Greenpeace Downgrades Apple to 9th Spot in Guide to Greener Electronics

Apple has dropped to 9th place from 5th, in the Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics with the same score of 4.9 for failing to provide a public position on its support for immediate restrictions in RoHS 2.0 on organo- chlorine and bromine compounds.

Greenpeace believes “Apple does best on the toxic chemicals criteria, where it scores most of its points.”

The non-profit organization acknowledges that, at the moment, all but one of Apple’s gadgets free of PVC vinyl plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). PVC-free power cords shipped to countries where their safety certification process is still ongoing are the exception.

Apple continues to score full marks for this, Greenpeace notes.

“Apple scores points for its chemicals policy informed by the precautionary principle and for lobbying the EU institutions for a ban on PVC, chlorinated flame retardants and BFRs during the current revision of the EU’s RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electronics), but for full marks it needs to provide a public position on its support for immediate restrictions in RoHS 2.0 on organo- chlorine and bromine compounds,” the environmentalists add.

“It also needs to clarify its stance regarding the position of the trade federation TechAmerica on further immediate restrictions and in particular PVC and BFRs,” Greenpeace claims.

One measly point was gained by Apple on information about its management of chemicals and its supply chain communications.

According to Greenpeace, “this criterion evaluates disclosure of information flow in the supply chain.”

Finally, the organization again noted that Apple wasn’t doing a great job at providing the least amount of information about its future toxic chemical phase-out plans.

“Apple also continues to score poorly for the minimal information it provides about its future toxic chemical phase-out plans.”