Signia Rechargeable hearing aids cut environmental impact by 65%

New study: Signia rechargeable hearing aids cut environmental impact by 65%

A comprehensive life cycle assessment from hearing aid innovator Signia shows that its rechargeable hearing aid technology has 65% less environmental impact compared to battery-driven hearing aids, saving the average hearing aid user more than 100 batteries each year.

Expanding on its ambition to continuously reduce its environmental footprint, hearing aid innovator Signia has published a new study on the environmental benefits of rechargeable hearing aids.

Signia is the first company in the hearing aid industry to have undergone a comprehensive and scientific life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare the lifetime environmental impact of the rechargeable and non-rechargeable hearing devices. The assessment indicates: compared to non-rechargeable Signia AX, the rechargeable Signia Augmented Xperience (AX) reduces the total environmental impact* by 65%, which is an average of reduced impacts of 18 environment categories, including climate change (57%), fossil depletion (52%), human toxicity non-cancer (76%), land use (87%), marine ecotoxicity (78%), etc. A hearing aid user with two hearing aids can save more than 100 batteries per year.

“At Signia, we are committed to continually improving our environmental footprint, and the biggest lever we have identified is the battery. We want our customers to be aware of how easy it is to positively influence the environmental impact, just by switching to rechargeable hearing aids,” says Frank Naumann, Senior Director of Global Innovation at Signia, who has been in charge of the LCA study.

Long term sustainability is clearly a core focus for Signia. The LCA results definitely indicate that and are a part of a series of initiatives that Signia have either already in motion or ready to launch in 2022.

The study shows that for non-rechargeable hearing aids, the battery solution (i.e., production, distribution, and disposal of batteries) contributes to more than 80% of the total environmental impact.* On average, for a Signia rechargeable hearing aid, the battery solution (i.e., production, distribution, and disposal of batteries) contributes to only about 5% of the total environmental impact.* Electricity demand for charging hearing aids contributes on average another 9% of the total environmental impact,* but the difference is still significant.

Signia has an extensive portfolio of rechargeable hearing aids to fit most user needs with up to 61 hours of use on a single charge for the most powerful device.

“We now have solid proof of how much better rechargeable hearing aids can be for the environment, and that is important. But they are also extremely practical and hassle free. Just pop them in the charger at night and you are ready to go all day. Reducing your environmental footprint doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality and comfort. Signia empowers the wearers to make a sustainable choice for the environment and take action so they can live the Signia brand-promise: to enhance human performance,” says Samy Lauriette, Signia’s Global Head of Brand.

Signia has one of the largest offerings on rechargeable products in the industry covering all form factors. Starting from Signia Active X and Insio Charge&Go AX for In-The-Ear solutions to Pure Charge&Go T AX and Styletto X for Receiver-in-Canal devices, and concluding with the Behind-the-Ear solutions, Motion Charge&Go X, Motion Charge&Go P X, and Motion Charge&Go SP X. All of which are available from us here at Acoustic Technologies.

The study was conducted by Ramboll and audited by the accredited certification body TÜV NORD. The study follows ISO 14040/44 standards.