It is sad to note that while the call for environmental responsibility is becoming stronger as the years go by, there are still many electronics companies that are refusing to heed the call. Some claim that it is simply bad for business, while some are trying to become environment-friendly companies but continually fail.
Greenpeace is among the many watchdog organizations that assess which electronics companies are making the mark when it comes to being environment-friendly company. In its 2008 list, it has named the companies below as the five least environment-friendly electronics companies by its reckoning.
Number 5: Apple
Apple landed the fifth place among the least environment-friendly electronics companies in the world according to Greenpeace mainly because it has failed to disclose information regarding its e-waste, except for its recycling rate, which was pegged at 18% in 2006. While the company did make some effort to remove the brominated fire retardants (BRFs) from its products, it has yet to make the same effort with the polyvinyl chlorinates (PVCs).
Number 4: Philips
Philips fails to meet the Greenpeace mark and made the fourth spot in its list of the least environment-friendly electronics companies because not all of its products meet Energy Star standards. The company is also vague when it comes to the amount of renewable energy it uses as well as on disclosures regarding its e-wastes. Also, the company was involved in regressive lobbying against individual producer responsibility with the European Union.
Number 3: Lenovo
Greenpeace rated Lenovo poorly and named it one of the least environment-friendly electronics companies in its list because it failed to disclose verifiable data on its take-back and recycling program, as well as on its e-waste. The company also admitted to greenhouse gas emissions and that not all of its products meet Energy Star standards.
Number 2: Microsoft
Microsoft placed second on the Greenpeace list of the least environment-friendly electronics companies because it was vague in its disclosure of handling its e-waste. But while the company committed to ridding its products of BFRs and PVCs, it scored low by the Greenpeace criteria because of its weak position on Individual Producer Responsibility.
Number 1: Nintendo
Greenpeace named Nintendo as the least environment-friendly electronics company for 2008 because it has not espoused any efforts to reduce its e-waste and is vague in its timeline to phase out PVC, antimony and beryllium from its products. More importantly, although it has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, the company has admitted to a 6% increase in the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from its production in 2006.
Greenpeace had noted that these electronics companies are in the position they are now because of the lack of definite plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their operations and because they do not show any true support for the need to prevent climate change. Some companies did exert some effort, but the effort is not really enough for them to be deemed environment-friendly.
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