macnn
06/30/2008, 3:10pm, EDT
Monday, June 30th
Apple goes green on iPhone 3G packaging
Apple is pushing its green initiatives with the iPhone 3G's packaging, using potato-starch based products and avoiding plastics altogether. According to Italian webnews site setteB.IT, the Dutch blog Bright is reporting that PaperFoam, a paper-based packaging company that specializes in carbon friendly packaging, will supply packing materials for the iPhone 3G. PaperFoam emphasizes lower carbon dioxide emissions (compared to plastics), 100-percent recyclable materials and low product weight. PaperFoam uses an injection-moulding technology utilizing a mixture of starch and water inside a mould to custom fit the item.
The move may help Apple's green efforts, which recently took a hit in Greepeace's rankings. While Apple was praised for products that met or exceeded the Energy Star 4.0 standard, Greenpeace gave it a fail in all other forms of energy efficiency, as well as in its e-waste policies.
Greenpeace has criticized Apple, saying that Apple's iPhone is not in keeping with CEO Steve Jobs' promise to green the company. PaperFoam's packaging, in combination with Apple's cellphone recycling program may turn the tide in rankings by environment watchdogs.
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Apple's efforts...
... to go 'green' go above and beyond the rest of the industry, which mostly talks. It turns out, all a company needs to do in order to rise in Greenpeace's rankings, is 'promise' to do something.
Apple doesn't talk about what they do, but their various environmental programs do a lot more than empty promises.
first off...
Green Peace whines about everything anyway_ 2ndly - the packaging may have gone "green" - but that back side of the iPhone went from mostly metal to almost ALL plastic_ Why not stay with the metal form factor? Gives something else to Green Peace to bitch about_
Potato starch?
...So you can eat the box?
nope.
still not good enough for Greenpeace. even if Apple comes up with a box and phone made of compressed dirt infused with seeds that sow the ground with wildflowers when discarded. not good enough. ever.