Why We're Doing This
It's simple. We are directly impacted by air pollution and know the harm it causes.
AirGradient was born not as a typical tech company, but as a social impact project with a clear mission: to empower communities everywhere with accurate, accessible, and affordable air quality monitoring. We saw that the ability to understand the air we breathe was a privilege, and we set out to make it a universal right. This foundational purpose means that social and environmental responsibility is baked into our DNA. It's the reason we exist and the standard we hold ourselves to every day.
Our commitment to social good is most evident in our open-source philosophy. By making our hardware designs and software freely available, we foster a global community of makers, researchers, citizen scientists, and advocates. This approach breaks down financial and technical barriers, promoting transparency and collaboration. We believe that empowering people with open tools is the most effective way to drive meaningful, grassroots change for cleaner air and a healthier planet.
Our CSR Initiatives: Putting Our Values into Action
Our core mission is supported by a series of concrete initiatives that ensure our impact is positive, responsible, and sustainable.
1% for the Planet
We are a proud member of 1% for the Planet, a global movement of companies dedicated to protecting the future of our world. As part of this alliance, we pledge to donate at least 1% of our total annual sales to certified environmental non-profit organizations. This commitment turns our commercial success directly into tangible funding for on-the-ground efforts that preserve our ecosystems, fight pollution, and advocate for environmental justice. It's a simple, direct, and powerful way for us to give back. Read more.
Our Carbon Offset Initiative
To take direct responsibility for our operational footprint, AirGradient runs its own carbon offset program. For the emissions generated from the manufacturing and global shipping of our hardware, we fund the planting of native trees through our own reforestation projects in New Zealand. This tangible action allows us to directly mitigate our environmental impact, help restore vital ecosystems, and contribute to a more balanced climate, ensuring our growth doesn't come at the planet's expense. Project currently in development. More information will be available soon.
Product Lifecycle Responsibility
In a world of disposable electronics, we champion longevity and fight e-waste. Our monitors are intentionally designed to be easily repaired, not replaced. Featuring a modular build and readily available spare parts, we empower our users to extend the life of their devices. We supplement this sustainable design with a clear recycling and return policy for any end-of-life hardware. This commitment to a circular economy ensures our products serve communities for as long as possible with minimal environmental cost.
Open Source Hardware for Global Capacity Building
Our commitment to empowerment is built on a foundation of radical openness. We invest heavily in R&D and then share the results—our hardware designs and software—with the world for free under a Creative Commons license. This open-source philosophy transforms our capacity building workshops. Instead of creating dependency, we foster independence. We travel the world to teach schools, NGOs, and communities how to use our open designs to build and maintain their own air quality networks. By giving away our technology, we help build self-sustaining, grassroots movements capable of advocating for their right to clean air with data they own and trust. Read more.
Strong Commitment to Open Data
We firmly believe that air quality data is a public good that must be open and accessible to all. We are strong and vocal proponents of this open data philosophy, and we act on it. AirGradient maintains a direct data pipeline to OpenAQ, the world's largest open-source, open air quality data platform. This ensures that the data generated by our global community contributes to a larger, collaborative dataset, empowering researchers, journalists, and policymakers to make the informed decisions that protect public health. Read more.
Why You Should Work with Us
At AirGradient, we are impact-driven but recognise that our impact alone is limited. We share a fundamental goal with NGOs and community groups: to bring air quality awareness to more people and create healthier environments for all. We want to work with driven organisations who are passionate about this mission. Here's how we align:
Shared Vision for Impact
We are united by a common commitment to improving air quality and empowering communities through education and action.
Collaborative Approach to Advocacy
We believe in the power of partnership to amplify our collective voice and drive meaningful change.
Community-Centric Focus
We are dedicated to providing accessible tools and resources that enable communities to understand and address their air quality challenges.
Data-Driven Mission Alignment
We are committed to using data to inform advocacy and drive evidence-based solutions for a healthier future.
Who We're Looking For
We're eager to partner with a diverse range of organisations dedicated to improving air quality and community well-being. If you share our mission of trying to create a healthier planet (regardless of size or field), we would love to work with you.
We also welcome collaborations with:
Environmental NGOs
Organizations actively engaged in environmental protection, conservation, and advocacy, with a focus on air quality issues
Community-based organisations
Grassroots groups working directly with communities to address local environmental challenges, including air pollution.
Educational institutions
Schools, universities, and research institutions committed to educating and empowering students and the public about environmental issues, particularly air quality.
Health advocacy groups
Organizations working to protect public health, with a focus on the impact of air pollution on respiratory health and overall well-being.
Interested in Joining Our Program?
If you're interested in joining, please reach out to us via the contact us form below. We are actively seeking insights into the needs and wants of our partner organisations, and we would love to hear your feedback so we can create a program that effectively supports your clean air initiatives.
To express your interest in the program, please contact us via our support form.
The AirGradient Manifesto
This manifesto reflects our core values and the principles we stand for:
Positive Disruptor
We must be bold. We always follow our convictions and call out the issues that matter, sharing our views on topics surrounding air quality and environmental responsibility. We will not compromise for profit. We believe that open, informed, and candid discussions are the catalysts for meaningful change. We will lead by example and become a driving force for environmental monitoring.
Community Building
We want to raise awareness about air pollution through active community building with a strong focus on informing about the dangers of air pollution. We actively support environmental justice organisations and educational institutions in their missions to provide healthier environments for everyone.
Responsible Products
We will deliver benefits for both people and the planet. This is why we prioritise creating high-quality air quality monitors with designs that enable easy repairs and recycling, thereby extending the product's lifespan and reducing its environmental footprint.
Profit Follows Impact
To deliver positive impacts on the communities, and the environment, we must sustain our business model. However we will not prioritise profits above our convictions. We embed this rationale into our everyday decision-making processes throughout all layers of our company. (e.g. by joining 1% for the Planet).
Open Science and Research
Our research is driven by a commitment to environmental protection, not by profits. This is why we don't patent our air quality monitor designs but on the contrary, share them openly, allowing everyone to build them and to contribute to positive change. We do not lock users into proprietary eco-systems and we encourage sharing of air quality data and algorithms as a public good.
Transparency and Accessibility
AirGradient is built on a foundation of openness and inclusivity. We aim to make our products and services available to a wide range of users with a special focus on underrepresented communities. We strive to work with all organisations that want to make a positive contribution independent of their financial means.