The electronics ranking guide has been our answer to getting the
electronics industry to face up to the problem of e-waste. We want
manufacturers to take responsibility for the unprotected child
laborers who scavenge the growing mountains of disgarded
electronics produced by our gadget-loving ways.
We've been happily surprised at how quickly many corporations
have risen to the competitive challenge. It's especially rewarding
to see more than a few CEOs openly vying for the top green spot,
and challenging their competitors to adopt industry-wide policies
to reduce the problem of e-waste.
In the current ranking, Dell and Chinese manufacturer Lenovo are
tied for second place. Dell scores top marks for reporting its
current recycling rate based on sales 7 years ago, and for a strong
global take-back policy for outdated gear.
Lenovo's support for precautionary policies and legislation
making producers responsible for their products at the end of their
lifetime translated into high marks for them. In the April version
of the ranking guide, Lenovo scored higher points for a global
takeback policy. However, our investigation of the implementation
of this policy in practice reveals incomplete implementation.
Both Dell and Lenovo's programs are not available outside of
countries where they sell directly, and neither provides complete
information on their takeback policies.
Sony-Ericsson and Samsung pull up third and fourth with limited
recycling programs in a few countries and good, but uneven,
performance on other criteria for removing toxic chemicals.
This quarter's ranking shows that 12 of the 14 companies
assessed have now scored 5 or more out of ten: an industry-wide
improvement in harmful chemicals and waste policies. Which company
will be the first to get top marks in the guide?
Apple rises, Sony falls
Sony is the biggest loser in this edition of our guide, falling
to the bottom alongside LGE, after being penalized for double
standards on their waste policies.
Apple was the lowest-ranked electronics manufacturer in
the last Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics, but makes the
biggest jump this time, into 10th place, thanks to pressure from
Apple fans around the world through the Green my Apple
campaign.
Apple may start to rival other, greener companies if their
much-awaited iPhone becomes the company's first truly greener
product. There's no reason it can't. Apple uses at least one of the
same suppliers that currently provide Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, and
other phone manufacturers with components free of PVC and
brominated flame retardants.
"Clearly, companies are racing to produce greener products" says
Iza Kruszewska, our Toxics Campaigner. "Steve Job's latest
commitment to eliminate toxics materials, moved Apple up the chart
and they now face a challenge, with the iPhone, to meet customer
expectations to be the environmental leader Apple-lovers want."
More and more companies are providing information on products
that are free from the worst chemicals. For example, as of March
2007, Panasonic has many examples of 100 percent PVC-free products
on the market, including DVD players and recorders, and now
provides a list of products that are PVC-free. Meanwhile, Nokia,
Sony Ericsson and Motorola are introducing increasing numbers of
models that are also free from PVC and brominated flame
retardants.
The Greenpeace Guide clearly demonstrates that companies are
starting to take responsibility for taking back and recycling their
own-branded waste, for extended voluntary programs, and for
providing information to customers on what to do with discarded
electronics.