Greenpeace Blasts Apple In Latest Report

December 8, 2006: Apple again finds itself fighting environmental backlash as Greenpeace releases its updated report on the environmental practices and policies of PC and mobile manufacturers.

It’s the report that ranks the top 14 manufacturers of PC’s and mobile phones on their recycling policies and use of toxic chemicals. By branding a public ranking on these organisations, Greenpeace says many of them are now attempting to lift their game.

Most maybe, but Greenpeace claims Apple is determined to lag behind.

Of particular disappointment to Greenpeace is the fact that the Apple rates itself as a leader on design and marketing. With this, Greenpeace believes they should also be leaders in environmental innovation. By continuing to rely heavily on toxic chemicals and plastics and failing to publish environmental policies, it may well be difficult for Apple to get Greenpeace onside.

Overall however, Greenpeace believes most of the organisations ranked have joined the global shift towards greening up PC and mobile manufacturing. Acer and Lenovo especially gained points and moved up the ladder by harnessing a more eco-friendly approach to manufacturing. Lenovo previously held the bottom position.

“Most companies now score above average points on the ranking guide, with only five companies failing to score even the average of five points,” says Iza Kruszewska, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner. That’s a big improvement since IDM last reported the Greenpeace results. Back in August, the average score of all the companies tested was 4/10.

Greenpeace says the ranking system is important due to the growing amount of global e-waste, often ending up dumped on developing nations. By reducing toxic chemicals in production, recycling products once they are no longer needed can be made safer, easier and cheaper.

While Apple is busy promoting its black coloured Macbook, Greenpeace asks, ‘When will it come in green?’

The December results in order of best to worst:
1. Nokia
2. Dell
3. Fujitsu-Siemens
4. Motorola
5. Sony Ericson
6. Hewlett Packard
7. Acer
8. Lenovo
9. Sony
10. Panasonic
11. LG Electronics
12. Samsung
13. Toshiba
14. Apple

The results from August 2006:
1. Dell and Nokia (Joint)
3 HP
4. Sony Ericsson
5. Samsung
6. Song
7. LG Electronics
8. Panasonic
9. Toshiba
10. Fujitsu Siemens
11. Apple
12. Acer
13. Motorola.

Comment on this story.