Apple's site boasts "A Greener Apple" banner to announce a change in policy.
Today we saw something we've all been waiting for: the words "A
Greener Apple" on the front page of Apple's site, with a message
from Steve Jobs saying "Today we're changing our policy."
It's not everything we asked for. Apple has declared a phase
out of the worst chemicals in its product range, Brominated Fire
Retardants (BFRs) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) by 2008. That beats
Dell and other computer manufactures' pledge to phase them out by
2009. Way to go Steve!
But while customers in the US will be able to return their Apple
products for recycling knowing that their gear won't end up in the
e-waste mountains of Asia and India, Apple isn't making that
promise to anyone but customers in the USA. Elsewhere in the
world, an Apple product today can still be tomorrow's e-waste.
Other manufacturers offer worldwide takeback and recycling. Apple
should too!
Apple hasn't gotten an actual green product to market, but no
other electronics manufacture has either. That's a race worthy of
the wizards of Cupertino.
We've seen the enthusiasm with which Apple fans have greeted our
campaign to make Apple a green leader. They've made clear what they
want-- an Apple which isn't just skin-deep green, but green to the
core. One that creates products free from the most hazardous
chemicals, that they can buy and return with a clear conscience,
secure in the knowledge that Apple will re-use or recycle them
responsibly, and that won't end up in scrapyards or add to the
mountains of e-waste that the electronics industry has created.
Apple must begin to address these growing problems to ensure
that the workers and children of Asia and many developing nations
no longer face the unnecessary environmental and health dangers
posed by the high-tech industry's waste.
We look forward to working with the new, greener Apple in future
- toward the greening of the entire electronics industry.
And to all the Apple fans who have contributed their thoughts
and blogs and creativity to this campaign, reach over your shoulder
and pat yourself on the back. Put a happy tune on your ipod and do
a happy dance. You've proven you can make a real difference. You
convinced one of the world's most cutting edge companies to cut the
toxic ingredients out of the products they sell.
Now, let's take it to the next level! An Apple green to the core!
See the content from Apple fans!
Check out the great stuff that Apple fans have made to ask Steve for a greener Apple.
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