Greenpeace Responds

Posted by: Arik Hesseldahl on November 01

After last weeks column on Greenpeace and its repeated calling out of Apple regarding toxic chemicals inside its computers and the iPhone I got a phone call from Rick Hind, legislative director at Greenpeace’s Washington office. We talked for awhile, and I think in general we agree more than we disagree. I have no problem with Greenpeace’s mission of prodding the electronics industry to reduce it reliance on toxics, so long as public safety isn’t compromised. I do object to Greenpeace’s singling out Apple when by volume its nowhere near the biggest offender.

I offered to let Rick respond to the column in this space, and I received his statement by email last night. Read it after the jump.

Although we don't agree with the title of your October 26th column, "Greenpeace Loves to Pick on Apple," we were encouraged by your call "to develop truly green electronics." It’s urgent that this industry green their products. Electronic waste is growing globally by one million tons every two weeks."

You should know that we first initiated communication with Apple and other computer and cell phone makers in 2003. In August of 2006 we began publishing a quarterly Green Guide on the toxic substance policies of each company (greenpeace.org). Apple initially scored poorly but improved in May when they committed to eliminate the use of PVC plastics and brominated flame retardants in all products by 2008.

However, unlike other cell phone makers, Apple refuses to reveal what is in their iPhone. Our tests found PVC plastic and brominated compounds. We also found hazardous phthalates that may be in violation of California's Proposition 65 statute which requires labeling of products that contain substances that can cause cancer or birth defects.

When we released our iPhone results we also made a point of saying that Apple did comply with European Union (EU) standards. However, Apple's own policies say, “Where laws and regulations do not provide adequate controls, we will adopt our own standards to protect human health and the environment.” The EU standards do not yet prohibit PVC or the BFR (TBBPA) used by Apple. These substances pose serious environmental and human health hazards, especially to the child laborers in Asia who take apart our high tech trash for a living.

The iPhone launch was a unique opportunity to combine innovative technology with green design. In March we formally urged Steve Jobs to be a leader and market toxic-free products, such as the iPhone, and begin a global recycling program. In May Jobs decided to meet us half way. Fortunately most of the industry has already gone more than half way.

The same day your column ran we released our test results of laptops made by Dell, Sony, Acer, HP, Toshiba and Apple. Although we found toxic substances in each of the laptops, we also found enough toxic-free components in different brands to show that an entire laptop could be made with non-toxic components. Who will be the first to put that laptop on the market?

Rick Hind
Legislative Director
Greenpeace Toxics Campaign

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