Apple: Environmental Record Improving

Nonprofit Climate Counts, rates Apple as “stuck” when it comes to taking meaningful action on climate change. Apple receives a mere 11 out of 100 on the Climate Counts scale, and is criticized for having “no publicly available information on efforts to measure its companywide impact on global warming”. Apple did make an effort in May of 2007, when Steve Jobs posted his “A Greener Apple” memo. Even GreenPeace showed praise with regard to Jobs’s promise to phase out of the worst chemicals in its product range, Brominated Fire Retardants (BFRs) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), stating “That beats Dell and other manufacturer’s… Way to go Steve!”

Although Climate Counts recognizes “Apple has completed analysis of the impact that many of its products have on global warming”, it seems the company’s lack of promised annual updates is keeping them at the back of the pack. Compared to IBM’s score of 77 and even second to last Nokia, with a score of 37, it would seem Jobs has some ground to make up.

As a consumer of Apple products, and one who considers myself a conscious consumer at that, I was gravely disappointed to read about Apple’s lack of follow through when it comes to being transparent about environmental policy. I do appreciate the company’s history of environmental practices, I would however hope to hear more from Steve Jobs about the next steps his company will take to reduce their impact.

Take Action Now and encourage Steve Jobs to follow through on his promise to keep consumers informed of Apple's environmental efforts!

** UPDATE MARCH 2009 **

I feel Apple has made legitimate efforts in the past year to become more environmentally conscious.  Part of their problem in this area has always been secrecy and lack of a policy stance.  If you analyze Apple's most recent products, most of them are made with more recyclable materials than their competitors.  Additionally, most of their notebook displays now use mercury-free LED backlighting (non-LED backlights are not even an option).  Printed circuit boards, electrical components, mechanical parts, and internal cables are BFR-free and PVC-free.