Press release - March 23, 2007
NEW DELHI, India — Terming HCL's new plan for toxics phase-out from their products just the beginning, Greenpeace today criticised the company for falling short of making any clear-cut commitment to clean up its act. Greenpeace feels the new declaration on RoHS-compliance by the company is vague, and an eyewash, as it is silent on many crucial issues like phase-out of toxics substances from all its products or their commitment on time line for phase-out, and their intention on getting rid of other chemicals like BFRs and PVC.
Greenpeace activists challenging HCL a leading Indian PC manufacturing company with the evidence of highly toxic substances used in their products at its Noida head quarters.
"HCL's perspective and programme on phasing out hazardous
chemicals from their products are nothing more than an attempt to
erase massive brand damage from public memory. The plan is not only
shockingly inadequate, but also ignores the responsibility on their
part to manufacture clean products. HCL has failed to set a
benchmark and take a leadership position on this issue. This
declaration does not blend with their vision to create the
enterprise of tomorrow", said Ramapati Kumar, Greenpeace toxics
campaigner.
Greenpeace had confronted HCL on 20th march, 2007 with the
evidence (1) of highly toxic substances like lead, bromine, PVC and
pthalates extensively used in their products, asking the company to
start their clean-up process immediately. To this, HCL executive
vice president (commercial), Mr. Suman Ghosh Hazra had promised to
announce the company's toxics phase-out policy in the next couple
of days.
HCL's announcement to introduce "India's first eco-friendly
computer", after Greenpeace intervention only reflects that the
company had, till then, continued to willfully forget its corporate
responsibility to offer safe products.
Ramapati Kumar added "HCL's statement on RoHS-compliance is
specious and misleading. Far from being a commitment, it is a
continuing injury to human health and an assault on the
environment." Greenpeace demands that HCL live up to its stated
environmental obligations and come up with a time-bound plan to
remove toxic substances from its product line, and commit to a full
take-back policy for its end-of-life products."
For further information, contact
Ramapati Kumar, Toxics Campaigner, Greenpeace India @ M-09845535414,
Saumya Tripathy, Greenpeace India Communications @ M- 09880821149
Notes to Editor
(1) Greenpeace purchased one HCL laptop (model Ax 00014) in Bangalore, India in August 2006, and the presence of certain hazardous substances was investigated in a wide variety of internal and external components in Greenpeace Research Laboratory. Test Analysis report is available at www.greenpeace.org/india/press/reports/hcl-report
(2) Effects of hazardous substances on human health