Apple shareholders will vote on a resoluteness at the company ’s annual meeting May 10 on a proposition to move out certain hazardous chemical substance from their Cartesian product .
Apple ’s plug-in says it opposes the resolution , arguing that it already has adequate environmental monetary standard .
The closure was submitted byTrillium Asset Management , of Boston , an investment business firm that specializes in make socially responsible investment . It hold in shares in Apple and also is a member of theInvestor Environmental Health connection , which pressures public companies to off toxic material from its products , include makers of figurer , consumer electronics , fertilizer and cosmetics .
The shareowner resolution ask Apple to grow a study , within six month of the shareholder meeting , on the feasibility of “ eliminating persistent and bioaccumulative toxic chemical substance , and all types of brominated flame retardant ( BFRs ) and polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) plastic ” from its products .
sure flame retardants used in tour panel and PVCs have been shown to be toxic .
Dell has committed to eliminating the material from its intersection by 2009 but Apple , while showing concern , has been less specific , said Steve Lippman , vice president of social inquiry at wood lily .
“ Apple has just lagged , ” enounce Lippman . “ They have said they are addressing the issue , but they have n’t specify any timetables . ”
Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said the company particular on its vane siteits environmental standardsand lists risky chemical substance it is phase out of its products or already has .
In June 2006 , Apple announced it would cease shipments to Europe of certain product , including the eMac desktop figurer and the AirPort wireless access stage , because they did n’t comply with the European Union Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in electric and Electronic Equipment Regulations ( ROHS ) . Dowling said the eMac has been discontinued , the AirPort redesigned and that all its intersection are now RoHs - compliant .
In afilingwith the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission , Apple argues for a no vote on the proposal of marriage : “ Apple know the motivation for environmentally creditworthy production and has a record of curb harmful center that goes back over a X , ” it states .
Apple ’s environmental policy have come under fire from Greenpeace , which launched aWeb internet site campaignadvocating that the ship’s company adopt more stringent guidelines . The environmental establishment has repeatedly ranked Apple at the bottom of all engineering society on a card that tracks function of hazardous chemicals , recycling , and take - back insurance policy .
Environmental result wo n’t be the only topic on the agenda for the May 10 shareholder group meeting . stockholder will also reckon at whether to alter the rules on how stock choice are granted in the Wake Island of an on-going probe into option accounting irregularity at Apple .
Macworld.com contributed to this report .
