Greenpeace, iFixit Criticize EPEAT For Verifying Ultra-Thin Notebooks

EPEAT, the registry program for greener electronics, announced on October 12 that five ultra-thin notebooks obtained gold ratings. Manufactured by Apple, Lenovo, Samsung and Toshiba, the notebooks "met the requirements of the criteria reviewed," EPEAT said in a statement. The findings, the statement assured, are a result of a "lengthy review of a number of specific criteria." However, Greenpeace, criticized EPEAT for giving gold ratings to the ultra-thin notebooks.

Greenpeace IT analyst, Casey Harrell, criticizes EPEAT, stating that including "computers with difficult-to-replace batteries in its green electronics registry will result in less recycling and more e-waste." iFixit levels the same criticism at EPEAT for verifying the MacBook Pro with Retina Display. In a blog post, iFixit called Apple's Retina MacBook Pro the "least repairable, least recyclable computer" encountered in over a decade.

When iFixit experts took apart the MacBook Pro with Retina Display, they found "it was glued together and completely non-upgradeable." Specifically, they found the RAM soldered in, the battery secured to the case with "impressively strong glue," and the case held together with proprietary screws. iFix called the MacBook Pro "not repairable, it’s not upgradeable, and it’s not easy to disassemble for recycling."

iFixit has strong language for the verification of the MacBook Pro, calling it a "clear case of greenwashing." The decision to give it gold verification "demonstrates that the EPEAT standard has been watered down to an alarming degree." iFixit also levels criticism at the EPA for "tackling the problem [of verifying greener electronics] indirectly" instead of pushing for legislation that requires manufacturers to "produce environmentally friendly products."

EPEAT began testing the five notebooks back in July. At the time, Apple said it wanted to withdraw its products from the program, but days later walked back on that decision. Harrell accuses Apple of wanting to withdraw from EPEAT because the new MacBook Pro "would likely not qualify for the registry." He also accused EPEAT of having "reinterpreted its rules to include the MacBook Pro and ultrabooks."`

"Is it a coincidence?" Harrel asked. "It’s unclear why EPEAT caved in, but the impact is that EPEAT has confused consumers and businesses who want to buy green electronics that can be repaired and will last a long time, and sets a dangerous trend for the burgeoning market of ultrabooks."

"EPEAT is committed to foster greener electronics and to give purchasers the tools to evaluate green claims," said EPEAT CEO, Robert Frisbee, in a statement. Frisbee claimed that the program has "rigorous environmental assessment processes that includes purchasers, environmental advocates, government, manufacturer, recycler and academic participants."

If the EPEAT verification process is so rigorous, then why are Greenpeace and iFixit criticizing the program's latest decision? Perhaps there IS something wrong with the program for giving gold ratings to ultra-thin notebooks. After all, ultra-thin notebooks are harder to take apart, and as ZDNET points out, that could "discourage people from repairing them or upgrading them over time." ZDNET also points out that one of the criteria EPEAT uses to rate a product is how easily it can be repaired or recycled.

What do you think?

Photo: Flickr user, bfishadow