The Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics ranks leading mobile phone, game console, TV and PC manufacturers on their global policies and practices on eliminating harmful chemicals, taking responsibility for their products once they are discarded by consumers and their impact on the climate.
The newly-added energy criteria (1) require companies to show
their political support for global mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions in the post Kyoto political process. Companies must
also commit to absolute reductions in GHG emissions from their own
operations.
Sony Ericsson stands out as the first company to score almost
top marks on all of the chemicals criteria (3). With all new Sony
Ericsson models being PVC-free, the company has also met the new
chemicals criterion in the ranking, having already banned antimony,
beryllium and phthalates from models launched since January 2008.
The best performers on energy efficiency are Sony Ericsson and
Apple, with all of their models meeting, and many exceeding, Energy
Star requirements.
"Sony-Ericsson, even though leading the race, has abysmally
performed in e-waste management like many other global brands.
Brands like LG, Panasonic, Phillips, Sony, Sharp, Toshiba and
Samsung even do not have any take-back system in India," said
Abhishek Pratap, Greenpeace India toxics campaigner. "Despite
being ahead in the race among Indian companies, HCL has failed to
address energy efficiency concern where as, Wipro, after its
initial eagerness, has failed completely on all fronts to move
forward," commented Abhishek.
Many companies score well on energy efficiency as their products
comply and exceed Energy Star standards, but most of these take a
limited view of this by only focusing on the energy efficiency of
their products (2) rather than including the production process.
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector
currently accounts for 2% of global GHG emissions (3), equal to the
aviation industry. As one of the most innovative and fastest
growing industries, Greenpeace expects the sector to take
leadership in tackling climate change by reducing both their direct
and indirect climate carbon footprint "Greenpeace aims to show
which companies are serious about becoming environmental leaders.
We want them to race towards meeting the new criteria: phasing out
other toxic chemicals, increasing the recycling rate of e-waste,
using recycled materials in new products and reducing their impact
on climate change," concluded Iza Kruszewska, Greenpeace
International Toxics campaigner.
1. For full explanation of the new evaluation criteria, visit:
http://www.greenpeace.org/electronics-ranking-criteria-explained 2.
Fujitsu Siemens scores full marks on the requirement to support
global mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Nokia leads the
pack on renewable energy, already deriving 25% of its total
electricity needs from renewable sources with a target to increase
this to 50% in 2010. Philips used some 10% renewable energy in 2007
and intends to increase this to 25% by 2012. 3. "Green IT - Dealing
With the New Industry Shockwave - Part 2" Gartner Presentation by
Simon Mingay for Gartner Symposium ITXPO 2007, 20 - 23 November
2007 Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Australia 4. Energy
Star is a joint United Stated Environment Protection Agency (USEPA)
and the US Department of Energy programme setting energy efficiency
standards for electrical and electronics products, more information
at: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product
5. Sony Ericsson stands out as the first company to score almost
top marks on all the chemicals criteria, missing this target only
by having unacceptably high threshold limits for brominated flame
retardants (BFRs), meaning that many of its products are claimed to
be BFR-free. Contacts Abhishek Pratap, Greenpeace India toxics
campaigner, 9845610749 Iza Kruszewska, Greenpeace International
Toxics Campaigner, Mobile: +44 7801 212992 Brikesh Singh,
Greenpeace India Climate campaigner 9880092210 Saumya Tripathy,
Greenpeace Communications, 09343862212
Download the Ranking Guide
Download the Ranking Guide