cool. Love Bob's vibe. Love recycling. Love a good headset. Will check it out!
I think we can have both. There is so much waste out there that plenty of materials exist to do just about anything. Thanks for the contest
Got Boze and Etymotics. Interested to see how these compare....if I win.
Looks fabulous! Hope it sounds as good as it looks! What a great idea to make enviro-friendly so great to see this!!
I've noticed that. Like, how it's okay now to have viewing screens on the dashboard like GPS.
Please accept my entry. Thank you.
Recycling needs to happen worldwide for this to work. It's an uphill battle that will come in time. I definitely look for products using green initiatives. Go House of Marley!
I believe companies should be as eco friendly as possible but in these tough economic times it should be fiscally responsible.
Love that they are sustainable, renewable, and recyclable. Would love to own these headphones!
would love to win a pair for my son!
Integrity is very important
I have no problem paying a higher price if it truly goes to the workers. However, I don't trust most companies to do this. But if I find companies that are responsible, they will get my business.
I think it's great you are using recycled products! It's important to help the environment. I would really love to win these. LOVE Marley!!
Environmental responsibility is in evryone's best interest. It's nice to see HoM dong their part.
Environmental responsibility is in evryone's best interest. It's nice to see HoM dong their part.
These are some awesome headhones and I love Bob Marley!!
Hey, if you can make a better product AND not hurt the environment, why not?
Looking for nice set of head phones and the Positive Vibrations look like a nice place to start. I'm always up for a product that uses "Green", but bottom line still depends on the technology and the effort to make the best product possible.
Lapses in a company related to ethics are unacceptable - companies shouldn't cheat to get ahead, they should provide some benefit over the competition. But we as consumers must be wary of charges against others of this sort, as the press tends to blow up minor issues into major ones. Every situation needs to be considered on its own merit, unfortunately.
We, as an individual or business, should do whatever recycling we can do. Thanks to House of Marley for doing what they are doing to help save our planet.
I don't see why companies cannot offera great product AND be environmentally responsible, if it is a question of cost I will pay a bit more for an environmentally responsible product BUT not at the cost of a quality product. P.S. These look awesome!!
Using recycled material is the only way to go and will make all our futures better.
Bob Marley's message through his music will live forever.
You can tell how materialistic people are by how much refuse they produce. Live simply, live cleanly, live selflessly - follow the example of Jesus, Buddha and Thoreau.
One good thing about music: when it hits you feel no pain.
Music can inspire everyone. Using current technologies to share good quality music while caring for our niche and being socially conscious is ideal.
so hit me with music, hit me with music...
Personally the environmental impact is not much of a concern, but when a company has to set up nets around the buildings it forces its workers to live in to prevent suicides I believe something needs to change.
EARTH FIRST
House of Marley gives us the best of both worlds! Would love a pair!
I just read the accompanying article in the link provided regarding the working conditions in China at an Apple IPad factory.
While I am in favor of using recycleable materials when able, I would be far more concerned about the working conditions and pay conditions of the people building the products, who are often basically doing slave labor for very little pay, in very harsh conditions.
We've all heard of the child labor sweat shops, but even when big growth nations like China, where most of these products are now built, are using adults as employees, the conditions are oppressive.
That said, when purchasing a pair of headphones or most other products, we have very little information available to us about the working conditions of those who built the products.
Seldom does an item say "Made in the USA" anymore, where at least there might be some union laws about pay scales and work conditions/hours.
Virtually every electronic device is made overseas, so it's impossible to try to be responsible as far as using your conscience when making a purchase.
Look, I love environment, I believe in a cleaner, green society/World. However, if not ready yet to deliver a good product in a green manner, why mess it up yet? We like to be high when listening to good music, why ruin Bob's legacy and sacrifice quality for just another endangered polar bear to live an extra year... Just kidding, but seriously.....;)
What a great combo of high tech & green !
I congratulate House of Marley for trying to strike the balance between green and profit, It is a hard thing for a company to atain.
I think electronic companies should try be be more environmentally friendly and recycle their materials. It can become more cost effective in the future, and the companies and the public can win.
Ja mon!
Also these cans look comfy. I hope they sound as good as they look!
It is great to be green and I'm glad that you are an aware company. These are great headphones and would be great to win.
I hope they sound better than they look!
I hope they sound better than they look!