Greenpeace Likes the New, Less-Toxic iPods

A post on the Greenpeace blog, signed representative tomD, reveals that Greenpeace is mighty proud of Apple's new iPod line. Apple made more efforts this year to remove all of the Arsenic, Mercury and PVC out of the materials an iPod is comprised of, but Greenpeace feels it's high time Macs got a little greener as well.

 

As you might have already heard, Apple's new iPod touch

2G and iPod nano 4G boast Arsenic-free glass (display), they are Brominated flame retardant-free, Mercury-free, and last, but not least, PVC-free.

 

“While these iPods may rock what would really shake up the computer industry is if Apple sticks to its promise and becomes the first company to make personal computers free of toxic PVC and BFR’s,” reads the Greenpeace blogpost. “That would be truly groundbreaking announcement.”

 

The Greenpeace representative explains that “it’s simpler to make small devices like phones, iPods etc without PVC and brominated flame retardants because they use less power (so generate less heat) and have few components. That’s why Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung have phones already free of these toxic chemicals but no company has yet cracked it for computers,” tomD says.

 

Having seen the progress Apple has made over the years, taking into account its latest struggles to lower the carbon footprint of iPods, Greenpeace trusts Apple can now “announce a free, global recycling scheme”. tomD claims “that would make a very tasty green Apple”. Greenpeace also hopes Apple can act by Christmas, a timeline even Apple will find very short.

 

The blogger also explains how Greenpeace is “keeping up the pressure on all the major electronic companies to remove toxic chemicals, improve recycling and be more climate friendly with [their] quarterly Guide to Greener Electronics”. Apple boasts an increasing number of products free of the worst toxic chemicals, but low scores on energy (except for good energy efficiency in products) on said guide.

 

Greenpeace first released its 'Guide to Greener Electronics' in August 2006. The guide ranks the 18 top manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones, TV's and games consoles according to their policies on toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change. On the Greenpeace chart of companies that are doing something to lower their impact on the environment, Apple ranks 4.1, out of 10.