“The environmental track records of Apple Computer and Lenovo Group have been singled out for criticism by environmental group Greenpeace in a report on toxic chemicals used by the technology industry,” Andrew Donoghue reports for ZDNet UK.
“Nokia and Dell came out top in the ranking, with the Finnish handset manufacturer leading the way in 2005 by eliminating use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in its products. Dell also has set ambitious targets for cutting its use of PVC and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), according to Greenpeace,” Donoghue reports. “Lenovo and Apple fared less well, with the Chinese PC manufacturer ranked last. Greenpeace claimed that Lenovo earned some points for its chemicals management and voluntary take-back programs but needs to do better on all criteria.”
“The environmental group also said that Apple could do more to match its environmental record with its hip and trendy image… A representative for Apple disagreed with Greenpeace’s rating and the criteria it had chosen. “Apple has a strong environmental track record and has led the industry in restricting and banning toxic substances such as mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, as well as many BFRs. We have also completely eliminated CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors, which contain lead, from our product line,” the representative said.”
Full article here.
[Attribution: MacRumors. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “NixoN” for the heads up.]
Greenpeace’s “Guide to Greener Electronics” Apple Ranking (2.7/10) in PDF format here.
Apple’s “Apple and the Environment” webpages and information here: http://www.apple.com/environment/
Apple Recycling Program: “Purchase any qualifying Apple computer or monitor and receive free recycling of your old computer and monitor — regardless of manufacturer.”
Related articles:
Apple offers free computer take-back recycling program – April 21, 2006
Who’s next? PETA? Have Pam Anderson go after the Steve?
Fcuk Greenpeace……
Screw Greenpeace –
Sophie’s Greenpeace choice between a baby and a Tuna: “Swim free friend Tuna!”
“Dell also has set ambitious targets for cutting its use of… brominated flame retardants (BFRs)”
I thought that was somehow funny.
Greenpeace should consider that Macs stay in use much longer that Windows PCs, thus reducing toxic waste in landfills. Long-term and second-hand use is the best form of “recycling.”
Why do organizations like Greenpeace seem to go after the easy targets? Press coverage, that’s why. If they were a serious organization, they would be all over China, Russia, Mexico, and anything that is done in Africa. Save the whales? Excellent work, and I mean that. So go back to doing something worthwhile, and chase Russian nukes. That would keep everything Green AND Peaceful.
1) I have to say , Apple computers aren’t tossed to the curb nearly as much as PCs. Not even counting how much longer Mac users keep their computer. So how in the hell Dell can come up up higher is beyond me.
2) The fact that Apple does not use CRT at all and Dell STiLL does to this very day and they still come up better then Apple?!! Someone at Greenpeace work for Dell??!!
In a report by C|Net “A representative for Apple disagreed with Greenpeace’s rating and the criteria it had chosen. “Apple has a strong environmental track record and has led the industry in restricting and banning toxic substances such as mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, as well as many BFRs. We have also completely eliminated CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors, which contain lead, from our product line,” the representative said.”
A baby seal walks into a bar and sees a sign “Drinks are free for all seals.” The bar keep asks, “What’ll it be, bub?” The seal replies. “Anything except a Canadia club.”
Greenpeace can, at times, go over the top in attempts to force governments and private companies to be accountable for their indiscretions. However, I think that overall they do provide an important service for our planet. Without outside intervention, many companies and governments (including the U.S. of A) don’t really seem to care what they are doing to the environment. Greenpeace can help put pressure on these groups to clean up their acts. They can also (even more than the pressure) make the public aware of what is going on. Companies don’t like the bad press, and elected officials that usually sneak stuff by the generally ignorant public are forced to toe the line and clean things up.
I know that a lot of you will say “fsck Greenpeace” and yell “hippies” or “liberals” or what have you, but do you think that any company or government would give a rat’s ass about your health if they didn’t have to? Hell no!
Most people are not aware that some diseases (Parkinson’s, Alzheimers, many cancers) have only been found in human populations in mid to late 20th century. There is strong evidence that these are environmental maladies brought on by what we put into our environment. Greenpeace and the like really are trying to prevent this type of stuff. They are not complete whackos. The whackos are the ones that believe that the end of days are near and that God is going to come and take us all to a different place, so it’s OK to do what we want to the planet now, as it’s nearly time to go.
Greenpeace has long since stopped being an advocate for the environment. They are nothing more than headline grabbers, chasing violators of voodoo science in hopes of getting some richer than smart donor to support them.
If the Sierra Club and Greenpeace knew what they were doing, we’d be free from oil cartel blackmail.
Greenpeace my rear -nd. I’ll bet these maroons don’t ride bicycles to work.
“Now settle down, Skeeter. We don’t need no trouble.”
If you are anti-pollution, you are anti-business.
Apple could not EXIST if it handled its toxic waste “the best way.” Neither could any other big company you love to make up crap about and then you buy their stuff anyway.
Apple CANNOT “do better” without going out of busines. Look at any business that has cleaned up their “act”–I bet you that company is gone or vastly smaller.
Make money now, or preserve the so-called “future of our planet” but don’t try to do both because it is IMPOSIIBLE.
Or ask a liberal, they will spew a bunch of “facts” that nobody cares about.
Jimbo – Cancer, parkinson’s, alzheimer’s and other maladies most likely have existed throughout human history under more generalized medical terms (palsies, senility, etc.), and while it is easy to make broad assumptions connecting the toxicity of the environment to these diseases, the more likely factors are genetic. Pollutants may contribute to a person’s vulnerability to disease in general, but things like alzheimer’s are not geographically localized, suggesting other causes than the environment.
I agree, however, that GP and others have, at times, done the hard work of calling our attention to things that need to be changed.
That useless idiot Al Gore on Apple’s Board probably called Green Peace. With his movie, he wouldn’t want to look like a hypocrite… would he?
When I was in the Navy standing quarterdeck watch on nuclear submarines witha .45 Colt Auto on my belt I always hoped my boat would get boarded by Greenpeace so that i could deliver my own message…right between the eyes.
everything that IMPOSSIBLE said
If you do believe in environmental preservation, do you have to ride a bicycle to work in order to criticise the way we are doing things?
In fact, your argument suggests that they’d vertually have to live in a cave and catch wild game before they are allowed to criticise anything. This means that they wont have a TV or a computer, nor should they be reading newspapers, so how would they become informed.
That kinda means that no one is effectively able to question the status quo. Therefore I call shenanigans on your argument!
hey- what’s wrong with living in a cave and hunting wild game? I do very well, thank you very much!
It is not impossible to be big and clean, especially if Dell did a decent job.
Here we go with the ‘If you are not with us you are against us’ routine. If you want a clean environment you must be anti business. I can’t seem to make that work. It annoys me when people try to set me on one side or another, peel the masking tape up off the floor.
Greenpeace has long ago stopped being an environmental group and has since morphed into a political group focusing on stopping global business. Ever watch the Penn and Teller B.S. episode on the environment? http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/prevepisodes.do?episodeid=s1/eh
Greenpeace only matters to Greenpeace and a few other wack job organizations and individuals who believes, as Al Gore does that the earth will burn up in 9 years 151 days 16 hours…
Good. Organizations like Greenpeace make it sure big corporations (yes, including our beloved Apple) are kept on their toes in all matters social and environmental.
MDNMW: ‘result’ as in ‘this results in a better world for all of us’.
hey ron—It’s virtually, with an ‘i’.
Newspapers are one of the biggest polluters, so I guess you’re happy most of those left wing dispensers of commie clap-trap and doom are falling by the wayside.
Go ride your bike.
When I was in the Navy standing quarterdeck watch on nuclear submarines witha .45 Colt Auto on my belt I always hoped my boat would get boarded by Greenpeace so that i could deliver my own message…right between the eyes.
Live the cliché.
Make money now, or preserve the so-called “future of our planet” but don’t try to do both because it is IMPOSIIBLE.
How uninformed yet so certain. Typical American.
REad an article years ago about CEO of Alias software flying to Europe on Concorde, sitting next to Greenpeace exec on plane. Nice! Ozone ruining expensive jet carry charity supported environmentalist exec! Also Greenpeace door to dorr canvassers get a commission on your donation.