Friday, March 23,2007 @ 10:25am
70+ groups urge Gore to make Apple green
Greenpeace and more than 70 other groups are urging Vice President Gore to use his influence on the Board of Apple to convince the Cupertino-based company to be a "green leader" in the electronics industry. Apple's Board of Directors, of which Gore is a member, is due to send out a statement recommending that stockholders vote against two proposals that would strengthen the iPod maker's environmental policies, according to Greenpeace. Draft board documents say that their board "unanimously" opposes both proposals, but Greenpeace and 73 other groups called on Gore to enlist his leadership in persuading Apple to instead support the proposals by making Apple an industry leader in making greener products.
"Vice President Gore, as a Board Member of Apple and owner of over $5 million in stock options, has the power to persuade the company to adopt stronger environmental policies. It would be shocking if Gore opposes any proposals calling for stronger environmental policies," Said Rick Hind, Legislative Director of the Greenpeace USA Toxics campaign.
Greenpeace activists have repeatedly urged Apple to "go green" by abandoning the use of toxic chemicals in its manufacturing processes and adopting a stronger e-waste "take-back" recycling program at numerous events and demonstrations, including handing out organic green Apples at the MacExpo in London and "greening" the 5th Ave. New York store. Apple scored low in a Greenpeace environmental report card in late August, and placed last in a Greenpeace report titled "Guide to Greener Electronics" prior to this latest Apple board movement.
"All we are asking Apple to do is apply their technological leadership to the environment. Apple should be the first company to put products on the market that are free of toxic substances such as PVC and BFRs and implement a global take-back program that accepts e-waste from all points-of-sale," Hind said. "As Mr. Gore would say, Apple merely lacks the political will to do the right thing."