GREENPEACE GIVES HP, LENOVO & DELL AN E-WASTE PENALTY POINT

[Anonymous]

http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/ewaste-guide-11
HP, Lenovo and Dell get an e-waste penalty point
We’re
giving HP, Lenovo and Dell a penalty point in our updated guide, for
breaking their promises to phase-out toxic chemicals in 2009. Of the
world’s five top PC makers, only Apple is truly kicking the habit.
Meanwhile Philips has jumped from 15th to 4th place in the list of
electronics companies who are cleaning up their act.

Top PC makers are slipping behind
HP,
Lenovo and Dell had promised to eliminate vinyl plastic (PVC) and
brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their products by the end of
2009. Now they’ve told us that they won’t make it this year.The
phase-out of toxic substances is an urgent priority to help tackle the
growing tide of e-waste. Still, producers only go green when they feel
public and consumer pressure to do so. That’s why we campaign.Dell
produces a desktop, a notebook and several models of monitors that have
a reduced use of PVC and BFRs, and a few monitor models that are free
of these substances.Lenovo has two models available that are PVC and
BFR-free. HP is trailing behind, and has yet to bring out models with
even a reduced use of PVC and BFRs.While HP and Dell have yet to set a
new timeline for completely eliminating these substances from all their
products, Lenovo has delayed its deadline to the end of 2010.
Two-step
detox for companies: Come clean, go greenThe Guide to Greener
Electronics, now in its 11th update, shows which electronics companies
are investing to meet their commitments to remove toxic substances from
their products, tackle climate change, and introduce better recycling
and take-back policies. When electronics companies pay for the
collection (take-back) and recycling of their own products, they have
the added incentive to develop cleaner, more recyclable products.

Apple can do it
Apple
doesn’t have certified PVC-free power cords yet, but in every other way
its products are now PVC and BFR free. If Apple can do it, then so
should the other leading PC manufacturers.We believes all electronics
companies should have at least one toxic-free line of products on the
market by the end of the year. Acer currently remains committed to
phasing out PVC and BFRs in 2009.

Philips springing forward
The
Guide to Greener Electronics star this time goes to Philips — and the
47,000 people who sent emails to the company!The Dutch electronics
giant reacted to our e-waste campaign with a dramatic about-turn on
recycling and take-back. They’ve jumped from 15th to 4th place in one
go. Following public pressure, the company has significantly improved
its position on taking financial responsibility for the recycling of
its products when they become e-waste.Philips still needs to implement
a system to make it work, but we’re delighted with the direction
they’re heading in.Individual producer responsibility is the gift that
keeps givingRecycling costs are influenced by the amount of toxic
chemicals present and how easy products are to recycle.This “pay for
the mess you make” approach is called “Individual producer
responsibility,” and it’s crucial to the greener development of the
electronics industry.
Climate Change on the agenda

Despite an
overall slump in scores in the toxics categories, companies are
starting to improve their scores on energy criteria. IT is a key sector
in the fight against climate change and could enable emissions
reductions of 15 percent of business-as-usual by 2020.Samsung joins
Philips in publically demonstrating support for global steps to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and to tackle climate change. Dell and Nokia
join HP and Philips in making commitments to substantial cuts in
greenhouse gas emissions from their own operations.Several companies
are now increasing their use of renewable energy, with Nokia already
sourcing a quarter of its electricity use from renewables.

Climate challenge to IT execs
Exposing
electronics companies to public pressure is helping to green the
industry. They could do much more, not only to clean up their own act,
but to help the planet avoid runaway climate change.Introducing the IT
Climate Leadership Challenge. The aim this year is simply to get
influential IT execs to lobby key governments for a strong,
planet-saving agreement at the December 2009 climate change summit in
Copenhagen.Right now we can’t see anybody in the IT industry using
their access to politicians — and their influence as major employers
and wealth creators — to lobby for a strong Copenhagen deal. Meanwhile
dirty industries are lobbying like there’s no tomorrow. So we’ll soon
launch an international “who’s who” and “who’s doing what” of top IT
execs we want to see leading the way.

[Author]

April 24, 2009 at 12:17 PM