So, when does the fear-mongering stop?

I'm sorry, but even as an amateur reporter working for a games website, I find this a little, well, insulting.

Greenpeace have clearly not done their homework - a simple look inside a Wii or DS box (both of which I have close at hand under my bed), and I can tell you that my fairly mediocre local recycling point will deal with everything in them. As almost any gamer or electronics dealer will tell you, Nintendo products are always in massive demand on the second-hand market, meaning that there is rarely need to dispose of them, and when there is, as you state in the article, they offer a take-back program. They comply with every bit of legislation I can get my hands on, and yet, to Greenpeace, this is all entirely irrelevant if they don't email them back. It's either a superiority complex or just being petty. Or just plain lazy, who can tell?

It should also be pointed out that Sony's policy is somewhat obviously written as a marketing piece, and if you're impressed by their large figures, don't be - Sony make almost any electronic entertainment component I can think of, if as much of their stuff wasn't being recycled as it was, then we would have a serious issue on our hands.

For the record, my job means I'm officially "console neutral" and personally, I like my 360. This isn't insulting as a gamer, it's insulting as a journalist, and, well, as a rational human being.

Greenpeace response:

All companies must comply with legislation - otherwise their products would be illegal. Hence we are looking for progressive companies who are going beyond minimum environmental legislation. Nintendo doesn't get any points for doing what it legally compelled to do.

Other companies are removing toxic chemicals, not because they have to by law, but because they acknowledge that it's better reduce the toxic chemicals (not covered by laws) in their products.

Toxic chemicals like BFRs and PVC (that you can't see in a console) can make electronics very hard to recycle.

On recycling Nintendo has one phone number for US customers only where they direct you to local recycling. What about recycling in the rest of the world where Nintendo sells products? The most environmentally responsible companies offer customers recycling for their products where ever they sell them. That means they can reuse the resources in old products to make new ones. Instead a Nintendo spokesperson responded with:

A spokesman for the Kyoto, Japan, company, Yasuhiro Minagawa, said criticism of recycling information supplied with its products was "based on the assumption that recycling is good for the environment".

Nintendo doesn't have to "email us back" but it should at least be more transparent about it's environmental policies to everyone, like many of it's competitors are starting to do. We are very clear the ranking is based on publicly available information.

Honestly start recycling and stop wasting your time blogging if you care so much.

What the heck, are you some sort of idiots or what? :D

Nintendo tells people to give their old, non-wanted Nintendo products to someone who wants them and if no one is found they give instructions to recycling.

Also, Nintendo states this in their public policy on toxic elimination and recycling:
"As is stated in the manuals of the Wii console and DS Lite, neither product contains latex, lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). Additionally, we have been phasing out the use of PVC in our packaging, using a safer, recyclable plastic instead."

What is wrong with you guys? Can't accept the truth you are wrong?

Many thanks for your response, Tom.

I should point out, however, there is very little demand for the recycling on Nintendo products, as they are in phenomenal demand on the second hand market. Also, as a company that only make games consoles and games, which are, unlike many products of other manufactures (TV's, camcorders, etc.), considered collectibles - Nintendo products may not be being recycled, but neither are they being thrown away, making this all somewhat irrelevant, and there being little need for recycling information.

It therefore could be concluded that Nintendo have demonstrated either incredible foresight (with a mild superiority complex) and presumed people will not want to dispose of their products regularly, or that they're very, very apathetic. Given the way they treat Europe/Australia with regards to release dates, the latter option looks tempting...

I will give it to you, however, that whoever told Mr. Minagawa what to say is a serious problem. If I may make a suggestion, a focus more on resolving this demonstration of plain ignorance on Nintendo of Japan's part than on possibly unnecessary information wouldn't go amiss.

Thanks again for your reply!

What I see is all the electronic manufacturer makes product that are meant to be thrown away soon, while Nintendo is and always been making quality product that are made to last. I have a plastic toy that they made in the 80's that is still totally workable and that I would probably give to my kids.

For me the re-usability of a product is far more important than any other point. If you are marketing a product that will last forever compare to a product that is made to die after a year, this seems to be the main problem about consumerism.

For god sake!

Don't focus on the negative things! Instead blog about a company that scored fully on your green guide test.

Give them who tries to make a difference your energy and space (in your blog).

Talking about negative things will.. guess what! Produce more negativity!!!

David -

We've got to call them as we see them.

Of course, we do give credit where due. Sometimes companies move up in the ranking. For example, we applauded Apple's progress.

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Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!