How Green Is Apple? Why the Computer Giant May Need to Launch Another Environmental Campaign
Photo credit: Salvatore Barbera
In light of recent reports that Apple refused to allow its iPhone to be included in the first green ranking scheme for mobile phones conducted by the U.K., some are wondering how far Apple really falls from the environmental tree.
Earlier this year, Apple refused to implement a board committee on sustainability and publish an annual sustainability report, which adds to the speculation over how green Apple really is.
Back in 2007, Greenpeace launched a successful nine-month “Green My Apple” campaign, after which Steve Jobs announced the company’s shift towards becoming greener. Among Apple’s green initiatives were increased recycling efforts and plans to phase out Brominated Fire Retardants (BFRs) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), the worst chemicals in its product range. While Apple has lived up to its promises and then some, the manufacturer scored a measly 4.9/10 on the May 2010 Greenpeace “Guide to Greener Electronics” scale. Greenpeace may have motivated Apple in 2007, but some say another campaign might be needed.
True, Apple still does not provide a traditional sustainability report, but it does relate its sustainability data (which can be found on its website) to the relevant Global Reporting Initiative indexes, which were also used in the development on the 2009 Facilities report.
Apple’s 2010 Supplier Responsibility Report highlights the manufacturer’s efforts to make sure that its vendors offer environmental sustainability and fair labor conditions. The report reveals that Apple is expanding its supplier efforts, with the number of vendor sites being audited growing from 37 in 2007 to 102 in 2009. And Apple also deserves kudos for its expanded take-back and recycling program. The program has been extended to the Asia-Pacific region and recycling rates have increased each year, from a mere 18% in 2007 to 41.9% in 2008.
Read more about Apple and the environment here.
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Almost always I manage to get rid of my rubbish responsibly but it is at times hard to stay motivated whenever I see just what some nations seem to be doing to our planet!