Greenpeace gives Apple an F

At a press conference Monday, Greenpeace legislative director Rick Hind explained that Apple ranks at the bottom of a list of 14 international cell phone and computer companies, according to Greenpeace's own "Guide to Greener Electronics." The group has also protested outside the Moscone Center, where the Expo is held, throughout the week.

Commitment to Change Questioned
The Guide ranks companies on a score of 1 to 10 based on each business's commitment to eliminate hazardous substances in its products and its position on recycling products once they become obsolete. Apple received a mark of 2.7 out of 10, lagging behind Toshiba, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Sony, Lenovo, Acer, HP, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Dell, and Nokia. While Nokia and computer maker Dell ranked at the top of the list, both of them were in the 7 range.

"Nobody is getting an A in this class," Hind said. "We just don't think that Apple should be getting an F."

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Greenpeace is also concerned over Apple's use of toxic compounds in the manufacture of its equipment, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a form of plastic commonly found in computer cables and housings. Also at issue is Apple's use of brominated flame retardants (BFRs).

"We recently tested major brands of computers to find BFRs and PVC," said Greenpeace toxics campaigner Martin Hojsik. "Tests found that the MacBook Pro scored highest for brominated flame retardant."

Greenpeace believes that toxic chemicals including BFRs, PVC, lead, and other materials can't be recycled safely, especially when much of the work is being done by low-wage workers operating in unsafe conditions in China and third-world countries, according to Greenpeace China toxics campaigner Yihua Yue. She illustrated the point using photographs of Chinese children standing before piles of electronic waste--e-waste--holding Apple-branded products like keyboards.

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BobJones said:

I've seen that too, but its buried deep somewhere under tons of iphone blogging. Hey have you heard that there is another consumer show on in Las Vegas?

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