The global games consoles sector shipped 62.7 million units in
2006. Growth of 14.9 per cent in the year made it one of the
fastest developing sectors in the field of electronic products. The
low scores from leading manufacturers Nintendo and Microsoft reveal
that they still have a long way to go in improving their
environmental policies and practices.
"It's encouraging to see Sharp and Microsoft providing timelines
for the complete elimination of vinyl plastic (PVC) and all
brominated flame retardants (BFRs) across their entire product
range," commented Iza Kruszewska, toxics campaigner at Greenpeace
International.
The new edition of the quarterly guide shows important changes
at the top of the ranking. Sony Ericsson has taken over the top
spot from Nokia while Samsung and Sony have surged ahead to now
occupy second and third positions.
Nokia and Motorola have both received penalty points for
corporate misbehaviour. Greenpeace tested the implementation of
product takeback programmes in six countries where Motorola, Nokia
and Sony Ericsson claim on their websites to operate product
takeback programmes.(2) Nokia representatives in the Philippines,
Thailand, Argentina, Russia and India were not informed about their
companies' own programmes and in many cases provided misleading
information. Motorola staff in the Philippines, Thailand and India
were unable to direct customers to collection points in their
respective countries.
As a result, Nokia falls from top position to ninth and Motorola
drops from ninth position to fourteenth.
"Companies shouldn't be under any illusions that we won't check
up on their claims of green greatness," warned Iza Kruszewska.
Apple, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and Toshiba have recently
indicated that they now produce personal computers, lighting LCD
panels, camcorders and digital cameras - or at least major
components of these items - which are free of PVC and/or BFRs.
Firms which are upwardly mobile in the Greenpeace Guide are
those whose entire products, or major components of products, are
entirely free of specified hazardous ingredients. Companies which
simply commit to eliminating harmful chemicals sometime in the
future achieve a lower score.
"Commitments to coming clean in the future are no longer
sufficient to secure a top place in the ranking," said Iza
Kruszewska. "Companies that aspire to environmental leadership need
to be putting products on the market that are free of harmful
chemicals. And they need to offer customers, wherever they are, a
service to take back old products for recycling responsibly," she
added.
Other contacts: Iza Kruszweska, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner. Tel: +44 780 121 2992Zeina alHajj, Greenpeace International campaign co-ordinator. Tel: +31 6 5312 8904Omer Elnaiem, Greenpeace International communications. Tel: +31 6 1509 3589
Notes: (1) The sixth edition of Greenpeace International’s ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’ is available at: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/how-the-companies-line-up (2) Evaluation of Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson’s takeback programmes performed in US, Philippines, Thailand, Russia, Argentina and India