Kudos to computer manufacturer Acer, which finally ditched toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in two recently-launched laptops. The move has been a long time coming for the company. Acer committed to eliminating the substances from all its products by the end of 2009, a goal it has yet to meet.
Earlier today, Greenpeace activists stuck it to the man by painting the words "Hazardous Products" in non-toxic children's finger paint across an 11,500-square-foot swath on top of HP's global headquarters in Palo Alto, California. The reason? HP's postponed commitment to phasing out dangerous substances like brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from its computer products.
Read More »
Greenpeace's Guide to Greener Electronics produces a new series of incendiary videos to alert people about how the big video-game system makers need to do more to rid their consoles of toxic chemicals.
Dell became the first major electronics manufacturer this morning to ban the export of electronic waste to developing countries. It's a practice that often leads to supposedly recycled e-waste being smashed, burned, and taken apart by hand--exposing workers to toxins in the process. The company also expanded its definition of e-waste to include all non-working parts and devices regardless of composition.
The theme of this quarter's Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics is toxic chemical bans, and some companies have risen up to the challenge significantly better than others. Greenpeace's quarterly ranking scores IT and consumer electronics companies based on chemical contents, recycling policies, environmental efforts, and energy consumption of products.
Read More »