Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing

Microsoft’s new mouse is made of 20% resin pellets, recycled from ocean plastic

By
This story is part of our complete Microsoft Events coverage

Microsoft has announced a sustainability-focused new peripheral called the Ocean Plastic Mouse. Announced at its annual Surface event, the mouse is made of 20% recycled ocean plastic, making it an innovative contribution to the ultimate goal of a sustainable future.

So, how’s it put together? Well, the Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse is made of plastic waste that is recovered from various waterways. The plastic is then cleaned and processed into recyclable plastic resin pellets. During the process of materials development, these recycled pellets are blended to produce the shell of the mouse.

Ocean Plastic Mouse product image.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The packaging the mouse comes in is also made of 100% recyclable materials. There is absolutely zero plastic that goes into the making of the small box that the mouse comes ensconced in. Instead, it is made entirely from recyclable wood and sugarcane fibers.

Recommended Videos

In an attempt to reduce device waste, Microsoft also offers a free mail-in program that allows you to send in your old mouse for it to be recycled through the company’s contracted partners. This offer is currently only available in select markets.

The Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse is a wireless mouse that can connect via Bluetooth. According to one of the claims made by the company, its battery will last up to 12 months on a single AA alkaline battery cell (that is included and pre-installed in the mouse), though the exact battery life will ultimately depend on user and PC conditions.

Ocean Plastic Mouse packaging.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft also promises easy and responsive left/right click buttons, fast tracking sensors, and precise navigation. The mouse features an integrated scroll wheel to help you navigate your webpages vertically. It also sports three customizable buttons and Swift Pair technology for easy pairing between the device and your computer.

Microsoft’s new release is compatible with devices running Windows 11 Home/Pro or Windows 10/8.1. Of course, the device must support Bluetooth 4.0 or higher. The previously mentioned customization of buttons feature is only available using Mouse and Keyboard center software that hasto be downloaded. Devices running Windows 10/11 in S mode will not be able to support the customization.

The Ocean Plastic Mouse costs $25, comes with a limited warranty of one year, and is available for pre-order starting today.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Dua Rashid
Dua Rashid
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Dua is a media studies graduate student at The New School. She has been hooked on technology since she was a kid and used to…
Power up your tech game this summer with Dell’s top deals: Upgrade for a bargain
Dell Techfest and best tech on sale featured.

One of the best times to upgrade your tech stack, be it your desktop, a new laptop, or some high-resolution monitors, is when great deals are to be had. Well, I'm here to share that thanks to Dell's top deals, you can power up your tech game and have most of the summer to make it happen. Maybe you're happy with your current system or setup. That's excellent, but you're likely considering upgrading somewhere, and that's precisely what these deals are all about. Dell has a smorgasbord of deals on laptops, desktops, gaming desktops, monitors, accessories, and so much more. We'll call out a few of our favorite deals below, but for now, know that you should be shopping this sale if you're interested in anything tech-related.

 
What summer tech should you buy in Dell's top deals?

Read more
I love the MacBook Pro, but this Windows laptop came surprisingly close
Apple MacBook Pro 16 downward view showing keyboard and speaker.

There are some great machines in the 15-inch laptop category, which has recently been stretched to include the more common 16-inch laptop. The best among them is the Apple MacBook Pro 16, which offers fast performance for tasks like video editing and the longest battery life.

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 is aimed not only at other 16-inch Windows laptops but also at the MacBook Pro 16. It offers many of the same benefits but at a lower price. Can it take a place at the top?
Specs and configurations

Read more
How to set an ‘Out of Office’ message in Microsoft Teams
Person using Windows 11 laptop on their lap by the window.

Many people use Microsoft Teams regularly to communicate with colleagues both inside of the office and remotely. It is considered one of the most efficient ways to ensure you can stay in contact with the people on your team, but what if you need to let people know you’re not readily available? Microsoft Teams has a method for you to set up an "Out of Office" status for your profile to let staff members know when you’ll be gone for the afternoon, for several days on vacation, or for an extended period.
Where do I go to set up my ‘Out of Office’ status for Teams?
It is important to note that your Microsoft Teams and Outlook calendars are synced. This includes your out-of-office status and automatic replies. So, whatever you set up in Microsoft Teams will reflect in Outlook. Similarly, you can set up your out-of-office status in Outlook, and it will be reflected in Teams; however, the former has a more straightforward instruction.

First, you can click on your profile icon in Teams and go directly to Schedule an out of office, as a shortcut. This will take you to the settings area where you can proceed. You can also click the three-dot icon next to your profile icon, then go to Settings > General, then scroll down to the bottom of the page. There, you'll find out-of-office settings and click Schedule.

Read more