Late last week, Greenpeace issued its latest "Guide to Greener Electronics," which offers a serious takedown of various tech companies' environmental production practices. The organization judged several tech firms mainly on the criteria of "eliminating hazardous substances" from the production phase, and also offering to
take back and recycle older products.
Dell and
Nokia topped the list, but
Apple,
Motorola and
Lenovo were among the worst, who scored 2.7, 1.7 and 1.3 respectively on Greenpeace's 10-point scale. Lenovo, which placed last among the companies evaluated, was knocked mostly because it hasn't committed to phasing out toxic chemmicals like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardant (BFR) from its product line. Motorola was particularly dinged for its recent broken promise of eliminating PVCs and BFRs from its product line, and not having good enough recycling programs. Apple was guilty of many of the same offenses as Lenovo, according to Greenpeace, but have not committed to a firm timetable for PVC and BFR elimination. According to CNET, both Lenovo and Apple disagree with Greenpeace's assesment, saying that they have strong environmental records and follow worldwide regulations. Perhaps Michael Dell and Jorma Ollila need to have a chat with Steve Jobs, Ed Zander and William Amelio to clear the air, so to speak.
[Via
CNET]
posted Aug 30th 2006 5:54PM
Damn Hippy Tree Huggers can't they understand Corporate America?
they hate big buisness but all they do is get high, eat twinkies, and play playstation
Greenpeace indicates that Apple is one of the worst, yet I have a strong feeling that most Greenpeace fans use Apple computers and ipods. Hmmm.
Looking forward to a greenpeace-branded DAP that plays FLACS with bog-standard removable Ni-MH rechargeable battery. Phone, too. Greenpeace-branded PCs, too.
Also hope this means greenpeace will be busting down the door of banks and so on who still issue millions of plastic cards each year made with pvc (if I recall correctly).
I can guarantee more than have of these Greenpeacers have IPOD Nanos and Moto RZRS
Current studies from Peabody & Associates indicates that 78% of Greenpeace members will not be purchasing a PlayStation 3 this coming fall.
Cool! Another reason to hate on Apple...
... and get warm fuzzies about my shiny new NON-exploding Dell D820.
hippies are such a turn off.. slow... no coordination... etc... technology rules...
xx
Fanbois to your battle stations!!!
But who would discard a Mac? :O
There is nothing wrong with greenpeace for stating the obvious. There is room for improvement, in fact a lot of room.
In the 1990's Apple used to use simple brown corrugated packaging with minor if any printing on it, today when you buy one of their products it's massively over printed glossy foam filled shiney waste. Rather irresponsible.
Where would Asus be?
Greenpeace? You mean those same choads who own a fleet of ancient, poorly maintained diesel-burning deep sea vessels? Them?
And who do you suppose is on the Apple board of directors? None other than Mr. Green himself, Al Gore!
http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/bod.html
Apple's packaging is a lot smaller now than it was in the 90s. It's a lot smaller now than last year. Go look at the size of a copy of OSX or iLife on a shop shelf near you. The packaging now is not much bigger than a CD case.
The Apple mouse I bought about 6 months ago came in an entirely cardboard container - no foam.
Greenpeace are just plain wrong about Apple not having a recycle program too. But of course, going after a market leader gets them press coverage, even if they are wrong, and that's what Greenpeace are about. They'd not get the same coverage if they made the complaint about Acer or Alienware.
They only look at essentially two aspects of the 'greenness' of the company too. Perhaps they should also look at how long lasting a product is and not how disposable they are.
Funny how they don't applaud Apple for downsizing software boxes to no bigger than a CD Case (Although a little thicker)...
Greenpeace can suck it as far as I am concerned. I am not going to give up PVC so that my ThinkPad can be more "eco freindly"..
Gee, which is worse for the enviroment? A new laptop every for years made out of PVC, or a new one every year made out of something else?
Come on! Honestly, who is gonna take all that time to take your PC somewhere to get it recycled or even stick a mailing lable on it and wait for someone to come pick it up? If I've got a PC to throw away, you better believe its going in the dumpster behind Target. Or just in my person can.
Seriously, if anybody here has taken the time to actually RECYCLE your PC/mac, you need more help than this website can offer.
I wonder if Greenpeace accounted for the air pollution caused by all those burning batteries...
It's not only packaging here folks, that is the least of the worries for the environment. The actual manufacturing process for most consumer electronics uses tons of energy, water and produces many toxic chemicals. These are bad things and it's good to hold companies responsible for the damaging waste they produce.
Screw greenpeace, they aren't about loving the earth, they're about killing free enterprise.
In a sense I can understand that companies can't bankrupt themselves trying to save the environment.
However on the other hand, above all these corporations and stockholders and profits we're all just a bunch of people spinning around on a giant rock that we should really try not to destroy while we're still on it.
I hate hippies! I mean, the way they always talk about "protectin' the
earth" and then drive around in cars that get poor gas mileage and
wear those stupid bracelets - I hate 'em! I wanna kick 'em in the
nuts!
h00ligan: you are SO wrong. I had a chance to observe two Greenpeace actions over here in Europe. Believe me, all this guys are about - is to show off. Nothing more.
If they were true pro-Earth - they would rather spent their time trying to improve things. They talk big - but do really little. Or did I miss Greanpeace Computer Inc. while Googling?
Josh C => Seriously, if anybody here has taken the time to actually RECYCLE your PC/mac, you need more help than this website can offer.
Well then I guess I have serious issues then, thanks I had no idea, OMFG I'd better go hug a tree....
What a bunch of redneck losers...
I love how their little "dashboard" graphic is almost completely red. The first 6 sections are totally red, but only the last section is green. I don't think anyone has ever thought greenpeace was objective, but this is hilarious! "Oh my gosh, look at all the companies that are not green!"
It's true what they say about Americans, just read the comments. Sigh.
GOOD POINT, JOSH C! I KNOW WHEN I HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, A SODA CAN TO THROW OUT, IF THERE IS NO GARBAGE CAN WITHIN THROWING DISTANCE, I CAN JUST TOSS IT INTO A NEARBY GUTTER OR RIVER OR BIRD NEST. BECAUSE I MEAN WHAT KIND OF LOSER CARRIES THAT STUFF AROUND WITH THEM LOOKING FOR A TRASH CAN ALL DAY, AM I RIGHT? OR EVEN WORSE A RECYLING BIN, LOL!
pretty much these electronics mfgs use pretty nasty stuff. you think batteries have nice chemicals inside. what about lead solder? electrolytic caps. how about some nice etch for all those ICs? what about plastics? go after them all! what about the fossil fuels to generate the power?
If PVC is so toxic why are plumbing supplies including the pipes you get your drinking water from made from it????
Yet these companies continue to make quality products. These companies are following regulations and I will eco friendly manufactoring process is probably not on the top of their to do list it's not something that they have ignored.
If computers can be made better, they should. Greenpeace is not advocating slowing processor speeds or degrading performance. If your computer can be easily recycled into a better, faster computer in a few years, it should be. What's the issue? You want a computer made of crappy materials that are known to cause health problems?
Part of making computers is making computers aren't harmful to users now, or later. Given the planned obsolesence built into the current product cycle, this is especially important. I'm all for getting shiny new gear. Making the products safer and more recylable only makes that easier.
To answer the question above. PVC's are bad because dioxin is a byproduct in their prouction and is released when PVC's are burned. Dioxins stay around in water and soil and air for a long time and can travel long distances. At very low levels, dioxins have been linked to immune system suppression, reproductive disorders, a variety of cancers, and endometriosis.
Greenpeace know nothing. Apple has a strong take back scheme, aims to reduce hazardous chemicals and metals in the comps, and reduce power consumption. And they carefully design the packaging to save on materials and shipping space. An no I don't work for them.
WTF! Leave them alone. You try yo meet customer demands for the best technology at the lowest price while trying to grow your company and make the hippies happy. It is not an easy task. Comanies SHOULD and ARe held accountable for their enviromental actions, but in my mind, if they are within the legal area, leave them be. If you don't like it, sell you car with that chip it it, get rid of your MP3 player, your cell phone, THE COMPUTER YOU ARE USING TO WRITE YOUR POSTS, and never by anything again. All companies do stuff that not everyone will like, if you vut all of that out you are left with nothing. Good luck on the whole LIVING thing ....