Apple reverses course on EPEAT environmental standard, eligible products once again included
Apple has posted a letter from retiring senior VP of hardware engineering Bob Mansfield to its website, walking back the company's abandonment of the EPEAT certification for its eligible products. Per the letter:
We've recently heard from many loyal Apple customers who were disappointed to learn that we had removed our products from the EPEAT rating system. I recognize that this was a mistake. Starting today, all eligible Apple products are back on EPEAT.
There's a corresponding statement from EPEAT president Robert Frisbee on the organization's site. It was only last week that Apple's 39 EPEAT-eligible products were pulled from the industry registry at the company's request.
As recently as this Tuesday, Apple's PR team was pointing out that the company's environmental efforts are continuing and include many areas of progress not covered by the outdated EPEAT standards. It's likely that the "loyal Apple customers" who raised their concerns with Mansfield and Apple management included many large institutional and government accounts, which may have purchasing rules mandating EPEAT-eligible gear when possible.
Both Mansfield and Frisbee emphasize that this experience has strengthened the collaborative efforts of Apple and EPEAT, and that Apple's input will be crucial in evolving the standard to deal with more modern devices.
Hat tip to Ed Bott!
