Toxic Tech: Greenpeace Speaks

Greenpeace is smacking Microsoft and Nintendo for using toxic chemicals in their video game consoles, while applauding longtime target Apple for improving its green credentials. But the group's latest quarterly ranking of electronics vendors, issued Nov. 27, in the thick of holiday shopping, also spotlights the difficulty in measuring the environmental impact of such products—and raises questions about whether customers really care.

7.7 Sony Ericsson - New leader due to improved
takeback reporting, new models PVC free, but falls down on takeback practice. More

7.7 Samsung - Big improvements, with more products free of the worst toxic chemicals. Loses points for incomplete takeback practice. More

7.3 Sony - More products free of toxic PVC and improved reporting on recycling and takeback especially in the US. More

7.3 Dell - Unchanged since the last version, still no products on the market without the worst chemicals. More

7.3 Lenovo - Unchanged since the last version, still no products on the market without the worst chemicals. More

7 Toshiba - Much improved on toxic chemicals but
still lobbies in the US for regressive takeback policies. More

7 LGE - Unchanged since the last version, need better takeback for products other than phones. More
7 Fujitsu-Siemens - Unchanged since the last
version, needs toxic elimination timelines, better takeback coverage and
reporting of amounts recycled.

More

6.7 Nokia- A steep fall! Strong on toxic chemicals but penalty point deducted for deficiencies in takeback
practice in Thailand, Russia and Argentina during our testsing. More

6.7 HP - Finally provided timelines for eliminating worst toxic chemicals, though not for all products; needs to improve takeback coverage. More

6 Apple - Slightly improved with new iMacs and some iPods reducing the use of toxic chemicals, takeback programme still needs more work. More

5.7 Acer - Unchanged since the last version, needs better takeback coverage and reporting of amounts recycled. More

5 Panasonic - Unchanged since the last version, need better takeback coverage and reporting of amounts recycled. More

5 Motorola - Big faller due to penalty point for poor takeback practice in Philippines, Thailand and India revealed by our testing. Still no timelines for eliminating the most harmful chemicals. More

4.7 Sharp - New to the guide - some plus points on toxic chemicals elimination but poor takeback policy and practice. More

2.7 Microsoft - New to the guide - long timeline for toxic chemicals elimination (2011) and poor takeback policy and practice. More

2 Philips - New to the guide - no timeline for toxic chemicals
elimination and zero points on e-waste policy and practice. More

0 Nintendo - New to the guide - first global brand to score zero across all criteria! More