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Apple posts iPhone 3G ‘Environmental Status Report’

by Michelle Frey

July 21, 2008

Last week I called out Apple on the lack of any environmental information on the new iPhone 3G. Pre-launch publicity and specs for the new MacBook Air and iMac included information on how Apple was making progress on eliminating the worst toxic chemicals by the end of 2008. There was none of this for the iPhone, but last night I noticed a late addition to the iPhone tech specs:

iPhone 3G embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:

– PVC-free handset
– PVC-free headphones
– PVC-free USB cable
– Bromine-free printed circuit boards
– Mercury-free LCD display
– Majority of packaging made from post-consumer recycled fiberboard and biobased materials
– Power adapter outperforms strictest global energy efficiency standards

It’s good to see Apple reducing the use of toxic chemicals in the latest generation of the iPhone and providing more public information to customers and Apple should take these PVC-free accessoires (headphones, USB cables) and make them standard in all their products. However to equal or exceed standards set by Sony Ericsson and Nokia and be a leading company on toxic chemicals elimination, Apple still needs to eliminate other harmful substances (antimony, beryllium, phthalates) and make their products, including the next generation iPhone, completely PVC and BFR free.

The end of 2008 and 2009 is the date many electronics companies have set to eliminate toxic chemicals, will Apple be the first to make a truly green product?

By Michelle Frey

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