Climate Action Brisbane: Apple

Showing posts with label Apple. Show all posts

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Windows Vista could cause "environmental disaster"

January 30, 2007
From IT Week (UK)

Microsoft's long anticipated launch of Windows Vista was somewhat overshadowed today by accusations the new operating system could result in "massive" environmental damage.

The accusations were led by Tony Roberts, chief executive of UK charity Computer Aid International, which provides refurbished second hand computers to education and social projects in the UK and developing world economies. He argued that the stiff hardware requirements needed to run Vista will force many users to upgrade or replace existing PCs that are still perfectly effective.

According to Computer Aid International as many as 10 million PCs could be discarded in the UK over next two years as they are replaced by Vista compatible hardware.

Roberts said that this glut of unwanted IT kit could lead to an "environmental disaster", noting that with the new WEEE legislation governing the environmentally sound disposal of IT kit not coming into effect until July many of these unwanted machines could find their way to landfill sites.

"If you imagine each of these 10 million machines contains lead and many other toxic chemicals then we really are storing up an environmental disaster," he said. "It is essential all this e-waste is properly disposed of through licensed schemes."

...

Read the article.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Dell moves towards carbon neutrality

Yesterday I blogged about how Apple should accept the damage their industry does and stand up to the challenge of being a Green Apple. Greenpeace said they could do this with the aim to become the leader in the field to match their attitude of themselves in the Information Technology and Communcations arena.

Come forward one day and it seems Dell has stood up and appear to be taking serious strides in improving the impact they have on the Environment. More than just the initial purchase but looking at the life of the products they build and sell.

It appears that green credentials and minimising impacts on the environment have become an area of competition in our capitalist marketplace. Bring forth the games!

Dell chairman Michael Dell has announced plans to make all his company's PCs carbon-neutral by planting trees to offset the power used to run the computers.

The vendor is working with The Conservation Fund and Carbonfund.org, both of which are non-profit organisations that plant trees in sustainable managed forests.

Dell also urged other technology companies to take similar steps to protect the environment.

"The customer experience starts with receiving the best value and continues with the knowledge that we are working with our customers to protect the environment throughout the life of their system," said Dell.

"Programmes like Plant a Tree for Me and our global recycling efforts empower our customers to participate with us in making a difference. It is our hope that other companies in our industry will join us to improve the environment that we all share."

Customers will be invited to pay $2 for a notebook and $6 for a desktop to offset the likely power use over a three-year period. The scheme will be started in the US next month and worldwide in April.

"Dell has focused on eliminating toxics from their computers, and has improved this by encouraging others to join schemes," said a Greenpeace spokesperson.

The vendor has also launched a Dell Earth scheme in which customers can track the company's green programmes online.

Dell has also finished a review of its recycling system and will recycle any Dell computer free of charge.

Read the article.

Other references

Climate Action Brisbane blog: 10 things you should know about tree 'offsets'
CES 2007: Dell launches 'Plant a Tree for Me’ initative for PC buyers

Thursday, January 11, 2007

How green is Apple?

Greenpeace recently launched a campaign against Apple after showing that they rated as one of the most environmentally unsound PC and Electronics makers.

Apple we're of course miffed and it seems many people are behind Apple.

Greenpeace has hit back and haven't apologised as some have suggested.

Apple are my computer and software maker of choice so it wasn't easy for me to see them scoring badly. However I do know that Apple are symbolic of the capitalist society we live in, where everyone, and not just companies will do everything within their power to increase their profits, or "shareholder value" for the companies. Even if it means damaging the environment. I think Apple should take this on the chin and make a stand, and most likely immense profits as the world itself turns green, and turn green themselves.

Snippits from the Greenpeace hit back:

one

... about Apple’s environmental record because they get... wait for it... silver ranking in the EPEAT procurement guide!

Ha! The EPA silver star is little more than a consolation prize which the US government hands out to corporations for complying with the law. And, to be honest, Apple really shouldn't be content with the Bush Administration stamp of approval. (Let's see, Bush gives the thumbs up to Nuclear Power, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and... Apple?) And since when is Apple content not to be Gold Star quality?

two

Our criteria are different, and more stringent. For example we want toxic PVC plastic eliminated, the EPEAT criteria allow it in parts less than 25g. (quick pop quiz - how many parts over 25g in an iPod nano?)

Zato commented

"Our criteria are different, and more stringent. For example we want toxic PVC plastic eliminated, the EPEAT criteria allow it in parts less than 25g. (quick pop quiz - how many parts over 25g in an iPod nano?)"

Ok? How many? Do you know? How much PVC is there in a Nano? Do you know? No, you don't.

And give me a break. There is more PVC in one 50 foot garden hose than in all the iPod Nano's ever sold.

A Walmart store probably has half a million pounds of PVC on the shelves.

Greenpeace responds

To Zato:

We campaign to get chemicals like PVC subsituted wherever possible, but e-waste and electronics are a big and growing issue, especially when the impacts move from the affluent West to poorer nations in Asia and Africa. So this particular campaign is focusing on this issue, with Apple as trendsetter.

How many garden hoses are dismantled and burnt by children in China when you're finished with them? How many garden hoses have a massive publicity machine behind them proclaiming environmental responsiblity? How many garden hoses have high-profile competitors who have already committed to phasing out dangerous chemicals in their products?

If you are actually concerned about PVC, rather than just trying to shoot down our campaign, why don't you do something about it?

Here's a good place to start:

http://www.pvcfree.org.

Climate Action Brisbane