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Apple places last in Greenpeace report

updated 04:55 pm EST, Wed December 6, 2006

Greenpeace on Apple

Greenpeace today updated its 'Guide to Greener Electronics,' ranking Apple as the worst technology company with regard to environmental issues. The quarterly update is designed to measure the technology industry's performance on environmental issues, ranking the top 14 manufacturers of personal computers and cellular phones. The update reveals that most companies are committing to 'greener' manufacturing processes by following recommendations to eliminate hazardous chemicals from products, according to Greenpeace, and are adopting recycling policies for end-of-life products. Apple has again placed last on the report, displaying a "bad green policy" due to its policies and practices of manufacturing hardware.

"Despite being a leader in innovation and design, Apple has made absolutely no improvements to its policies or practices since the ranking was first released three months ago," said Rick Hind, Legislative Director of Greenpeace USA's Toxics campaign. "Apple's bad green policy is not a wonderful life for workers in the scrap yards of the developing world, and we can't imagine that Steve Jobs would want to be the Mr. Potter of the high-tech industry this holiday season."

The organization notes that most companies now score above average points on the ranking guide, and only five companies failed to score the average of five points. Greenpeace notably mentions Acer and Lenovo for committing to eliminate the use of the most hazardous chemicals from their products, and honors Nokia which continues to hold the top spot in the ranking for both its chemicals policy and its disposal of electronic waste.

Greenpeace made an appearance at the Apple Expo in late October, handing out green Apple's as well as flyers to raise awareness about the Cupertino-based company's recycling and production methods. Expo organizers ejected the organization on the first day, however, after reportedly receiving numerous complaints about behavior of Greenpeace activists. Greenpeace returned for the duration of the expo without further incident.

by MacNN Staff

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Horsepoo!!!
Banned

Joined: Jun 2003

0

12/06, 05:19pm | report spam | close Reply |
Last?

Greenpeace sore for being ejected from Expo? Trying to strike back? I really doubt that Apple would place last. I've seen.

I used to like Greenpeace but I think they've hit an all-time low with this one.

Cardiakke
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Joined: Nov 2006

0

12/06, 05:27pm | report spam | close Reply |
Hypocrites

Greenp#$s are a bunch of hypocrites. Flying all over the place, all the time. You know, they just have to go to those important conferences that always take place in exotic locales. Tele-conferencing is not for these aristocrats.

e2Sync
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Joined: Feb 2005

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12/06, 05:34pm | report spam | close Reply |
Fine, just rang and ...

stopped my monthly support. After attacking the Afghanistan war and now this, my money will go to better causes. Now wonder the founder of Greenpeace is now at odds with the organization.

bsnoel
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Joined: Feb 2006

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12/06, 05:56pm | report spam | close Reply |
Green Peace

Attention: Green Piece! (no error)

No one cares about your petty little "Green Guide"! Your organization has little if any clout. Your science is skewed. Why waste your time?

iChick
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Joined: Sep 2001

0

12/06, 06:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
Take that, Apple!

LOL - they are still pissed because they got ejected at the Apple Expo. Green Peas is sooooo lame. Losers.

craiger77
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Joined: Sep 2002

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12/06, 07:03pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Hypocrites

Flying is nothing. Consider the thousands of gallons of diesel fuel their ships consume monthly. Ships also have no emissions controls and are considered one of the last big polluters around.

From what I can tell most of the reason Apple scores so low on this idiotic ranking is that they refuse to disclose to Greenpeace the information that it is based on. As we all know Apple is one of the most secretive companies around and just doesn't like saying anything about its manufacturing processes. It could be the greenest company on the list for all we or Greenpeace know.

jogdish
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Joined: Jan 2006

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12/06, 07:47pm | report spam | close Reply |
Well that's it...

because of Greenpeace's ranking I am no longer buying Apple products. As we all can obviously see the manufacturing process of Macs and iPods has devastated the planet. Just wait until they release the iSmallpox...then all will be over.

Monde
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Joined: Jan 2004

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12/06, 11:15pm | report spam | close Reply |
Greenpeace shmeempeace

The organization is beyond redemption at this point. The Apple is attack is a shakedown nothing less-nothing more. Perhaps this an attempt to prove they're relevant or something by standing in the limelight of Apple's success.

Common sense will tell you this-green peacers. Apple's smaller efficient designs use less natural and unnatural resources than their competitors. They last about 2-3 times as long meaning less replacement ergo less use of resources. They are proven to use less power than equivalent PCs-sensing a theme here yet-less resources. I could go on and on with the common sense stuff, but these cats use of pseudo science, bully tactics and questionable personal hygiene, make any complaint they have; laughable.

FYI running an auto through 2 tanks of gas 32 gallons of the stuff will put more toxins into the atmosphere than any residue from any computer-Apple or not!

Greenpeace-go suck eggs.

unity@mac.com
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Joined: Sep 2005

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12/07, 01:33am | report spam | close Reply |
Geeeeez

Well there go my donations too. Sick of these idiots. I thought I recall that years ago Apple had a great recycling program in place and was doing rather well - better than ANY other computer company except one, but cant recall.

christophersj
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12/07, 03:02am | report spam | close Reply |
All of you

All of you sound like you have financial interest that are being hurt by this report. I see more flakiness in your weak arguments than Greenpeace's.

The split with the former leader is over nuclear energy.

The types of toxins from a car burning gas and a computer in the landfill are different.

Greenpeace makes an effort to "cancel out" their carbon footprint from flying and sailing with other actions.

Honestly, thou dost protest too much. These arguments in the above posts sound more like propaganda than level headed reasoning. I ask the onlookers here to come to their own conclusions and not fall for the "O'Riley" style attacks here.

And I'm not with Greenpeace, but I do think they have educated specialists on their staff who look into these kinds of things. Its what they do.

Christopher Johnson

JEB
Junior Member

Joined: May 2001

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12/07, 05:23am | report spam | close Reply |
to be human is to be a

polluter. Just go about things as rightly as you can.

As for me, I honestly won't make knee-jerk assumptions about an organization that obviously has done more for bringing consciousness to protecting the planet than I have. But like most people (I hope), I do what I can.

I understand about longevity, packaging waste-reduction as a star on Apple's progress chart. However, if no-one is stepping up from Apple to address this more clearly, now, then I think it will be interesting to see how this issue plays out in the future, There's no doubt that the chemicals used in technology are very serious threats, especially when the recycling process is sent off to other countries, where you may not even hear of Greenpeace or their efforts. Who will take a stand then?

I think of this as a positive. A few people here seem a little worked up over an issue, that, really in the big-picture� . . . would Greenpeace, or Apple, really change much if you didn't support one/the other?

I will continue to support both Apple and Greenpeace; I think Apple probably does more than is really highlighted in the report, yes. I also think, both A & G are noble in what they do. I would rather err on the side of a cleaner environment. There are bigger fish to fry than this article portrays. (Hopefully, free of heavy-metals, mercury, etc.)

CJFlynn
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12/07, 05:34am | report spam | close Reply |
Agreeing with Christopher

Greenpeace is pointing out an issue that needs to be addressed. Landfills are a mess for a lot of reasons, partly because of their increasing mass and partly because they concentrate toxins that leach to the watertable, etc.

Greenpeace has a history filled with issues in which they were ahead of general population, issues that then became mainstream. Problems with electronics and waste are complicated issues. It is good that someone pushes the source of the problems.

And yes, I am an Apple stockholder, and I believe that Apple should lead, not follow, on this issue.

benj
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12/07, 06:58am | report spam | close Reply |
Apple Does a fair job

Why should Apple change its manufacturing policies according to Greenpeace's confabulated ranking? Apple's policies are clear and distinct. Some of these Greenpeace scores are not on current performance, but on published expectations. Apple doesn't reveal 'future" products readily and so if Greenpeace can't get the information- they score them low. Guilty until proven innocent. More technical renderings can be derived from: http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/Home/E83D58B3-10E0-4A9C-8847-BCE665EE235C.html Meanwhile- The fact that I just sold 2 2001 imacs which still operate fine and dandy accounts for the fact that the longevity factort of an existing product (where's your Dell from year 2000- in a landfill?) might outweigh these whiny Greenpeace attacks.

Arty50
Mac Elite

Joined: May 2000

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12/07, 10:21am | report spam | close Reply |
Some facts:

I don't know what Greenpeace is smoking. I dare you to find a computer or consumer electronics manufacturer who has a better recycling policy.

http://www.apple.com/environment/recycling/

Some highlights: -For customers in the United States, Apple offers a free recycling program of old computers and monitors with the purchase of a new Mac. -A free iPod recycling program, conducted through Apple�s retail stores, offers environmentally friendly disposal and a 10% discount on the purchase of a new iPod. -A trade-in program for educational and business customers in the United States has already diverted more than 60 tons of electronic waste from landfills since August 2005. -Apple�s recycling partnership with the city of Cupertino, California has recycled more than 155 tons of electronics. All electronics products are accepted free of charge, regardless of manufacturer. -We also participate in recycling programs in Asia, including national programs in Japan and Taiwan. -No waste from Apple�s US recycling program is shipped outside North America. All recovered materials are processed domestically, with the exception of some commodity materials that can be recycled for future use.

Monstermind
Junior Member

Joined: May 2000

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12/07, 12:39pm | report spam | close Reply |
f*** Greenpeace

Next time they show their scabby faces at an Apple event, kick 'em in the balls. Especially if they're elitist prigs like "Christopher Johnson".

testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001

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12/07, 01:01pm | report spam | close Reply |
Woohoo!

Hey, if you flip the list around, Apple's on top!

We're #1! We're #1! We're #1!

testudo
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12/07, 01:03pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: all of you

All of you sound like you have financial interest that are being hurt by this report. I see more flakiness in your weak arguments than Greenpeace's.

No, its not a financial interest. Its all about just spouting off at anyone or anything that dares say anything negative about Apple (or positive about Microsoft). If MS was last on the list, and Apple tops, they'd be talking about how this was a great organization that does alot of good work....after they finished mocking MS for their poor score, of course.

iKevin
Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Nov 2000

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12/07, 02:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: f*** greenpeace

Monstermind - I don't see anything that Christopher Johnson said that would make him an "elitist prigs".

resuna
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Joined: Jan 2005

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12/07, 03:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
The three "Re"s...

There's three "Re"s here... they're concentrating on the first.

Reduce Recycle Reuse

Let's say a Mac is 20% worse than a Dell in pollutants and packaging. If Macs stay in use on average 50% longer, they're still greener.

And Macs are probably the most re-used and re-sold personal computers out there. Count the lifespan of the product fairly, Greenpeace, and see where they end up.

Roehlstation
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12/08, 09:32am | report spam | close Reply |
Flaws in the site.

Many of the arguments Greenpeace has made on their site just have too many holes to be credible.

My first issue with the thing is statements about TakeBack programs. Honestly, why are they taking the responsibility off the consumer for what they do with their old computers? How many other companies out there take back their products? Look in your yellow pages for computer recyclers and you will easily find probably a page full of places you can take your old equipment everyday rather than say Dell's model which where I live they have one or two days a year where you take it to their distribution center. Whereas my local landfill offers it's own recycling program where they will pick up your system from your home or business.

Next, the toxins issue they discuss. I love how they have pictures of these children in landfills holding an old Apple Keyboard amongst the mountain of PC keyboards. I would guess the Apple ones weren't found there and were instead given to the children to hold for the picture after the picture the children gave the keyboard back to the person so they could take it back home to plug into their computer. Regardless of that, the RoHS standards didn't exist when those particular keyboards were made. But Apple was the first to adopt the RoHS standards completely by the target date.

Percentage of computers taken back. HP pledges to take back 10% of their machines. That 10% is as many computers as Apple is going to sell in an entire year. So HP is likely throwing away 9 times as many computers as Apple manufactures in a year. That 10% that HP is taking back is likely their higher end machines that they are taking back from companies buying 100s at a time, they offer to take the company's old machines as part of the deal. The company is being responsible (and believe me they are bragging in some press release) and HP seals a huge deal.

HP makes $300-$500 machines that are far more dispossible than Apple's products. HP uses the lowest bid boards in their systems at the consumer level and I've seen my fair share of HP boards that are NOT RoHS compliant.

What Is the most glaring issue with the site is the fact that Apple simply didn't disclose their guarded manufacturing techniques to an organization that isn't a governmental entity that they are required to disclose to. So the information in the rating simply isn't complete. Obviously the is a Greenpeace shakedown.

LordJohnWhorfin
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2002

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12/11, 01:02am | report spam | close Reply |
Shakedown?

Greenpeace? Shakedown? Naaaah... ;) You know, these ecological groups are starting to look less and less like people who give a c*** about the environment, and more and more like Tony Soprano. I keep getting calls from the Sierra Club, a California "green" organization, and they want me to cough up a $30/month contribution. Their biggest selling point for this level of participation? In their own words: "we won't call you for a whole year". Well, they got a few choice words of my own, and I no longer contribute. Whenever they call I yell at them and hang up. I think it's a sad state of affairs when groups that supposedly represent high ideals are led by common thugs.

jmills
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12/12, 08:52pm | report spam | close Reply |
Subjective reasoning

The report is based on a loosely defined 10 point scale. Several of Apple's direct losses in its score (in fact you could easily say the majority) are a direct result of Apple's refusal to hand over manufacturing methods to Greenpeace. You can't really blame them. Sure, there are probably altruistic people in Greenpeace, but all it takes is one jerk to obtain that list, no matter what confidentiality agreements are in place, to pass on to another party. Heres a clue Greenpeace: the fact that Apple denied you instead of ignored you probably indicates that they DO have that list, but arent going to show it to you; especially after you start drama at their Expo.

If you look at the second part of the scoring, Apple doesnt even do that badly. And the other points that it lost , not due to releasing manufacturing information, were results of 'committed but no timetable.' OK: The united states is in Iraq...we don't have a timetable for withdrawl etc...does that mean we are not committed to improving the situation and getting our troops home? Give me a break. Giving a timetable for PVC/etc removal actually provides a lot of hints to other companies as to when Apple is going to revamp its manufacturing process...which will effect product releases. Apple's main advantage is its' secret knockout punch. It doesn't want to blow its cover.

Plus , if you ever met anyone who worked for Apple, you would know that they are totally a bunch of hippies and this story is complete BS. The good kind of hippies.

And COMON. Three MONTHS? I don't know any company that can mobilize that kind of change in 3 months time. Just because Dell has something on paper doesn't mean the wheels are rolling. You guys are being a little bit ridiculous.

I love the environment, but the cause isn't helped by clearly baised reports such as this. You only set us back. Jerks.

test22
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Joined: Jul 2006

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12/29, 05:20am | report spam | close Reply |
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Apple places last in Greenpeace report

updated 04:55 pm EST, Wed December 6, 2006

Greenpeace on Apple

Last?

Hypocrites

Fine, just rang and ...

Green Peace

Take that, Apple!

Re: Hypocrites

Well that's it...

Greenpeace shmeempeace

Geeeeez

All of you

to be human is to be a

Agreeing with Christopher

Apple Does a fair job

Some facts:

f*** Greenpeace

Woohoo!

Re: all of you

Re: f*** greenpeace

The three "Re"s...

Flaws in the site.

Shakedown?

Subjective reasoning

test comment for cherry

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Apple places last in Greenpeace report

updated 04:55 pm EST, Wed December 6, 2006

Greenpeace on Apple

Related Articles

Recent Articles

Last?

Hypocrites

Fine, just rang and ...

Green Peace

Take that, Apple!

Re: Hypocrites

Well that's it...

Greenpeace shmeempeace

Geeeeez

All of you

to be human is to be a

Agreeing with Christopher

Apple Does a fair job

Some facts:

f*** Greenpeace

Woohoo!

Re: all of you

Re: f*** greenpeace

The three "Re"s...

Flaws in the site.

Shakedown?

Subjective reasoning

test comment for cherry

Login Here

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