In a world driven by technology and rapid change, there's something charming about the nostalgia of vintage rotary phones. At After The Tone, we've not only embraced this nostalgia but also turned it into something more meaningful (and we’re not just referring to the audio guestbook we made to capture forever memories). We’re talking about our sustainability initiative. We aim to help people preserve their best moments, while simultaneously trying our best to also preserve the environment—in fact, it’s a core pillar of our company’s mission.

Reviving Memories, Not Landfills

At the heart of our business model is the belief that memories are precious and timeless. All of the vintage telephones used for our clients’ audio guestbook experience are 100% real, thoroughly refurbished and repurposed, giving old phones a new life and helping people create lasting memories at their big events. But our commitment to sustainability doesn't stop there. Instead of allowing clients to purchase our phones, we've intentionally chosen to rent them—why send even more plastic to landfills when we can reduce plastic waste and reuse?

By renting our phones, we ensure that they are used and reused for countless events (of course, being vigorously cleaned and disinfected after each use), rather than ending up as discarded electronic waste. This approach not only minimizes our environmental footprint but also allows us to share the magic of these vintage devices with many people, all around the world.

Eco-Friendly Shipping Materials

But wait, there’s more! Our dedication to sustainability stretches beyond the product itself. And while we might not ever be perfect when it comes to going green, we do our best to extend our environmental commitment to as many aspects of the business as possible. That's why we partner with a company called NoIssue that shares our values by using biodegradable, recycled materials for our shipping supplies. Additionally, we use eco-friendly boxes from Packlane as a conscious choice to minimize our reliance on new materials.

Again, we’re not perfect. In order to avoid damaging our vintage phones, we do have to use custom foam to pack each box. However, we use every piece of foam as many times as humanly possible (before they literally fall apart and we have to discard them), in order to make as minimal of a footprint as we can. All things considered, we’re pretty proud of our two-recycle-dumpsters-to-one-landfill-dumpster ratio.

Constant Innovation for Sustainability

Sustainability is not a destination; it's an ongoing journey. At After The Tone, we’re constantly exploring new ways to become even more eco-friendly. Our sustainability efforts drive us to think creatively and innovate relentlessly. For example, we’re currently working on a new version of our phone that utilizes a reusable, rechargeable battery.

By making this switch, we'll further reduce the environmental impact of our products—it aligns perfectly with our dual mission of creating unforgettable memories and doing our part to help the planet.

The Bigger Picture

Our commitment to sustainability isn't just about ticking boxes or following trends. It's about making a real difference in the world. Rotary phones may not be a vital addition to every household in America anymore, but our goal is to make them the primary source for creating and maintaining memories at every event across the globe. 

Who’s with us?!

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