Green apple not quite ripe?

Greener Electronics Apple Ranking - 6th Edition

27 November 2007

Apple moves up one place to 11th position, having posted new information that all new iMacs and many of the iPods are now sold with brominefree casings and printed circuit board laminates as well as PVC-free internal cables.

The company has committed to eliminate all uses of PVC and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in its products by the end of 2008. Apple also provides examples of additional substances that it plans to eliminate (with timelines), such as arsenic in LCDs and mercury as well as providing “Material Safety Data Sheets” for all of its products.

But Apple still needs to provide a strong commitment to the precautionary principle and to Individual Producer Responsibility, post its Restricted/Banned Substance list on the web and improve coverage of its takeback programmes.

Missed call: the iPhone's hazardous chemicals

15 October 2007

Toxic Chemicals in Computers Reloaded

23 October 2007

There is growing concern over the use of hazardous chemicals in consumer goods, particularly with regard to electrical and electronic equipment. Some of these products, including computers, can contain heavy metals and other hazardous chemicals as constituents of their various components. The ongoing use of such chemicals has the potential to impact on the environment and human health as a result of the manufacture, use and disposal of these products.

Toxic Chemicals in Computers Exposed

18 September 2006

This study was conducted by Greenpeace to gain information on the presence of certain hazardous substances in a range of laptop computers, and to investigate testing methodologies for verifying their presence or absence. Five popular brands of laptop computer were purchased in Europe by Greenpeace in March 2006, and the presence of certain hazardous substances was investigated in a wide variety of internal and external components.