What no greener Apple product line?
Several people in the Greenpeace office follow every Apple keynote like millions of other devoted Mac fans. Today a few extra of us were tuning in, expecting an annoucement that Apple had eliminated the worst toxic chemicals across their entire product range. Steve Jobs made this promise to eliminate toxic PVC and BFRs by the end of 2008 back in May 2007. In October last year he updated this and progress seemed good:
Last year we announced the unprecedented goal of eliminating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from Apple products by the end of 2008. I’m proud to report that all of Apple’s new product designs are on track to meet our 2008 year-end goal. Steve Jobs, October 2008
However the only new product Apple announced today was a new MacBook Pro with reduced amounts of PVC and BFRs. Good, but not what Apple had promised for 2009 and no substantial further progress than MacBooks announced in October.
Maybe there's going to be a new annoucement coming from Apple soon, but so far nothing new on the Apple site. For now we are keeping the praise on hold...........
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Comments
well, a bit confusing from Apple here. You'd figure that the company running the "greenest laptops" ads would be certain to stick to it's highest profile environmental promise. Figured that once they'd eventually eliminated all the PVC and BFRs they'd shout it from the roof tops today at MacWorld but it looks like nothing new since the October announcement.
The silence so far in 2009 doesn't bode well.
Posted by: crh | January 7, 2009 12:23 AM
Yes, very confusing.... It makes it seem like there is no more of those toxic chemicals in their new Macbook... Which is sad!!! So there is only less of PVC and BFRs in the new laptop??? Because they say there is none??? They also claim that their is no arsenic in the glass, and no mercury.. Are these all false statements??? Please fill me in, I am interested in this laptop, but only if they've made the changes that they've claimed to have made!! Thanks for your help!!!
Posted by: Rebecca Fischer | January 7, 2009 4:18 PM
I do believe it is an interesting move to only have consumers exchange their batteries by professionals. As it is more easy to have batteries in a Recycle Program thru the resellers and repair centers compared to collecting all battery waste from consumers themselves as they replace batteries at home.
Also, the by Apple presented as better battery is an interesting development by itself if it meets up to those standards thet say it will.
Posted by: Niels | January 7, 2009 6:47 PM
Hi Rebecca,
Quick response to your post. This post is saying that there appears to be some discrepancies between Apple's statement that the new 17in MacBooks are PVC and BFR free. When you look at the finer print on their site (linked above and available here: http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/environment.html) it appears that the product is not fully PVC and BFR free - internal cables and components free only. This a great improvement from Apple products made even 1 year ago. However, it appears that Apple hasn't solved the AC power cable (a common component that has PVC coating). We are hoping to get clarification from Apple but so far, no word.
While Greenpeace hasn't product tested the new 17in MacBook, there does not appear to be any discrepancies in Apple's written materials with the respect to the claims of Arsenic free glass and Mercury free product.
Casey,
Greenpeace
Posted by: Casey | January 14, 2009 7:59 PM
Hi There,
Unfortunately Im a bit confused about Apple and Green Laptops. The news seems to be quite controversial and contradictory for me.
Apple calls itself the Greenest and claim to have build the last laptop with their Macbook as the most greenest laptop at this
moment. Also the macbook Pro and AIR score well.
Now the confusion starts: Apple seems not score well at all at Greenpeace's test. Same with the EPEAT results, where they only score 21 point out of 27. However recently Greenpeace spokemen confirmed that Apple has the greenest laptop at this moment.
My question is whether this is true or not. If so then I am about to buy the latest Macbook straight away. If not, then I am more in the market of buying a Toshiba that clearly does well at the Greenpeace tests.
Editor's response: While the new Mac laptops are indeed greener - Mac still makes a lot of products that are not yet green. Hope this helps with the confusion.
Posted by: Simone | March 23, 2009 11:43 AM