Download Squad

OK, this isn't exactly a download. But all that software has to run on something, right?

Greenpeace has released their first ever global "e-waste" scorecard that ranks computer and electronics manufacturers in terms of how much effort they are putting into shrinking their environmental toxin profiles, and how successful they're being. Many people probably don't realize it, but most consumer electronics are potential mini environmental disasters: Lithium, Mercury, Bromine and Nickel--among other things--in batteries, switches, and relays; more lead than you can shake a stick at; petroleum-based plastic and polymer shells. And we haven't even gotten to the chemicals used in production or how the raw materials are mined and harvested. So how did the companies do? As you can see from the graphic above, not well. On a scale of one to ten, Dell and Nokia scored respectable sevens for their strong recycling programs and efforts to phase out some dangerous chemicals. In fact, their continued use of dangerous chemicals seems to be the only thing holding Dell back is its reliance on BFR-coated materials and PVC, for which companies lose double points in the rankings. The rest of their scores look surprisingly green.

On the other end of the spectrum are Motorloa and Lenovo, with scores of 1.7 and 1.3, respectively. Not much to say there, other than "shame on you." Apple, at 2.7, also loses out big, largely for playing nice with companies like Motorola. Apple itself has fairly high standards, but imposes few or no environmental requirements on its suppliers and contractors. They also don't match up to higher-scoring companies in the takeback/recycling department, offering take back policies in only five markets, and then only of their own products and only with a new purchase, although the policy is a little more liberal for corporate and educational customers. They get a "shame on you," too.

Of course, Greenpeace is hardly an unbiased source, so caveat lector, but it's an interesting start to what will almost certainly be a long and important discussion. Hopefully the next version will be a little more comprehensive. Where are the the chip makers, the big iron vendors? An electronics reprt card that doesn't even mention Sun, IMB, Cisco, Intel, or AMD seems incomplete to me.

[via J.Y.]