# Upgradable, Durable, and Greener Laptops for Reducing CO2 Emissions with Nirav Patel, Ceo and Founder of Framework

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2023-03-16
- Length: 47m
- Episode: 22
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-16-upgradable-durable-and-greener-laptops-for-reducing-co2-emissions-with-nirav-pat
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/x8yq0v68-nirav-patel-upgradable-durable-greener-laptops

## Summary

Nirav Patel, CEO and Founder of Framework, explains how his company is building durable, upgradable laptops to reduce the massive CO2 emissions associated with the consumer electronics industry. He contrasts Framework’s business model of longevity and modularity with the planned obsolescence of incumbents like Apple and the failed modularity of Google’s Project Ara. Patel details the engineering challenges of making a sleek, repairable device, the strategic partnership with manufacturer Compal, and the long-term vision of creating a third-party ecosystem for replacement parts.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-16-upgradable-durable-and-greener-laptops-for-reducing-co2-emissions-with-nirav-pat#t=3) Introduction and Industry Context
- [4:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-16-upgradable-durable-and-greener-laptops-for-reducing-co2-emissions-with-nirav-pat#t=242) Nirav Patel’s Background and One Laptop Per Child
- [7:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-16-upgradable-durable-and-greener-laptops-for-reducing-co2-emissions-with-nirav-pat#t=461) The Business Model of Planned Obsolescence
- [11:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-16-upgradable-durable-and-greener-laptops-for-reducing-co2-emissions-with-nirav-pat#t=719) Engineering a Repairable Laptop: Design and Manufacturing
- [19:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-16-upgradable-durable-and-greener-laptops-for-reducing-co2-emissions-with-nirav-pat#t=1189) Counter-Positioning Against Incumbents and Fundraising
- [25:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-16-upgradable-durable-and-greener-laptops-for-reducing-co2-emissions-with-nirav-pat#t=1540) Accessibility, Packaging, and Industrial Design
- [37:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-16-upgradable-durable-and-greener-laptops-for-reducing-co2-emissions-with-nirav-pat#t=2225) Lessons from Google Project Ara and Future Categories
- [39:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-16-upgradable-durable-and-greener-laptops-for-reducing-co2-emissions-with-nirav-pat#t=2395) Long-term Vision and Advice for Hardware Founders

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Framework (company)
- One Laptop Per Child (product)
- Apple (company)
- Oculus (company)
- Facebook (company)
- Compal (company)
- Google (company)
- Project Ara (product)
- Fairphone (company)
- Synapse (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Framework Computer with Nirav Patel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-12-05-framework-computer-with-nirav-patel) (Oxide and Friends)
- [100: Embodied Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2023-07-02-100-embodied-energy) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [iFixit’s Shahram Mokhtari on the hidden design of modern electronics, CES-week manufacturing headlines, and a Reconstruction of Juicero, the $700 connected juicer that defined over-engineering.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-01-06-ifixits-shahram-mokhtari-on-the-hidden-design-of-modern-electronics-ces-week-man) (Go/No-Go)
- [158: Thinking Sustainability in Hardware Product Design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-01-13-158-thinking-sustainability-in-hardware-product-design) (Product Startup)
- [It’s a Big Deal: ADI & Maxim | Green Age E-Waste Land | One Inspirational Step](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-07-17-its-a-big-deal-adi-maxim-green-age-e-waste-land-one-inspirational-step) (EE Times Current)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-03-16-upgradable-durable-and-greener-laptops-for-reducing-co2-emissions-with-nirav-pat. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Hardware to Save a Planet.