The Guide to Greener Electronics provides an analysis of what 17 of the world’s leading consumer electronics companies are doing to address their environmental impacts. In this edition we evaluate three impact areas: energy use, resource consumption, and chemical elimination. Read the full report at greenpeace.org/greenerguide.

fairphone

Fairphone 

Fairphone leads the sector in reducing resource consumption thanks to a commitment to design a smartphone that is easy to repair and upgrade, as well as its efforts to improve product recyclability. The company is also most transparent regarding its suppliers .

Energy B Resources A- Chemicals B-

 

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apple

Apple

Apple leads the sector for its effort to adopt renewable energy for manufacturing and Apple is also strong on chemical management in both products and manufacturing. The company was the first to make a commitment to closed-loop production, however it’s moving the wrong way on repairable product design and is blocking efforts to increase customer access to repair services.

Energy A- Resources C Chemicals B

 

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dell

Dell

Dell stands out on its effort to reduce resource consumption, both by sustainable product design and it’s ongoing closed-loop plastic sourcing. Dell is lagging on renewable energy use and should be more ambitious in setting a goal to use 100% renewables for its own operations and its supply chain.

Energy C+ Resources B- Chemicals C+

 

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hp

HP

HP has started to reduce supply chain greenhouse gas emissions, however the company needs to be even more ambitious and commit to 100% RE for its supply chain as Apple has done. Like Dell, HP is scores well for sustainable product design--making products that are repairable and upgradeable.

Energy B Resources B- Chemicals C+

 

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lenovo

Lenovo

As one of the world's leading IT companies, Lenovo must set a more ambitious renewable energy goal of 100% RE to catch up with its peers like Apple, Google and HP.

Energy C Resources C Chemicals D

 

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Microsoft

Microsoft

While Microsoft has made a long term commitment to 100% RE for its own operations, the company lags behind Apple and HP in addressing its growing supply chain emissions. Microsoft is very weak on designing products for repair, however, the company leads in terms of restricting hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing.

Energy D+ Resources D+ Chemicals C

 

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acer

Acer

Acer scores slightly better than its Taiwanese peer Asus in terms of its efforts to reduce GHG emissions and resource consumption, however, Acer should set greater ambition for its climate responsibility and commit to 100% RE.

Energy C- Resources C- Chemicals D

 

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lg

LG

LG’s GHG emissions intensity is increasing. As a major supplier to many of the companies in the Guide, LG needs to quickly transition to renewable energy for its own operations and supply chain.

Energy D Resources C- Chemicals D+

 

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Sony

Sony

Sony’s commitments to address climate change leave much to be desired--Sony has very weak ambition in terms of shifting to renewable energy for its operations and reducing supply chain greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy C- Resources C- Chemicals D

 

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Google

Google

Google stands out as the strongest company on advocacy for renewable energy, but now needs to apply itself to transition its supply chain to renewable energy, in the same way its has made its corner of the internet renewably powered. Google also needs to improve transparency about its suppliers as it quickly moves into manufacturing more hardware.

Energy C- Resources D Chemicals C-

 

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#12 Hwawei

Huawei

As one of the top three biggest smartphone producers in the world, Huawei should bear proportional responsibility to the Earth. Huawei should commit to 100% RE, enhance transparency, and invest more in reducing resource consumption to truly redefine “Made in China.”

Energy D Resources D+ Chemicals D

 

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Asus

Asus

Among the Asian brands, Asus is unique in publishing information about its suppliers, however, the company is not showing real leadership on renewable energy, resource reduction or chemical elimination. Asus has an opportunity to lead the transition to renewable energy in Taiwan, if it commits to 100% RE.

Energy D Resources D Chemicals D+

 

Tweet @Asus

Samsung

Samsung

As the largest smartphone manufacturer, and one of the largest suppliers to others in the industry, Samsung has a large and growing carbon footprint, but has set only very weak goals to reduce its GHG emissions. Samsung lags far behind Apple, HP and others in tackling its corporate contribution to climate change and must quickly commit to use renewable energy for its own operations and its growing supply chain.

Energy D Resources D Chemicals D-

 

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Amazon

Amazon

Amazon remains one of the least transparent companies in the world in terms of its environmental performance, as it still refuses to report its greenhouse gas footprint of its own operations. Amazon provides few details beyond what is legally required on its sourcing of materials that are going into its devices, nor does it publish any restrictions on hazardous chemicals in its devices or being used in its supply chain.

Energy D Resources D- Chemicals F

 

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#16 Oppo

Oppo

Oppo is quickly emerging as a leader in smartphone sales, ranked 4th in the world and 2nd in China, however, it is a clear laggard in environmental responsibility--the company publishes no information about its sustainability efforts.

Energy F Resources F Chemicals F

 

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Vivo

Vivo

Vivo Like it’s sister company Oppo, Vivo is growing fast, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. Vivo is also a laggard in environmental responsibility, publishing no information about its sustainability efforts.

Energy F Resources F Chemicals F

 

Tweet @Vivo

Xiaomi

Xiaomi

Xiaomi is among the top 5 best-selling smartphone brands in China. Despite its branding effort to resemble the minimalist style of Apple, Xiaomi does not show similar commitment in environmental responsibility. Similar to Oppo and Vivo, Xiaomi is falling way behind in sustainability performance.

Energy F Resources F Chemicals F

 

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Throughout the Guide to Greener Electronics the following color and letter scale is used:

Best A grades are green

B grades are olive

C grades are yellow

D grades are orange

Worst F grades are red

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