Apple’s new Greenpeace score
p2pnet.net News:- Apple has scored significantly on the new Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics, the first quarterly update of the technology industry’s performance on environmental issues.
“Some of the best-known laptops are contaminated with some of the worst toxic chemicals,” said Greenpeace in September. “Of the five top brands we tested Hewlett-Packard and Apple laptops showed the worst contamination levels.”
The new guide ranks 14 top PC and cell phone manufacturers and, “due to the commitments by many companies to greener manufacturing processes, the rankings have changed,” says Greenpeace.
Its scientists had previously analysised an HP laptop and found the presence of decaBDE, a type of brominated flame retardant HP claimed it no longer used, says the environmental organization, going on:
“HP was quick to respond with an investigation into the matter and has now released a statement on its website that reaffirms its commitment not to use decaBDE. The statement explains how decaBDE came to be found in the HP laptop and details what action has been taken to avoid similar problems in the future – at which point the penalty was lifted.”
But, “Apple has made absolutely no improvements to its policies or practices since the ranking was first released three months ago,” says Rick Hind, legislative director of Greenpeace USA’s Toxics campaign.
“Apple’s bad green policy is not a wonderful life for workers in the scrap yards of the developing world, and we can’t imagine that Steve Jobs would want to be the Mr. Potter of the high-tech industry this holiday season.”
Meanwhile, Acer and Lenovo have committed to eliminate the use of the most hazardous chemicals from their products, says Greenpeace, continuing that Nokia still has the top spot for both its chemicals policy as well as disposal of electronic waste, although it has yet to give clear timelines for phasing out polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
“Motorola has been the fastest mover in the ranking guide,” says Greenpeace. “Although the company was ranked second worst in the first version of the guide, released in September, it has made strong commitments since then and has moved to fourth place. Lenovo has also made strong policy commitments, to jump from the bottom spot up to its current 8th place. Fujitsu-Siemens and Acer made substantial progress and are now ranked 3rd and 7th respectively, moving up from their earlier 10th and 12th positions.
“LGE, Samsug and Sony have lost points for failing to act on their commitments to individual producer responsibility (IPR). Instead, the companies are supporting regulation in the U.S. that would place the responsibility for product recycling on consumers instead of producers.”
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Also See:
worst toxic chemicals – HP and Apple’s toxic laptops exposed, September 8, 2006
Greenpeace – Apple Scores Lowest on Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics, December 6, 2006
December 12th, 2006 at 7:09 pm
Hello, Apple? This is “pot”…. you’re black.
F-ck Greenpeace! How many years have they used that old rustbucket, oil burning polluter of a boat (Rainbow Warrior) to make a statement, only to ruin the environment more.
Due to these rankings, I will buy more Apple products, than before, just to spite them. I may even throw some styrofoam to the side of the road, just in the name of Greenpeace.
g-ddamn useless hippies.