Apple first to eliminate toxic PVC
Apple has just posted on its website that its has cleared the last hurdle in eliminating toxic PVC plastic and is the first PC maker to completely eliminate hazardous brominated flame retardants and polyvinyl chloride plastic in its new iMac and Macbook.
Removing PVC from PC power cords was the last step in Apple’s industry leading position on toxics elimination. Apple was first with PCs virtually free of BFRs and PVC (except for the power cord) in March this year. While HP recently produced their first BFR/PVC free (except power cord) model, Apple has again moved further ahead of the competition
While removing the last use of PVC might not sound like a big deal it means Apple’s new products will be safer and easier to recycle and cause less pollution at the end of life. There were significant technical and safety certification barriers to finding PVC alternatives but Apple has now proved it is now possible and has completed the phase out, while reducing product price and boosting profits.
Apple’s PVC free power cords are only available in certain markets currently but should be available more widely when safety certification is obtained.
This lays down the gauntlet to other major PC makers such as Dell, HP, Lenovo and Acer to catch up with Apple again, and we’ll be keeping up our pressure on them to match Apple’s lead.
A bit of history
Back in 2006 we launched our Green my Apple campaign because we knew Apple had the potential to lead the industry towards greener, less toxic products. Huge numbers of Apple fans also called for a Greener Apple and the new iMac and MacBook are the final steps on the road Apple started down with Steve Jobs May 2007 Greener Apple statement.
This news marks an active few weeks for Apple’s environment team. Apple deserves credit for these positive moves but also big credit to all those Apple fans who helped make environment a top priority for Apple.
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Comments
Dear all,
I am really so pleased that somebody as big as apple is trying to help this beautiful planet by going green.
Apple, I love you! I am not using Apple at the moment because I could not afford it but for my next purchase, I'll endeavour to buy Apple as a gesture of saying thank you for their contrebution of helping our wonderful planet and the future of our children.
Once again, thank you apple and thank you greenpeace for bringing it to our attention.
It is only fair to encourage all our friends out there to buy Apple.
AB
Posted by: abab | November 6, 2009 10:27 PM
@AB:
Apple has largely neglected the environment during the years, while many other large computer manufacturers have improved their products and processes to be less damaging. Apple's behaviour has shown that the company only cares for money. They are finally beginning to change their ways only because the Greenpeace campaign started to make Apple look bad, which in turn might hurt their huge profit.
So don't thank Apple - thank other computer manufacturers who did their part (and lost money by doing so) when Apple didn't, and of course thank Greenpeace for this campaign, which made it impossible for Apple to carry on being reckless. Not caring for environment for so long has made Apple more profitable, which has given it a competitive advantage against other manufacturers. Instead of rewarding Apple you should reward those who went green before.
Greenpeace is speaking so kindly of Apple now to give a nice feeling to the followers of the brand who came along with the campaign and forced Apple to change direction. Don't let this fool you: people of Greenpeace (I have no position there) know what kind of greedy and hard company Apple is. The nice words are for you.
This page gives some background to the campaign:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/greening-of-apple-310507
Here you can find Apple's environmental ranking from different years according to Greenpeace. Hint: if you want to save your time, search for Apple from the bottom...
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/how-the-companies-line-up
(Links to different years are below the indicator arrow)
Posted by: Ari T. | November 11, 2009 12:41 PM
thank you greenpeace for your best work ever..and also for apple
Posted by: dian wasaraka | December 26, 2009 2:12 AM