Greener Electronics Microsoft Ranking – 7th Edition

Another newcomer to the Guide at the last ranking, Microsoft rises to joint 15th position, up from number 16. The company has improved its score across many of the chemicals criteria; it now has a definition of the Precautionary Principle (although it is difficult to access) and scores full marks for its chemicals management and for setting a new timeline of 2010 to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and all brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Microsoft now accepts individual responsibility for its e-waste (although there is room for improvement in its definition) and is reporting on the amounts of e-waste recycled as a percentage of past sales, albeit only for Europe. Microsoft fails to provide voluntary take-back for its customers’ end-of-life products or sufficient information to customers to score any points.