Nokia greenest says Greenpeace analysis

Green Electronics

Nokia 'greenest' says Greenpeace analysis

Five electronics companies improve Green ratings, says Greenpeace

Thursday, September 18, 2008

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WASHINGTON, USA:Five leading electronic companies are making significant progress in greening their products in Greenpeace’s latest Guide to Greener Electronics. Nokia regained the lead, winning seven out of ten points as a result of improved take-back practices in India.

“Most of the brands are responding to the more stringent chemical and e-waste criteria in the Greenpeace Guide and the recently added energy criteria,” said Iza Kruszewska, toxics campaigner with Greenpeace International. “Top scorers on energy efficiency of individual products are Apple, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung. Toshiba has also improved its climate policy.”

Fujitsu Siemens Computers jumps to third place, up from 15th place in June, with a score of 5.5 points. The company has finally set late 2010 as its deadline for eliminating toxic PVC plastic and all brominated flame retardants (BFRs) across its product range. Sony Ericsson, the cell phone company, ranked fourth followed by Sony, both scoring 5.3.

When burned, PVC releases dioxin, a well-known carcinogen. Additional risk comes from phthalates, which are used to make PVC malleable, but which are known to harm reproductive health. Brominated flame retardants are reproductive and developmental neurotoxins that can build up over time in the human body.

So far, no company has released a computer completely free of BFRs and PVC, though several have recently launched new products with restricted amounts. Last week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that the new iPod line will be free of BFRs, PVC and mercury, following the lead of companies like Nokia and Sony Ericsson.

“This is a great step by Apple towards its commitment to eliminate these toxic chemicals from all its products by the end of 2008,” said toxics campaigner Casey Harrell. “They should continue this positive work and improve their ranking by announcing a free, global recycling program.”

Philips stands out as the company with the worst position on e-waste and recycling. It ranks 12th with 4.3 points, retaining its penalty point for lobbying against Individual Producer Responsibility for financing e-waste recycling in the European Union.

Languishing at the bottom are Microsoft, which received 2.2; Sharp, with a 3.1 ranking, and last, Nintendo with a dismal 0.8.

The Greenpeace Guide continues to drive significant improvement in the industry. In addition to the above moves, Intel's recent announcement that its new Xeon 5400 processors use transistors made from Hafnium, thereby avoiding the use of fire retardants such as BFRs.

Source: Greenpeace

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