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Apple Ranked as Bottom Electronics Company by Climate Counts
by , 10:40 PM EDT, May 8th, 2008
![]() The Electronics category Climate Counts Scorecard |
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In the second annual Scorecard, Climate Counts evaluated 60 companies in nine different categories. The companies are rated on publicly available information in regards to their own approach, efforts, and policies to reduce global warming. This includes not only the companies internal efforts, but also their external focus on their various supply channels and other partners.
Climate Counts focuses on the "publicly available" aspect the information it evaluates because it is aiming the scorecards at consumers, whom Climate Counts looks on as a powerful force in changing corporate policies and efforts in the global warming arena.
"Climate Counts considers information made publicly available during the scoring period but is unable to evaluate information not also accessible to the general public," the group said in its report. "Information that must be specifically requested of companies by consumers and other stakeholders does not meet Climate Counts’ standard for public information."
According to the group's announcement, consumers armed with information are already affecting those policies. Gary Hirshberg, chairman of Climate Counts and CEO of organic yogurt maker Stonyfield Farm -- the company funding the group, said in a statement, "The Scorecard allows consumers to make good climate decisions in their everyday purchases, and it's having an impact."
It is, perhaps, that publicly available aspect of Climate Counts' methodology that has had the biggest impact on Apple's score. Apple, a company famed for its secrecy, scored 11 out of 100, the lowest score of the 12 tech companies in that category, and less than a third the average score of 39.3.
A look at Apple's individual scorecard, available in full in the group's report, shows many scores of zero in categories such as whether or not GHG (Greenhouse Gasses) emissions have been inventoried, goals having been set, what level of management has talked about those goals (still zero in the case of Apple, which Climate Counts said has not stated any goals to begin with), (public) management plans for reducing GHG emissions, and a policy stance on legislation mandating corporate caps on emissions.Areas where Apple did show a score include:
Has the company made successful efforts to reduce GHG impacts associated with the use of its products/services?" (4 out of 4)
- That score means, "Producing low/no carbon product line that realizes a reduction in carbon-intensity of the traditional line of products/services "
Does the company work to educate its employees, trade association, and/or customers on how they can reduce individual GHG emissions (through direct education programs, incentives, or philanthropic projects)? (3 out of 4)
- Those points are awarded based on specific educational efforts for employees or suppliers.
Has the company taken steps towards achieving reduction target? (Interim progress on reduction) (1 out of 8)
- Specifics on how that score was arrived at are not offered, but a score of 1 suggests Climate Counts has seen at least one effort at reducing Apple's carbon footprint.
Is the company publicly reporting on emissions, risks, and actions? How is information disclosed? Company-based (e.g., on their website or annual report) or through a credible third-party program (e.g., CDP, GRI, etc.)? (3 out of 10)
- A score of 3 says specifically, "Minimal/basic info available through third party (e.g., CDP)"
All other scores for Apple were zero. On a positive note, Apple's low score of 11 is nine points higher than it received in the 2007 Scorecard.
Observer Comments
Thu May 08, 2008 11:02 pm Subject: Screw Climate Counts
Fri May 09, 2008 8:41 am Subject: Greenhouse gasses?
Who is raising a stink here?
Whose button is "CLimate Counts" pushing and why? What do they get out of dissing Apple, because Apple doesn't wear its "Green" on its sleeves? We know that Apple has one of the best recycling policies in the computer industry and has changed its policies for parts in its computer materials in an effort to protect the planet.
They need to read my article on "Global Warming, the Cult of Gaia and 'Edidence' " in the Greenware section of the May 2008 issue of macCompanion magazine. http://www.maccompanion.com
So here we are at Climate Counts. Nobody's ever heard of us. Lessee... um.... Apple Inc. gets a lot of headlines. Maybe if we say they're doing something good for the environment, we'll get our name out. But wait, Apple is already pretty popular with the eco-conscious crowd. What if we put their name at the BOTTOM of our list. Then we'd be sure to get headlines all over the place! It just might work!
(Insert sarcastic tongue-in-cheek smiley here.)
Okay, I went to ClimateCounts.org to see what these guys are about. They have a staff of one (yes, you read correctly) and a board of directors. They’ve appear to have been in business less than two years. Their blog has ONE entry in it. They were founded by the “CE-Yo” (give me a break) of Stonyfield Farm, a small New Hampshire farm that mostly makes organic yogurts. In other words, Climate Counts has no credibility whatsoever.
Nonetheless…
Four times in their analysis of Apple, they write “Climate Counts [has] found…” In other words one guy in Manchester, Hew Hampshire, surfing the net could not find public information about Apple as he filled out their survey on Apple’s behalf. Join the club. Millions would like to know what Apple is up to. That doesn’t mean they aren’t doing anything. This is a secretive company!
ClimateCounts was “guided” through the development of this survey by a company called GreenOrder, a New York City based marketing firm that helps corporations, like Apple, greenwash their public image. One wonders whether public ridicule of Apple and other corporations isn’t designed to drive business to GreenOrder.
Like Fernando (aka Billy Crystal) said, “Remember, my friends. It’s better to look good than to feel good.”
Fri May 09, 2008 2:14 pm Subject: Climat Counts is a Sham
QuoteGuest wrote:
Also, Stonyfield Yogurt is not a small New Hampshire farm...
It’s what their web site says. I guess they were being modest.
But that’s beside the point. Climate Counts has no expertise or credentials in business or environmental science. Are they atmospheric chemists? No. Are they meteorologists? Physicists? Geologist? No. No. No. They aren’t scientists or experts of any sort.
The company’s sole staff member, Wood Turner, is the “editor/publisher/researcher/communications director/web producer” for GoodThings.com. He claims to have a “serious relationship with [his] computer” and he likes to ride his bicycle. And this qualifies him as an expert?
He’s just a guy with a keyboard like you or me who knows no more about Apple, IBM or the environment than any of the rest of us. Their scorecard is a sham. Their conclusions don’t hold up under scrutiny. And they certainly don’t merit the media attention they are getting from news outlets that don’t do their own homework.
Sat May 10, 2008 6:44 pm Subject:
How many people REALLY make their purchasing decisions based on a published (or unpublished) environmental stance of a company? Did you research GEs environment policy before buying that refrigerator?
People pay far more attention to the energy efficiency/water usage efficiency/whatever of their purchases than to the obscure published environmental position papers of corporations.
Sun May 11, 2008 2:38 pm Subject: Climate Counts for nothing
Climate Counts has an interesting attitude. Talk is more important than deeds.
Big or admired companies must voice climate change concerns publicly; not
because it will affect the climate, but because it will cause some to think that
"If Apple is so concerned about carbon footprints, I should be too." It is a
recruitment tool for weak-minded individuals to join the global warming cult.
Has anyone else noticed that all comments with names attached are skeptical?
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