Greenpeace Scores Apple Lowest in E-Waste Report Card
Greenpeace Scores Apple Lowest in E-Waste Report Card
by , 2:20 PM EST, December 8th, 2006
Greenpeace USA announced Friday that Apple Computer was rated at the bottom of its list of green electronics manufacturers. "Despite being a leader in innovation and design," the non-profit organization said, "Apple has made absolutely no improvements to its policies or practices since the ranking was first released three months ago." The second edition of the guide was released on Wednesday, and ranked Apple last of the 14 companies rated.
The report rates companies higher that have made public commitments to "eliminate the use of the most hazardous chemicals in their products and acknowledged that they bear individual responsibility for financing the take-back and responsible reuse or recycling of their own-brand discarded products."
The Mac Observer is investigating data being provided by Greenpeace USA.
[Edit: This article was updated for clarity. - Editor]
Observer Comments
Right, it's just whining and sniveling that Apple won't kow-tow to them--basically ignores them. You know, one would think that people would realize the juvenile tactics, and overall childish behavior of Greenpeace by now, but I guess there enough like-minded people in the world to keep them in enough cash to keep behaving like babies. Grow up, get a life, and try doing something constructive for once in your life.
Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:43 pm Subject: Get Ahead
So...based on the article link, it looks like other companies have been ranked higher because they've promised to do something about it in the future. Apple ranks lower because they won't promise anything.
So this really seems more like a ranking of "companies that want to play PR games with Greenpeace" and little else. From what I can tell, the actual PRODUCTS of these companies haven't really changed since their last report. Just their promises.
Can anyone think of a more meaningless ranking chart?
Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:47 pm Subject: Greenpeace is disingenuous
The Sierra Club has rated Apple pretty highly in their greenness, and i for one trust them more than Greenpeace.
Their original report was a sham. Given that the second report is relative to the first, and that Apple is already a pretty green company, it would be hard for them to move up. So the deck is stacked against them.
Greenpeace is attacking Apple because in so doing, they garner a lot more press for themselves than if they were to attack Dell or HP. This is simply a money making move for Greenpeace.
Edit: grammar
Stick with the Sierra Club. Greenpeaces has deteriorated into a PR-payoff seeking miniglomerate.
Go chase a company still manufacturing CRTs & having disposable batteries in their mp3 players. Go chase a company whose computers are trash w/in 3 years. I still have Apples clipping along that are 6 years old.
this is bull****. greenpeace is trying to hit apple back for shutting down their "peaceful" demonstration at the expo a few weeks ago.. how likely do you think it is that apple would be the very worst of the 14 companies? maybe i would have believed it if they were 12th or 13th, but last place is just too convenient.. especially when they've made moves toward recycling within the past year..
Sat Dec 09, 2006 7:56 am Subject: Based entirely on promises
This survey is based on what a company promises to do. I don't see any mention on where the companies are now. On the PVC issue, Apple says on it's website that it has removed all traces of PVC in parts weighing over 25g except for cables, which everyone in the industry does. The report also fails to mention two important things for consumer electronics: power consumption and packaging, both of which Apple have improved greatly over the past 7-8 years
C'mon guys...
I mean, the whole green issue is increasingly important to us. And you American guys (US) just don't compare well with others. I for my part, also think that GP is a radical organization. Too radical. But on this world, there is a need for radical organizations to balance out the opposite side or to initiate a societal shock once in a while (limitation: harm to body, international peace and stability are not excusable (e.g. 9/11, Iraq)).
And if it helps to raise awareness for this issue, why not?! Apple is still an awesome company, but IMHO they really could do a little better in things relating green issues. As Al Gore's on the board now, I hope this will happen in due time.
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