Computer manufacturer Apple is to phase out the use of toxic and hazardous chemicals in its manufacturing.
The announcement has been welcomed by long-time critic Greenpeace,
which put Apple bottom of its environmental rankings of electronics
companies in April.
Among other things, Apple will remove arsenic in displays by the end of
2008 and will stop using polyvinyl chloride and brominated flame
retardants by the same date.
It will also start using LED backlighting for displays instead of mercury ‘when technically and economically feasible’.
However, Greenpeace said it was unhappy with a related Apple pledge not
to dump returned gadgets and computers in Asia and India, as this
policy applies only to its US goods. It urged Apple to offer a global
takeback and recycling service.
Apple founder Steve Jobs claimed the company’s policy of not talking
about its plans had led to misconceptions about its green credentials.
‘It’s certainly clear that we have failed to communicate the things
that we are doing well,’ he said.
