Green Guide Ranks Computer and Mobile Phone Manufacturers
by an analogZONE special correspondent

Just in time for all you end-of-the-year bargain hunters, here's a guide to help you choose electronic products from manufacturers that take their environmental responsibilities seriously. Greenpeace's Green Electronics Guide ranks the top mobile phone and PC manufacturers on how well they've done at eliminating hazardous substances, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) -- as well as on their commitments on takeback and responsible recycling of their unwanted merchandise.

Nokia and Dell top the current ratings, with Motorola showing the most improvement, and Apple at the bottom of the Greenpeace barrel. Nokia earned top marks for "progressive policies on both its chemicals policy, as well as disposal of electronic waste," and Motorola gained points for "support of precautionary measures on hazardous substances and for having products on the market that are free from brominated flame retardants."

Motorola, which moved up from near the bottom of the list to number four, also scored well for its support of individual producer responsibility; voluntary take-back, informing customers about recycling options for their old phones, and for reporting on the amounts of discarded mobile phones it takes back and recycles.

"Dell's strong position near the top of this scorecard is due to its strong definition of the precautionary principle, timelines for substituting toxic PVC and BFRs, and explicit support for individual producer responsibility," according to Greenpeace. However, the group faulted Dell for not having models free of PVC and BFRs.

A Global Shift

"We are witnessing a global shift toward greener PCs, with Acer and Lenovo -- two major producers -- committing to eliminate the use of the most hazardous chemicals from their products range," said Iza Kruszewska, toxics campaigner for Greenpeace International. "Most companies now score above average points on the ranking guide."

Greenpeace credits its Green Electronics Guide with encouraging manufactures to perform better. "By turning the public spotlight on top electronics companies and challenging them to outrank their competition, the guide has succeeded in motivating many companies to improve their policies on chemicals and waste."

Here are the latest rankings, from top to bottom, with comments from Greenpeace:

• Nokia: Good on all criteria, but needs clear timeline for PVC phase-out for all applications
• Dell: Loses points for not having models free of the worst chemicals; shows strong support for takeback
• Fujitsu-Siemens: High score on chemical policy; some models free of the worst chemicals, but could improve takeback and recycling policies
• Motorola: Big improvement on all criteria; provides information on cleaner products, but still needs to provide clear timelines for phase-out of the worst chemicals
• Sony-Ericsson: Some models are without the worst chemicals; provides timelines for chemicals phase-out, but needs better policies on chemicals and takeback reporting
• HP: Needs to do better on the chemicals criteria, especially phase-out timelines and greener products; high scores on takeback
• Acer: Improved chemical policies, but no models free of the worst chemicals; needs to improve takeback
• Lenovo: Progress on most criteria, but loses points for not having products free of the worst chemicals
• Sony: Some models are without the worst chemicals, but loses points for inconsistent takeback policies
• Panasonic: Improved score, but no commitment to eliminating BFRs, and poor on takeback
• LGE: Improved policies on chemicals, but no cleaner products on the market; loses points for inconsistent takeback policies
• Samsung: Scores points for having timelines for toxic phase-out, but poor on waste criteria; loses points for inconsistent takeback policies
• Toshiba: Some models are without the worst chemicals; reports on recycling, but no timelines for chemical phase-out and poor on other waste criteria
• Apple: Low scores on almost all criteria; shows no progress
  
  

• Comment on this special report
• Return to the green-powerZONE