Furniture giant Ikea has unveiled a range of furniture items that can charge mobile phone devices.
The furniture is fitted with wireless charging spots and will initially be available in lamps, bedside tables and coffee tables.
Ikea will also launch charging pads that can be used on any surface. It is using the wireless charging standard QI as there are currently more than 80 handsets that are compatible with that charging system, and 15 QI-enabled cars on the market.
The chain will also sell charging covers for incompatible iPhone and Samsung models.
But Ikea has been criticised by environmental group Friends of the Earth, which wants recycling to be a priority for wireless charging equipment.
Julian Kirby, a campaigner for the group, says: "A key principle that manufacturers of furniture with built-in wireless charging technology should consider is that the furniture is designed to be easy to disassemble for upgrade, reuse, repair or recycling... Disposable electric toothbrushes are one example of a terrible product design in those respects - it's virtually impossible to separate out the tech from the batteries and plastic casing, which means valuable and often toxic materials are dumped in landfill or burnt in incinerators."
Ikea said in a statement that its wireless charging products are "easy to fraction at end of life", adding: "By adding wireless charging to home and office furniture, we minimise the amount of separate chargers needed."
WENN.com / 3 News
source: newshub archive
