Chinese e-waste scrap yard, as seen through a monitor you might have owned once.
The electronics ranking guide has been our answer to getting the
electronics industry to face up to the problem of e-waste. We want
manufacturers to take responsibility for the unprotected child
labourers who scavenge the mountains of cast-off gadgets created by
our gizmo-loving ways.
We've been happily surprised at how quickly many corporations
have risen to the competitive challenge. It's especially rewarding
to see more than a few CEOs
openly vying for the top green spot, and challenging their
competitors to adopt industry-wide policies to reduce the problem
of e-waste.
In the current ranking, Dell and Chinese manufacturer Lenovo are
tied for second place.
Dell scores top marks for reporting its current recycling rate
based on sales 7 years ago, and for a strong global take-back
policy for outdated gear.
Lenovo's support for precautionary policies and legislation
making producers responsible for their products at the end of their
lifetime mean high marks for them. In the April version of the
ranking Lenovo scored higher points for a global takeback policy.
However our investigation of the implementation of this policy in
practice reveals incomplete implementation.
Both Dell and Lenovo's programmes are not available outside
countries where they sell direct, and both do not provide
information on their takeback policies everywhere that they
should.
Sony-Ericsson and Samsung pull up third and fourth with limited
recycling programmes in a few countries and good, but uneven,
performance on other criteria for removing toxic chemicals.
This quarter's ranking shows that 12 of the 14 companies
assessed have now scored 5 or more out of ten: an industry-wide
improvement in harmful chemicals and waste policies. Which company
will be the first to get top marks in the guide? You can challenge
the top computer makers to
produce a greener computer right now.
Apple rises, Sony falls
Sony is the biggest loser in the race this edition, languishing
at the bottom along with LGE, penalised for double standards on
their waste policies.
Apple was the lowest-ranked electronics manufacturer in
the last Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics, but makes the
biggest jump this time, into 10th place, thanks to pressure from
Apple fans around the world through the Green my Apple
campaign.
Apple may start to rival other, greener companies if their
much-awaited iPhone becomes the company's first truly greener
product.
There's no reason it can't. Apple uses at least one of the same
suppliers that currently provide Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, and other
phone manufacturers with components free of PVC and brominated
flame retardants.
"Clearly, companies are racing to produce greener products" says
Iza Kruszewska, our Toxics Campaigner. "Steve Job's latest
commitment to eliminate toxics materials, moved Apple up the chart
and they now face a challenge, with the iPhone, to meet customer
expectations to be the environmental leader Apple-lovers want."
More and more companies are providing information on products
that are free from the worst chemicals. For example, as of March
2007, Panasonic has many examples of 100 percent PVC-free products
on the market, including DVD players and recorders, home cinemas,
video players, and now provides a list of products that are
PVC-free. Meanwhile, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Motorola are
introducing increasing numbers of models that are also free from
PVC and brominated flame retardants.
The Greenpeace Guide clearly demonstrates that companies are
starting to act on their responsibility for taking back and
recycling their own-branded waste, more and more extended voluntary
programmes and providing information to customers on what to do
with discarded electronics.
Take action
Challenge the electronics industry to create a green computer. Who will be the first perfect 10?
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