Greenpeace activists demonstrate outside the headquarters of Indian IT giant Wipro in Bangalore. After nine months of intensive campaigning by Greenpeace, Wipro has committed to phasing out toxic chemicals from its products.
Earlier in the day, Greenpeace activists had held a demonstration outside the company’s headquarters. Dressed in white haz-mat suits with protective masks and gloves to highlight the toxicity of electronic waste, the activists held up computer monitors bearing the letters ‘CLEAN UP NOW.’ Within hours, Wipro responded with a commitment to 100% RoHS (1) compliance by June 2007, and implementing a take-back policy for its end-of-life products by September 2006.
“For an IT company that thinks in clear binaries of ones and zeroes, Wipro has proven itself to be clearly decisive about phasing out hazardous chemicals from its products. Our question to them was direct: is Wipro ready to phase out toxic chemicals from their products or not? Their answer, too, has been unambiguous.” said Vinuta Gopal, Greenpeace India Toxics campaigner.
Responding to Greenpeace, Wipro has stated that on the 1st of September 2006, it will launch a free recycling policy. They will furnish information to customers on how Wipro’s products be properly recycled, as well as support a legislation that calls on manufacturers to take responsibility for recycling.
As for the highly toxic PVC and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants) in their products, Wipro has admitted that there is still a lot of research to do, but has committed in spirit to phase these out as well, adding that they will share a clear timeline with Greenpeace by the end of 2006.
“Wipro has lived up to its reputation of being a leader. It’s now up to the rest of the IT industry to follow suit, and fast. The government, too, needs to have a policy to guide the industry, and then ensure that there is 100% compliance,” added Vinuta Gopal. “Without that, Wipro’s move will merely end up being a flash in the toxic pan.”
This development follows nine months of intensive campaigning by Greenpeace activists and supporters. As part of its global Tox Tech campaign, Greenpeace is working to ensure that the industry shifts to the production of clean electronic goods which do not pose a threat to the environment or people. Sustained campaigning has already resulted in international market leaders like HP, Dell, LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony, Sony Ericsson and Nokia committing to eliminate some of the most hazardous chemicals from their products.
For further information, contact
Vinuta Gopal, Toxics Campaigner, Greenpeace India: +91 9845535418 
Ramapati Kumar, Toxics Campaigner, Greenpeace India: +91 9845535414 
Notes to Editor
(1) The Electronics industry uses a wide range of hazardous chemicals in its products and production lines. In July 2006, a European Directive (RoHS – Restriction of Hazardous Substances) came into force requiring the industry to eliminate four types of heavy metals (Lead, Cadmium, Chromium and Mercury) as well as two types of Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs). Greenpeace wants the electronics industry to go beyond the EU Directive and eliminate all BFRs and PVC.
For more information: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/
electronics