'G' in new 3G iPhone will not stand for Green: Greenpeace

USA: Statement by Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International Toxics Campaigner, on the iPhone 3G release:

“Based on information available on Apple's website, it appears the electronics company known for innovation has missed an opportunity to reinvent their new 3G iPhone, to be released July 11th, in green. While new product models such as the MacBook Air and the new iMac made progress compared to previous editions in reducing toxic chemicals such as PVC and Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs), Apple has not announced any new improvements in designing out the toxics (PVC, BFRs, antimony) that Greenpeace found present in the first generation iPhone.”

“A previous campaign target of Greenpeace for its lagging environmental performance, Apple has made a commitment to completely phase out of PVC and BFRs in its product line by the end of 2008; other leading mobile phone providers such as Nokia and Sony Ericsson have already displayed product lines free of these harmful substances. In June, Apple was ranked 11th of 18 companies in Greenpeace's latest Guide to Greener Electronics, scoring 4.1 points out of a possible ten.”

"The iPhone may be 'Twice as Fast' and 'Half the Price' as Apple advertises, but does it have just as many toxic chemicals as previous models?  Based on the iPhone specs from Apple's website, it appears that the "G" in the new 3G iPhone will not also stand for green. Steve Jobs has missed an opportunity to reinvent the iPhone in green and catch up with other leading mobile phone providers such as Nokia and Sony Ericsson whose product lines are already free of these harmful substances.”

The October 2007 analysis of the original iPhone by Greenpeace International can be downloaded here.