How the companies line up: 2nd Edition

This Green Electronics Guide ranks leading mobile and PC manufacturers on their global policies and practice on eliminating harmful chemicals and on taking responsibility for their products once they are discarded by consumers. Companies are ranked on information that is publicly available and communications/clarifications with the companies.

This ranking has been superceded by subsequent editions:

Third Edition April 2007.
Fourth Edition June 2007.
Fifth Edition September 2007.

It was preceded by:
First Edition December 2006.

	7.3	Nokia - Good on all criteria, but needs clear timeline for PVC phase out for all applications.
	7	Dell-Loses points for not having models free of the worst chemicals. Strong support for takeback.
	6	Fujitsu-Siemens- High score on chemical policy, some models free of worst chemicals. But should improve takeback and recycling.
	6	Motorola- Big improvement on all criteria, info on cleaner products, still to provide clear timelines for phase out of worst chemicals.
	5.7	Sony Ericsson- Some models without the worst chemicals, provides timelines for chemicals phase out, but needs better chemicals policies and takeback reporting.
	5.7	HP-Needs to do better on the chemicals criteria especially phase out timelines and greener products. High scores on takeback.
	5.3	Acer- Improved chemical policies but no models free of the worst chemicals. Needs to improve on takeback.
	5.3	Lenovo - Progress on most criteria but loses points for not having products free of the worst chemicals, on takeback and recycling.
	5	Sony- Some models without the worst chemicals, loses point for inconsistent takeback policies.
	4.3	Panasonic-Improved score but no commitment to eliminate BFRs, and poor on takeback.
	4	LGE-Improved chemicals policies, but no cleaner products on the market, loses points for inconsistent takeback policies.
	4	Samsung-Scores points for timelines for toxic phase out but poor on waste criteria. Loses points for inconsistent takeback policies.
	3.7	Toshiba-Some models without the worst chemicals and reports on recycling, but no timelines for chemical phase out and poor on other waste criteria.
	2.7	Apple-Low scores on almost all criteria and no progress.

Ranking criteria explained

The ranking criteria reflect the demands of the Toxic Tech campaign to the electronics companies. Our two demands are that companies should:

clean up their products by eliminating hazardous substances;

takeback and recycle their products responsibly once they become obsolete.

The two issues are connected. The use of harmful chemicals in electronics prevents their safe recycling when the products are discarded. Companies scored marks out of 30, which are then re-calculated to a mark out of 10 for simplicity..

Follow the link on each company name for the full details of their score. The full criteria for scoring the companies is available. Download the full pdf of the scorecard.

Each score is based solely on information that is on public information on the companies websites and internal communications with companies. Companies found not to be following their published policies will have a penalty point deducted in future versions of the guide.

The guide is updated every 3 months. The current version was published on the 6 December 2006.

Disclaimer: Our 'Guide to Greener Electronics' aims to clean up the electronics sector and get manufacturers to take responsibility for the full life cycle of their products, including the electronic waste that their products generate. The guide does not rank companies on labour standards, energy use or any other issues, but recognises that these are important in the production and use of electronics products.