ClassWiz+: made with sustainability in mind

Environmental responsibility has always been a priority for Casio as a brand. Solar panels have been a feature of some of our calculators for many years, helping to promote efficient energy usage and reduce battery consumption.

We also place a huge focus on the long-term reliability of our products, in terms of both physical materials and electronic components. This has helped to ensure that Casio calculators are well-known for their durability.

Now, we’re introducing the updated ClassWiz+ range of scientific calculators, marking a significant moment in the development of our educational technology.

Advancing sustainability efforts with ClassWiz+

The ClassWiz+ series has been designed and produced with a strong focus on sustainability.
 
Nowhere is this clearer than in the fx-85GT CW+, which is made from between 45% (colour models) and 90% (black models) recycled plastics within the body of the handset.
 
We’re also using environmentally conscious materials in the protective bags that come with this particular calculator, cutting plastic use by 70% compared with traditional wrapping.
 
All devices across the ClassWiz+ range will be shipped in packaging made from recyclable cardboard.
 
What’s more, we’re moving to paper packaging for over 1,000 calculator models sold worldwide. This is expected to reduce the amount of plastic used by approximately 340 tons a year.^[1]

A note on PCR materials

The fx-85GT CW+ represents an exciting step forward in our journey to advance the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials.

PCR plastic is made from products that have been previously used and disposed of, providing the dual benefits of cutting waste and reducing virgin plastic usage.

Reusable materials collected from consumer items – such as home appliances and electronic devices – are sorted, cleaned, crushed and pelletised, ready to be turned into entirely new products.

Old PC monitors are a common source of the plastic required for our black calculators, while the materials for white and coloured handsets are commonly taken from used air conditioners and other domestic appliances.

The reused resources in some Casio models have received Global Recycled Standard certification. This is used to verify the recycled content of a product and corroborate the responsible environmental practices used throughout the production process.

The bigger picture around ClassWiz+

The launch of the ClassWiz+ range is an exciting milestone for Casio, and hopefully for everyone who uses our products.

It’s the first time a mass-market scientific calculator has been designed and produced using recycled plastics, without any quality assurance implications for the end user.

We can now build on this and take further steps towards designing and manufacturing future products from reused materials, as part of our wider mission to manage our emissions and environmental impact.

This includes commitments and practices such as:

• A plastic recycled material utilisation rate of at least 40%
• Use of batteries and casings that can be easily removed for separate disposal
• Environmentally conscious paper packaging
• Lead-free solder being used in electronic parts
• Keeping specific chemicals below standard values compliant with Restriction of Hazardous Substances directives

We’ll also continue to maintain our extremely high standards and rigorous testing to ensure the durability and performance of our calculators. The introduction of recycled materials won’t have any impact on the quality and reliability the Casio brand is known for.

What else is new with ClassWiz+?

The emphasis on sustainability is just one important element of the new ClassWiz+ range.

Another key driving force behind the development and launch of these scientific calculators is our commitment to gathering and acting on feedback from the education community.

This has led to changes including an update to how the Format key works. It’s now possible to use Format in effectively the same way as the old S↔D key, allowing instant conversions between fractions and decimals.

You can also press Shift > Format to access a menu of other available options, including sexagesimal conversion when answers are required in hours, minutes and seconds.

Other improvements being brought in with the ClassWiz+ range include:

• Shortcuts being introduced in all menus to enable quicker navigation
• The option to press Shift > Catalog to view a list of all useful operations
• Expanded functionality on the fx-991CW+ to include greatest common divisor, least common multiple and recurring decimals

To find out more, keep an eye on our resources centre for a range of forthcoming materials, including webinars giving an overview of the new calculators and Key Skills videos showcasing their features and functionality.

^[1] Based on production volume for the period from April 1st 2022 to March 31st 2023