The average laptop lasts about two years and, according to a group of students from Stanford University and Finland’s Aalto University, takes about “45 minutes and 120 steps” to disassemble for recycling once its short life is over.

With that in mind, the seven graduate students designed the Bloom laptop which can be easily disassembled into recyclable parts in just 30 seconds. The materials such as plastic, metal and glass are easy for consumers to recycle, and the simple disassembly helps separate materials that need specialized recycling, like LCD screens and circuit boards.

Besides the simplified process of recycling, the design also makes it easier for consumers to replace parts, prolonging the life of the laptop.

The laptop was designed as part of a challenge by corporate sponsor Autodesk. Ten teams in the Stanford engineering design class were asked to create a completely recyclable consumer-electronics product.

Smart laptop manufacturers should keep an eye on designs that prolong a laptop’s life and make it easier for consumers to protect the environment.

Read more information on the Bloom laptop.