[Themaintainers] Letter asking Google to extend the life of Chromebooks

Wed May 17 08:57:15 EDT 2023

Hi all,

E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the U.S. and is exasperated
by short-lived tech. School Chromebooks are a prime example with a clear
solution.

Over the last four months, we’ve been working with schools who are
concerned with sustainability issues related to Chromebooks. We're asking
Google to act.
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2chPPXiA5wBX4Gh76hu4cKCHaENdSRVQC7vPpUYCQ9PIGA9khiAGC6NK305026Myufa-xDkasjKz9aw20oDEDOkbiKe9KoFuObbO3f5vgK8TREVMwrSZ72SHlF2hkSnAc5vMmoAc_e9ninvmVsBMRBBgL3692kJMkCSwYok56b9A6NWV01TnbQ-e0PukqVpjAVUF51pn35UEOkCer5CN4>
Working Chromebooks can reach an “Automatic Update Expiration,” at which
point they no longer receive updates and often can’t be used in the
classroom. Schools have sent us photos of piles of thousands of working
laptops headed for the recycler.

[image: Chromebook Churn Banner v2 low-res.png]
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2z0zWRPcjuSDeOpFOhKRmOHXbuDHM2HfzvrcPyE6jYJQJA9khiAEjECtBZBgfpCvYJZbMMzB0v_gtSBNNjHfAR_AslEMa4aA-0xNjIDwKjbjBYZW4lQyfFVQ6UA0M_keD0xNU2u0u-AnNPz2Puyg9fDZzeJfxzeVqYieUY0uVLrV_TKtJg_8YMkc4ofr-aJID_jEeSRL-kN_RPHG-kl6u>
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2PzYRjeQV0aFNw0q5WO5FFKoRqIkCk-_5vE9JF0YVZb4MA9khiAHUbtkkbxog26GDynQkDS8_MWQKdmNK-mp2z7IAF2NQ5I_9rzzWRS-wsjl0NDKloP_zFIaOLIAl0pulkweku5VO7Xud6ZpNl3iGoCaKs8TRJcGOCv-cvczXuuzStPGnnXscmOSrzDuXGLCiQNjrw8WWGdLGzibWyhK9>

We took these concerns directly to Google, and definitely got their
attention thanks to widespread media coverage. I think we have an
opportunity to keep working laptops off the scrap-heap as a result.

[image: Justin-twitter-chromebook-1-1000x563.png]
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2vaK0-d9BSdeJQ3YcRhpsSmGPzxxPwHCeUdHDJfKvlwkPA9khiAGpVCFBVN5bDdhugpJuEfOt7Z1aG_6GFPP1Xc2_Ge_SNDFR2ZkGT-Ph588OMptx1-jRNBJ7bKLvFx-4Ql3HpZYiAVqGm94ocKCuV-RgMZ97lHL5cCDq9FstJMa3zTSIInE1mUKX2Ui9Tgg4YaSWKFpN97zNySHVikDHNFyuJOOGd30v3hXpYVcy2fJhv7J1Pg9xIGRyCVCL-S1Qf8JuOzm_Z-rGp7SQK5B47HVyj1VfKAAY>
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2vmRl303thtsoxEaFfwTuxwQld8bRV4kVC3AzgeUtmvQSA9khiAEt4iHUwCzkLjRFBRrYIGw8HeX4RXvouLJWAc2kjz-hVUNAOwbpnWyaQM4yjaiLyMuQzoJK394cA7IahiVtA8nIuytaxrdSYrPEXvggAKlZiUpFPb-Dwiq47A8rnkjBkibVwnAUJynvFcnNedknf8TNuNmKwkQQVai_qCwZq8NgAf58oCBNYeORX1ZRlD3GvhIxitGKv-EOSjBb8TcLp5GdUq0OA5fgQyGt0B8_bHdE5kro>

*Now I’m asking you to join me in calling for Google to extend the life of
the 13 Chromebook models expiring in three months
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2iY-Nd6vFBhuZpfOV1XJ-doriA8wJ15NIXGnxh8Sp6IsVA9khiAFocyjm4UupAUAUpbDUHLIeSkoWOoxdau60A2hwF1tirfxpmCG1YMRTR_UsiB9o3LO9O_Oqhn3TooATbMPln1QJQ6Pa_vuvHLjIF7PjzKllaC6iXt5LwlZHuduDtnkADgTaqwTDYQNubzv2vAehiAM65KVnJ-RErlFB>*
*.* Would you or your organization be able to *sign onto the letter*
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2LM0KQI2gUky4DUgbwo7o4Cn3jOAiT73CHImx_rpZBX0YA9khiAHkTbfq711WHUysbyit-ycO54BmFtgYp-MbX4oV1NDtv_bcfRJs13m0NiyYajMo-OA6lQhKU32va3VGGt5A-qP-2n0cAdTQyC27fnMGzqqDqlTIKVXp8knniltoNuCO4Dqu-3VXB0frIaRlOZM9BSUdDHfJ9Cid-Ubf>
?

Chromebooks come with an Automatic Update Expiration date, after which
software support ends. The lack of software support can block essential
uses such as accessing state testing websites and make devices vulnerable.
Google could extend the life of these models, most of which are still
available for purchase online. Two models are still being sold as “new” on
Amazon and Office Depot, even though they’ll expire in just three months.

Google isn’t solely responsible for the disposability treadmill that keeps
us replacing our phones, laptops, tablets, and appliances with new
products. However, their sustainability commitment to a circular economy
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2rE6PF1BVNChIuuCcW4Z4jnpmh1k8_sWwG0bENNfQBUwaA9khiAHaJ4raUT9txajlx4jmlWcVqEku6vTVg6ymkUw2yO2EtI8IouvVXcdRD8KuI2Lgf4Q9WTHVi4ucdoErZymOBvWiRT6XBIggTJRdEcyBQLmTMElNJ6nL8-_Kz_BZyVB4fTpmODsI58gSbGGqQ8n_qKoLtKtlH2YJ64mp4I5ddtQM0lrwy2RPKA4x_NoagnNZOS9JRbm944gr4PVlXg>
states Google is, “constantly looking for new ways to build products,
design out waste and pollution, and keep materials and resources in use for
as long as possible.” In the United States, we generate about 6.9 million
tons of e-waste each year
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2FH4Za9j0LNSQQCiQoQwn9X-OJSWVr1XOKOiQ9GkET9IdA9khiAGwtF5cmKTkl3KksoGu1-_pgeEAPUGwwEhGtv_XnlCBs-5PIrGEnGv2vyWQZ32_yUtYehvMiwv6RX-pFY8BnYmACpUQPX6PbIGFPSwIz4rTY3EKaL2pjswbpfz3XCcC46acm8GzwuXJ3URDDPsyyou0tVmoPoP-etSoWiGR-bZrRGCKWYIOEEVjMBsrwvw_xj434gUauq-VOC2yEi6uqHqQOlKwuD4BSUwnMaW2U84rkoqjlhyZy1Xyf9AQfSnIG6RwqsP0zyhWXg>
which is equivalent to throwing out 120 Chromebooks every second. We can’t
afford to keep replacing technology at the current rate. Google has the
power to lead the industry towards a circular economy with longer lasting
laptops.

These 13 Chromebook models will expire in 3 months while most are still
available for purchase online and four of these devices if you bought them
on the day they came out, they’d expire after only four years. After that
expiration date most owners and schools will have no choice but to replace
these laptops with newer products. Google has extended the lifespan
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2TwjspA6I9pXazn4gOWCclMTNC7Ku6MsndFKiwGZYPLIgA9khiAHR59_YsCwav6IAIgoEc7nBL-XMY_F90FlsxqNunU7KsUIRmP2-uvOfe3XD00wiGQQ5gIT6qcC6nEZFFslw_ib4oIYPZBKiHxGlTJxQQO2MGPziQDhx7RJT0AFYBf9Vy7o5_2wshSbP3-OUdga4cdeHNSCJaL-7yDeQogN2UbmdD4TslQMFioaSnb7n7bEK7jn4ndH9emv3kborKA>
of Chromebooks in the past. Why don’t they do it again for these expiring
Chromebooks?

*Please sign on to the letter asking Google to extend the expiration dates
of these 13 models.*
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2tBSZqja3AwBaJrVXIbuZGLC_S5r1yH9EZPTRlV6RAukjA9khiAFUYu-KRjlmTU_1c-8furEJ1qVhD30Mpdga7P6WAEgmGz14sIC7EJxeaIML6ABO-1VLxyXhZKRFr2lj0YZa5W9iuenShWLvjcOFXhx0PoN_yCqawiiQXp_8u9oqtpcIBflBvpLwwXkZKt93chi2MyH5f4YGJJ0c0ook>

Thanks for your support,

Lucas Rockett Gutterman

PIRG
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/29LoZ9mA4rsihML9Rb8FqVeNoNf7p11-_7kBCyQYlIiQmA9khiAHiT9tBOZst_Sgnsj2H_x1M2J0J-9j1uGHR44_LDdz2qhKXB00jgb4t6FvnHr9sLHAys3Sdh0Rc5ogegphuTF-9lWV-3yFZPbNnwVN0BYwB879e5Xo2bAI4YdM8MD2paMsyGddSLju6Kqn8sANt8kQk2Qy1fO6uEPd0AaHXSsWJMg>
Designed to Last - Director
lgutterman at pirg.org
347-466-9947
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2JK8j3K6pLnSAym1x--jjPC1Pk9T32UiJGYg3j3vzDqspA9khiAG1A5bizdPSlCnXFJf7VFFxthXCH5rQ8O3oc0Vuyw-C6ViwaYIt7jmJA2OAEoQ_bJmiqVqGVKwkAMaENjiQKh3shDQBfZWfEueQOMWEGfqEIw7wKZXRSr2OcoUOWgcz1_BxJhlTY-bf_ylHVAF1rw>
<https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2AwiMmuNkMVL5R-LiLfBTPyd4IckyUo1XdgOhjTRPWZUsA9khiAEgKTgo6uaBx4SGlGwReel6UvzcOW-FR_BOFvhFwVDk1SHX2sJ1B9IvKLd8w09srjiVVcpDl9SUjZBMPxVV1ni-cmIMDct0orY13P9lSVab0e8qLjYmaB4FKed3Idj3zfBeQ_V4avFdfIBM49HRtAHi5g>

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