Wondering whether Apple’s public pledges of environmental responsibility would appease the company’s Green critics? Wonder no more. Greenpeace just publicly lauded the company’s suddenly forward-thinking stance on its own impact on the environment:
It’s not everything we asked for. Apple has declared a phase out of the worst chemicals in its product range, Brominated Fire Retardants (BFRs) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) by 2008. That beats Dell and other computer manufactures’ pledge to phase them out by 2009. Way to go Steve!
But there’s always more to be done, of course:
But while customers in the US will be able to return their Apple products for recycling knowing that their gear won’t end up in the e-waste mountains of Asia and India, Apple isn’t making that promise to anyone but customers in the USA. Elsewhere in the world, an Apple product today can still be tomorrow’s e-waste. Other manufacturers offer worldwide takeback and recycling. Apple should too!
Either way, a big change. One other note: In all the excitement yesterday, I somehow missed that Steve’s environment made a public commitment to start using LED displays this year, all but confirming a long-standing rumor that upcoming laptops would soon transition away from LCD technology. All of which makes me extra-happy that I have held off on buying a new computer, eh?
Eh? Enh.
Tasty news from Apple! | Greenpeace International
Technorati Tags: apple, green, Greenpeace
4 responses to “Greenpeace Thrilled By Apple’s Green Announcement”
“all but confirming a long-standing rumor that upcoming laptops would soon transition away from LCD technology.”
I don’t believe this is a transition away from LCD technology. The LEDs would replace the LCD backlight, which I think is now some form of flourescent lamp. This would eliminate the toxins (no more mercury in the backlight) and produce a brighter backlight with less energy consumption.
But I don’t think the LCD itself will change.
“One other note: In all the excitement yesterday, I somehow missed that Steve’s environment made a public commitment to start using LED displays this year, all but confirming a long-standing rumor that upcoming laptops would soon transition away from LCD technology.”
Err,… that’s LEDs for backlighting, isn’t it? OLEDs are a stretch away for computer screens.