“Confidence was high that this was going to happen because we’ve had the word from the man himself – Apple CEO Steve Jobs – from as far back as May 2007 that toxic PVC and BFRs in Mac computers would be history by the end of 2008. His enthusiam for the subject, of course, initially stemmed from the success of our Green my Apple campaign, which generated huge support and discussion from Mac addicts worldwide,” Greenpeace writes. “In October last year he reiterated this promise: Last year we announced the unprecedented goal of eliminating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from Apple products by the end of 2008. I’m proud to report that all of Apple’s new product designs are on track to meet our 2008 year-end goal. Steve Jobs, October 2008″
“That’s a pretty definitive statement – not much room for misunderstanding there, I’d say. And yet the one new product announced so far at this year’s Macworld, the Macbook Pro, turns out not to meet Mr Jobs’ new greener specification; sure it has reduced amounts of the offending chemicals, but they’ve not been removed altogether. Definitely NOT what Apple promised for 2009,” Greenpeace writes.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Greenpeace. Completely and shamelessly aboard the Apple publicity train and not getting off any time soon, no matter what.
And now, for the rest of the story:
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro is made of highly recyclable materials, meets stringent energy efficiency standards and is made without many of the harmful toxins found in other computers. Apple uses advanced chemistry, intelligent monitoring of the system and battery, and Adaptive Charging technology to create a revolutionary new notebook battery that delivers up to eight hours of wireless productivity on a single charge and up to 1,000 recharges without adding thickness, weight or cost to the MacBook Pro’s incredible design. The longer battery lifespan equals fewer depleted batteries and less waste, which is better for the environment.
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro joins the aluminum unibody MacBook family in setting new standards for environmentally friendly notebooks with every model achieving EPEAT Gold status. Each MacBook unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. The new MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements, contains no brominated flame retardants and uses internal cables and components that are PVC-free. The battery in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro provides additional environmental benefit because its extended lifespan means fewer depleted batteries resulting in less waste. Depleted batteries can be replaced for $179 which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner. – Apple Inc.
Direct link via YouTube here.
Green Peace and shyster lawyers trying to milk Apple with class action law suites have the same agenda…….nuisance payoffs
additional comment…..It’s like watching the first “God Father” movie collect protection money scheme….give us money and we won’t break your leg.
Lest all use our new buzz word Terrorists. Terrorists are our enemy now, not Communists like in the 50′, 60′, 70′ and 80′. They don’t work as enemies anymore, because now they are our manufacturing partners. Now we have Terrorists. This is a better enemy in any case, because it can be anybody!
Greenpeace bigwigs used to fly on the Concorde. Nice use of charity dollars!! on the most polluting plane ever
Dell phoned Greenpeace and asked for the money back that they paid to be the greenest PC maker on the planet.
Greenpeace said just wait while we piss in Apple’s corn flakes again.
Oh no, these EcoThugs and terrorists don’t approve? Good! I will but more Apple products.
Jeremy
The average person reading Jobs statement would have taken that as a commitment to eliminate PVC by the end of 2008. Apple missed that.
You guys are all sounding rather like the Bush administration in your defence of Apple.
Apple made a public statement. They did not make their goal. People should know. What is the problem?
By the way, with all this ridiculous responses here, you make Apple look worse than Greenpeace does. Give it a rest.
These people have shown up on my DOORSTEP in Austin, Tx asking for money all under the guise of “making people aware of how Apple uses environmentally unsafe manufacturing process” and their recycling program is suspect. I informed the 20 something tree hugger that 15 years earlier I’d worked for Apple. That in this town where Dell is a major employer (5 miles from here) maybe they should be looking at Dell as they have a worse track record. Also that Apple, offers recycling of ANY old computer when someone buys a new one from them not to mention goodwill and a number of othes. Told them to leave me alone and that they need to stop picking on the class leader just to drum up publicity and go after the companys that are doing worse on a larger scale.
The look of shock on their face when I unloaded was priceless.
I’ll never give them or any other environmental group my money. Spend it at home locally to make your home more energy efficient and you’ve done more for the environment than flushing it down their toilet.
So did apple remove the toxins or not? I’m hearing two conflicting stories.
If I understand this correctly, Mr. Jobs shouldn’t have promised the moon.. so soon.
I’m surprised no one has yet taken issue with the Greenpeace claim that Steve Jobs concern for the environment is entirely due to Greenpeace pressure.
“His enthusiam for the subject, of course, initially stemmed from the success of our Green my Apple campaign, which generated huge support and discussion from Mac addicts worldwide.”
And I guess Steve’s a vegetarian because PETA told him to be?
greenpeace can go pound sand! everyone in greenpeace should go get a hobby and stop pointing fingers.
@Mr Mac
Hear, hear! I used to visit MDN much more frequently, but the crazy ideologues here (both tech and political) taint the whole experience.
Have fun, kids…
Apple’s description of the 17 inch MacBook Pro flies in the face of Greenpeace’s statement. Did they not read? I can’t see how they can make their claim.
Apple needs to respond with an incredulous, “huh?”
Greenpeace and Peta are like any and all fanatics (I won’t mention any more names, but you know who you are- or at least, We do):
not to be taken seriously.
@ smegdude
“… we were expecting an announcement from MacWorld 2009 in San Francisco, confirming that Apple would as promised be removing all toxic PVC plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from its entire new product range,” Greenpeace writes.
Clearly they can’t read what they’re saying. I believe every computer apple has announced recently has been BFR and PVC free.”
And since the only computer announced after 12/31/08 has been the 17″ Macbook…which is ‘nasty free’, then Apple has kept their promise for their new product range.
“Obviously computers that were designed before the 2008 statement aren’t going to have this stuff removed. But then, they aren’t new products…”
Apparently, Greenpeace successfully <U>mis</U>lead themselves to believe that Apple was going to replace 100% of all of their product lines before the stroke of midnight. And if that really was the case, then they should have issued a press release last week, on 01/01/09.
And this product lifecycle question can be brought home to bear on Greenpeace by asking them if 100% of the computers that they currently have in their office – – no matter how old they are – – if they currently meet the ‘Green’ standards that they’re asking of manufacturers … in other words, are they backing up their claimed principles with their wallets?
A case of beer (in recyclable bottles) says that they are not.
Which would make Greenpeace a hypocrite. Again.
-hh
It’s depressing… the continual use of the word “terrorist” on this site is moronic. The people using it show themselves up to be educationally-challenged.
You may or may not appreciate what Greenpeace is doing but stop with the ‘terrorism’ tag you all sound like idiots… or Bush clones. I’m embarrassed for you all schoolchildren.
Apple made a promise, they failed to live up to it and if so, they should have included that fact in any press release. That would then nullify Greenpeace’s position.
Ecoterrorism
Nope, not terrorists at all…… Their tree spiking actions were noble and just, and the injured, maimed, or killed loggers are the real terrorists. Sounds like too many people here forget too quikly or are maybe just too young to remember the “ends justifies the means, no matter now extreme” Greenpeace.
The ends justify the means mentality still remains. Its evident the way they attack Apple. Big name = big publicity.
MW = Brown, how funny
Greenpeace does meet the definition of terrorism
terrorism |ˈterəˌrizəm|
noun
the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.
Greenpeace may claim to be nonviolent but they perform violent acts on property, and have incited violence on more then one occasion. They also use intimidation like it’s going out of style.
Every Greenpeace press release gives me even more respect for the French Special Forces…
Well, I was ready to join the ‘F*CK GREENPEACE’ raspberry chorus. But they were at least factual and relatively calm in their chastisement.
And yet, they did the usual thing that alarmist, too-far-to-the-left, loonies do, and that is to never-ever applaud progress. There tend to be hyper-judgemental people in this sad crowd and you can never live up to their expectations. They rarely get the clue about how lame we mere humans are about making progress in the world. They believe in NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT when trying to get things done. And sorry folks, but that has been proven, time after time after time, to be a great way to DETER things from getting done. No one likes to be slapped day in and day out. It engenders disrespect and disinterest in the ‘Peon’ toward the ‘Master’.
What people DO respond to is Positive Reinforcement. Provide rewards. Cheer on success. Make progress an exciting and cheerful place to go. Will Greenpeace will ever get that clue? I can only hope so.
Meanwhile, the more Greenpeace do their finger wagging routine, the less they will be taking seriously. And yes, I love their causes and wish they would be taken seriously.
Can I use the Build-to-Order option to add BFRs and PVC back into my next MacBook Pro? My diet is a little thin on both of those. Oh, and also because honestly I couldn’t give a rat’s ass what Greenpeace thinks.
Of course, I also loved those “Nuke the Whales!” bumper stickers way back when, so what do I know?
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GreenPeace the new commies. They will NEVER be satisfied! All they want is Apple’s name to bitch about. What ever they are for, I’m against!
What a bunch of self-absorbed, self-promoting idiots. I wish they actually cared one-tenth as much for the environment as they do for themselves.
> His enthusiam for the subject, of course, initially stemmed from the success of our Green my Apple campaign, which generated huge support and discussion from Mac addicts worldwide
They must also be high on some good drugs…
Greenpeace needs to prioritize. Particulate emissions from diesel trucks, benzene in gasoline, coal mining, burning coal, ash from coal, MEK in nail polish etc. all kill and harm people and the environment more than any amount of “toxin” in an Apple product (who was among the first to get rid of lead-filled CRT’s as we know).
But that wouldn’t grab headlines, would it. Greenpeace’s schtick here is, to quote Bill S, “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. “