How green is Apple?

Thursday, 8 September 2011

Computer and electronics giant Apple Inc does not have a terrific track record when it comes to the environment. In the past, the company has been heavily criticised for its impact on the environment.

Greenpeace took them to task on numerous issues, most specifically for the products used in their computers as well as its chemical policies.

Eventually, Apple Inc bowed under the pressure, and in 2005 it announced its first product-recycling programme. But Rick Hind, head of Greenpeace’s toxics campaign, was quoted at the time as saying, “Apple is getting greener, but not green enough.”

But much has changed since then. Over the past few years, the company has made great strides in improving their environmental scorecard. By 2009, Apple Inc was the first company to stop using toxins PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and BFR (brominated flame retardants) across their product range, winning praise from many environmental critics, including Greenpeace.

In 2010, non-profit organisation, Climate Counts, also gave Apple Inc a scoring of 52 points out of 100, a significant improvement on past ratings and putting it ahead of most of their other competitors.

Inhabitat.com reported in 2005 that Apple made the EPAs list of top 20 companies promoting clean commuting and environmental practices.

By 2009, Greenpeace was awarding words of praise for the multinational for quitting the Chamber of Commerce and improving their environmental stance.

But it has not all been smooth sailing. In 2010, there was criticism from China after NGOs singled out Apple for dodging questions on their environmental record. There were also allegations that the lead and cadmium used to make the batteries and circuit boards were running into water supplies, causing health problems for thousands of people.

So it seems Apple Inc has not won over all of its critics, just yet…