Nokia regains the lead, ranking seven points out of ten (2). Its
table-topping score is due to improved take-back practice in India
(3).
"Most of the brands are responding to the more stringent
chemical and e-waste criteria in the Greenpeace Guide and the
recently added energy criteria. Top scorers on energy efficiency of
individual products are Apple, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung.
Toshiba is an example of one company that has improved its climate
policy," said Iza Kruszewska, Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace
International.
Fujitsu Siemens Computers jumps to third place -- up from 15 in
June -- with a score of 5.5 points. The company has finally set
late 2010 as its deadline for eliminating PVC plastic and all
brominated flame retardants (BFRs) across its product range. Sony
Ericsson ranked fourth followed by Sony, both scoring 5.3.
So far, no company has released a computer completely free of
BFRs and PVC, though several have recently launched new products
with restricted amounts of toxic BFRs and PVC. Last week, Apple CEO
Steve Jobs announced that the new iPod line will be free of BFRs,
PVC and mercury, following the lead of companies like Nokia and
Sony Ericsson.
"We see this as a very positive step by Apple towards its
commitment to eliminate these toxic elements from all of its
products by end of 2008. But, we are disappointed with the new
iPod's built-in obsolescence - high battery replacement costs
encourage a new product purchase," Kruszewska stressed.
Philips stands out as the company with the worst position on
e-waste and recycling. It ranks 12th with 4.3 points, retaining its
penalty point (4) for negative lobbying on Individual Producer
Responsibility in the European Union (5).
Languishing at the bottom is Microsoft, which received 2.2;
Sharp, 3.1; and Nintendo which remains rooted to the bottom with
0.8.
The Guide continues to drive significant change in the industry
with Intel's recent announcement that its new Xeon 5400 processors
use transistors made from Hafnium so avoiding the use of fire
retardants such as BFRs.
Other contacts: Iza Kruszewska, toxics campaigner, Greenpeace International, tel: +44 (0)7801 212 992Beth Herzfeld, press officer, Greenpeace International, tel: +44 (0)7717 802 891
Notes: (1) The ninth Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics can be found at: http://www.greenpeace.org/greenerelectronics(2) Nokia last ranked first in the fifth edition of Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics, September 2007. (3) According to Greenpeace India’s Take-Back Blues: An Assessment of E-waste Take-back in India, published in July, Nokia has one of the best take-back policies of all global brands in the country. See http://www.greenpeace.org/india/press/reports/take-back-blues(4) A company receives a penalty point if it is found to be lying, practicing double standards or any other corporate misbehaviour. (5) Philips, Sharp and Sanyo were members of the Electronic Manufacturers' Coalition for Responsible Recycling, a coalition of TV producers in the US, which lobbied against Producer Responsibility for financing e-waste recycling. It was finally dissolved in August. Samsung, Sony, LGE, Toshiba and Panasonic left the coalition after either being penalised or threatened with a penalty in previous editions of the Guide for their membership of the body.