How Green Are Your Favorite Electronics Manufacturers?
As 'gadget heads' it's a given that specs are going to be first and foremost in our minds when it comes to making a buying decision on our toys, but there are certainly other considerations beyond price, speed, processing power, OS and the like to take a look at. For one, how green are the manufacturing processes we are encouraging when we lay down cash for the latest must-have gizmos?
Granted, for the majority of us this line of questioning might never pop into our heads, but in a world where products are less expensive than ever, resulting in a flood of discarded electronics hitting the landfills, dumps, and hopefully recycling centers every year, it should be something that we give at least a little consideration to. Thankfully Greenpeace continues to take the lead on this, publishing the eleventh edition of its quarterly 'Guide to Greener Electonics' report last month. In it the top 17 manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones, TV's and games consoles are ranked according to their policies on toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change. Leading the way as it did in the last report is Nokia, with its comprehensive voluntary take-back program and reduced levels of manufacturing based toxic pollutants. Similarly, continuing to bring up the rear is Nintendo, with a "pitiful" showing regarding e-waste, among other criteria. All the other big names are there too, mixed up in the middle. Regardless of their standing all could stand to improve their processes and we to be aware of that. It just takes a second to check out the findings of the guide, either through synopsis or a downloaded report featuring promises made, kept and broken, etc. Obviously we will never base our buying decisions strictly on a rating system such as this, but it is another piece of information that deserves consideration before making a buying decision, so take a look.
--Tom Milnes
srikanth on April 02, 2009 at 09:14 PM
What about Intel?
Tom on April 03, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Mmmm. Good point Srikanth. I'm not sure about Intel's record, but I think that Greenpeace is looking at device manufacturers here and not component manufacturers. That shouldn't take the spotlight off their practices though. Thanks for the input. I'll forward it to Greenpeace.
Tom
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