EcoNation’s Eco Speakers are made from 70% post consumer recycled material, don’t require batteries and fold flat for easy storage and portability. The speakers also include a pack of 6 colored pencils, and offer themselves as blank cardboard canvases, making them both customizable and green-ish.

The speakers are easy to assemble and even easier to use; it takes about twenty seconds to transform them from their flat storage position to their functional cube form, and you can plug them into most electronic devices through the headphone jack, and your music will automatically play.

While the speakers offer decent sound quality, the only real drawback I found was that their high-frequency sounds weren’t too clear. Besides that, they sound much better than one would expect a set of $18, battery-free speakers to sound, and are a nice alternative to ear buds or large headphones.

Of course, the product could add a few green goals in order to earn more eco points from me. For example, are the parts used to make the speakers also recycled? Are the colored pencils made from non-toxic materials? These would be great things to know and for the makers’ to highlight. Also, with a tiny bit more effort, you can make DIY speakers from materials you probably already have around your home, so if EcoNation could provide these additional green verifications, it would offer more incentive to buy their speakers.

Currently available at Fashionation and Urban Outfitters, they’re great for trips or just sitting at home. They also work as terrific gifts, as they’re fun to design, easy to set up and somewhat eco-friendly.