Apple: Effective immediately, all eligible Apple products are back on EPEAT

14 years ago

Apple has posted the following letter on the company’s website from Bob Mansfield, Senior Vice president of hardware Engineering. Here it is, verbatim:

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.

It’s important to know that our commitment to protecting the environment has never changed, and today it is as strong as ever. Apple makes the most environmentally responsible products in our industry. In fact, our engineering teams have worked incredibly hard over the years to make our products even more environmentally friendly, and much of our progress has come in areas not yet measured by EPEAT.

For example, Apple led the industry in removing harmful toxins such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). We are the only company to comprehensively report greenhouse gas emissions for every product we make, taking into account the entire product lifecycle. And we’ve removed plastics wherever possible, in favor of materials that are more highly recyclable, more durable, more efficient and longer lasting.

Perhaps most importantly, we make the most energy-efficient computers in the world and our entire product line exceeds the stringent ENERGY STAR 5.2 government standard. No one else in our industry can make that claim.

We think the IEEE 1680.1 standard could be a much stronger force for protecting the environment if it were upgraded to include advancements like these. This standard, on which the EPEAT rating system is based, is an important measuring stick for our industry and its products.

Our relationship with EPEAT has become stronger as a result of this experience, and we look forward to working with EPEAT as their rating system and the underlying IEEE 1680.1 standard evolve. Our team at Apple is dedicated to designing products that everyone can be proud to own and use.

Bob

MacDailyNews Take: We can almost hear Tim Cook, “Hey, Bob, before you get your gold watch, you’re going to need to fix this.”

Source: Apple Inc.

MacDailyNews Take: Once it’s codified, it’s a bitch to fix. EPEAT should take this as a wakeup call: They need to become much more nimble! Adhering to an outdated rulebook when better options arise is madness. Time to revise the rulebook, EPEAT Council!

Apple dropped EPEAT because some of their products are better for the environment than EPEAT-qualified products, yet they do not qualify for EPEAT!

In short, EPEAT is broken. Apple doesn’t do broken. Apple dropped EPEAT. Typical Apple. Now, instead of just pulling out of EPEAT and letting the shit hit San Fran, a simple open letter from Tim Cook posted on Apple.com upfront would have prodded EPEAT to get with the times just as well, if not better, and spared the company from yet another PR debacle. Luckily, unlike with “Antennagate” (a PR debacle of epic proportions for which we took Apple to task for their excruciatingly slow response), they nipped this one in the bud.

The smart and nimble have already figured out why Apple – however clumsily and bluntly – tried to move forward and why the company’s approach is better for the environment. The rest are left behind, struggling to figure out why, for example, non-removable batteries coupled with free Apple recycling programs that safely dispose of them in an environmentally responsible manner are better than the old removable batteries, still loved by the EPEAT anachronism, the vast majority of which end up being dumped straight into landfills, the world’s oceans, and God only knows where else.

By the way, bring your old Mac batteries to an Apple Retail Store near you and they’ll recycle them for free.

So, it’s not at all difficult to grasp: You buy the Apple product, you use it up, you send it back to Apple for free, and Apple makes sure it doesn’t end up fouling the planet. A simple, clean, closed loop. No other tech company comes close to Apple on protecting the environment. Period.

MacDailyNews Note: To recycle your Mac, iPad, iPhone and other products — if your product has monetary value, Apple will apply that value toward an Apple Gift Card — use the Apple Recycling Program.

If all you want is to dispose of your unwanted equipment — regardless of brand — Apple Inc. will help you do that. Apple contracts with Sims Recycling Solutions to responsibly recycle computers and displays from any manufacturer. Sims Recycling Solutions feature domestic processing facilities where a zero-landfill policy and proven sustainability give you peace of mind in knowing that your electronics will be managed responsibly. Just call 800-966-4135 to receive a free prepaid shipping label. Then pack up your equipment using your own box and send it off. For more information about Sims Recycling Solutions, visit oem.srsapp.com/ApplePoweredBysims/.

More information about Apple’s extensive commitment to the environment here.

Bob Mansfield, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, to retire; Dan Riccio to take over – June 28, 2012