Black and Decker has announced their new Reviva line, a series of recyclable power tools made partially from recycled plastic bottles.
Aimed at casual-use DIY'ers, the tools bear a soft, designey aesthetic presumably meant to appeal to your average homeowner looking to do some around-the-house touch-ups.
In Black and Decker's strategy, sustainability is meant to be a key selling point:
"Each reviva™ product is created in partnership with Eastman and the tool's housing is engineered for durability, made from Tritan™ Renew, a 50% certified recycled material. In addition to its tool housing composition, every tool in the reviva™ family of products is delivered in packaging designed to be curbside recyclable which doubles as a storage box. Through a partnership with TerraCycle, Stanley Black & Decker is now offering consumers the opportunity to recycle products, like the reviva™ line, at the end of the product's useable life cycle."
All running on 12V batteries, the initial line-up consists of a $50 drill/driver, a $60 detail sander with a diminutive 3.5" triangular pad and a $60 cordless jigsaw.
Judging by the promo imagery, it seems as if a dedicated driver, an oscillating tool and a cordless vac are also in the works.
As for the recyclability of the battery, the company says they're currently "creating and implementing programs for battery and end-of-life tool recycling," but it doesn't appear those programs are up and running just yet.
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While Black & Decker's reliability ratings aren't what they were decades ago, the company is offering a two-year warranty on each Reviva tool, "provided that the product is used in a home environment." In other words, DeWalt, Festool and the big boys probably aren't looking over their shoulder.
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Comments
I think there could be an emerging stock-photography genre here of couples and power tools. This pic is from Bosch's IXO line.
For a product who's marketed selling point is environmental impact, I'd like to see a bigger focus on increasing the lifespan rather than using recycled materials. Those are nice, but imagine offering a full set of repair walk through and replacement parts, and designing the tool for easily disassembly.
I don't know, I've seen many student and concept projects like this and it seems like a good idea, but in my opinion this is product that shouldn't be necessary. I'm pretty sure the thinking from PM B&D side is that this will make the total addressable market for power tools larger, by people buying a double set of power tools. These, rather pristine products in white, for light tasks inside, and another set for more serious and dirty work. In reality this is completely unnecessary, driven only by sales and not by real needs. I think this is actually rather silly.
Nice clean design language. I think it works for having some simple tools in the average home. The Drill, vacuum, sander and screw gun I get... jig saw might be beyond this person, but is a nice addition.
IMO, B&D has no credibility in a maker's space and this redesign does nothing to change that...I can't believe a market exists for these products.
The first few pictures make the tools look like they're nice, but not as nice as staring lovingly into your significant other's eyes. I should do more projects in the living room next to my wife.
It's a fine line between toy-like and tool. B&D errored on the side of toy-like.