You might recall this posting where Apple says that the new Macbooks are the “greenest laptops ever.” However Greenpeace says hold on a second. That’s not quite true [Warning: PDF]:
While Apple has now positioned itself amongst the leaders in the electronics industry on phasing out toxic substances, to score more points the complete phase-out of PVC and BFRs in its iPods should be consistent across all other future product ranges. Apple also needs to commit to phasing out additional substances with timelines, improve its policy on chemicals and its reporting on chemicals management.
Apple scores poorly on most e-waste criteria, except for reporting a recycling rate in 2006 of 18% as a percentage of sales 7 years ago; however, it needs to provide details on how this is calculated.
It does slightly better on energy criteria for disclosing the carbon footprint of every model of product – although not exactly what is being evaluated in the criterion. Apple scores top marks (doubled) for all desktops computers, portable PCs and displays complying with Energy Star 4.0 and their iPod and iPhone power adapters exceeding the Energy Star standard, despite making this information difficult to access.
Well, that paints those new Apple commercials in a different light. In fact, if you buy into what Greenpeace says, the Apple claims are spintastic.
I wish a third party would come out and clear this up once and for all.
Cisco & Google Tie For First In Greenpeace Ranking Of IT Sector Climate Leadership
Posted in Commentary with tags Greenpeace on April 28, 2013 by itnerdI got a press release late last week that caught my eye. Greenpeace International has ranked of how tech giants provide innovative energy solutions that can help address climate change:
The ranking, Greenpeace International’s sixth Cool IT Leaderboard, evaluates 21 global IT and telecom firms on their leadership in three main areas: the companies’ offerings of IT solutions to reduce energy demand across the economy; their management of their own energy footprints; and whether they use their influence to advocate for government policies that encourage the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
This year’s assessment finds that companies have continued to make progress in establishing the sector’s key role in enabling a renewably powered economy, as more companies increased their own commitment to renewable energy. However, despite the IT sector’s green ambitions, companies are still punching below their political weight by not demanding a shift to energy policies that will unlock investment in smart grid and other IT clean energy solutions. Without those policy changes, technology companies will not be able to unleash their hallmark creative disruption in the energy sector.
Cisco and Google tied for first. Ericsson came in at third place in the analysis, Fujitsu in fourth, and Sprint, Wipro and HP tied for fifth.
I’ve noted when high tech companies have made moves to help the environment as it can help the planet in the long run. Hopefully, this makes other companies do the same.
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