Environmental advocacy group Greenpeace is using Macworld Expo in San Francisco to delineate tending to Apple ’s use of toxic chemicals in its products . The organization also hope that Apple will lucubrate its recycling sweat globally . The grouping has also established a WWW site , Greenmyapple.org , to call attention to what they comprehend as Apple ’s shortcoming .

At a press conference Monday , Greenpeace legislative director Rick Hind excuse that Apple ranks at the bottom of 14 external mobile phone phone and computer companies , according to Greenpeace ’s own “ Guide to Greener Electronics . ” The grouping has also protested outside the Moscone Center , where the Expo is held , throughout the workweek .

Greenpeace sacrifice Apple an F

The Guide ranks company on a grudge of 1 to 10 based on the company ’s consignment to excrete wild substances in their products and their stead on recycling products once they become obsolete . Apple order 2.7 out of 10 , lagging behind Toshiba , Samsung , LG , Panasonic , Sony , Lenovo , Acer , HP , Sony Ericsson , Motorola , Dell and Nokia . While Nokia and estimator manufacturing business Dell rate at the top of the inclination , both of them were in the 7 cooking stove .

“ Nobody is get an A in this class , ” Hind suppose . “ We just do n’t think that Apple should be receive an F. ”

Apple took issue with Greenpeace ’s claims .

“ We disagree with Greenpeace ’s evaluation and the criteria they chose , ” an Apple spokesperson said . “ Apple has a strong environmental cart track record and has execute the diligence in restricting and ostracise toxic inwardness such as mercury , cadmium and hexavalent chromium , as well as many ( brominated flame retardants ) . We have also altogether eliminated CRT monitor , which contain lead , from our merchandise melodic phrase . Apple desktops , notebook and display each account better in class in the new EPA ranking systemEPEAT , which uses external standard put by IEEE . ”

Apple has posteda Web pagewith information on its crusade to protect natural resources , and how that factors into its product conception , manufacturing , energy efficiency and recycling effort .

Apple and other computer makers are required by laws in the United States and Europe to offer consumer recycling program for their equipment , but these laws do not exist worldwide . Greenpeace believes that Apple should voluntarily implement a worldwide recycling programme so that user anywhere can come back iPods and Macs that have broken or become obsolete .

“ The good news is that all of these companies agree that thing should change , ” suppose Hind . “ But 13 of the 14 top company have a better account . ”

risky stuff

Greenpeace is also concerned over Apple ’s exercise of toxic compounds in the manufacture of its equipment , including polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) , a mannikin of charge plate commonly chance in electronic computer cables and housings . Also at issue is Apple ’s utilization of brominated fire retardants ( BFRs ) .

“ We lately tested major brands of reckoner to find BFRs and PVC , ” suppose Greenpeace toxics nominee Martin Hojsik . “ test find oneself that the MacBook Pro mark highest for brominated flame retardent . ”

Greenpeace believe that toxic chemicals including BFRs , PVC , lede and other stuff ca n’t be recycled safely , especially when much of the workplace is being done by low - wage proletarian manoeuver in unsafe circumstance in China and third - earth country , grant to Greenpeace China toxics nominee Yihua Yue . She illustrated the point using photograph of Chinese children stand before piles of electronic waste — atomic number 99 - waste — keep back Apple - branded product like keyboard .

A more receptive audience

So far , Apple is the only company to deserve a dedicated entanglement land site from Greenpeace to promote improve its electronic waste disposal and use of hazardous chemicals . When postulate why , Hind explained that Greenpeace believe users of Macintosh computers and iPods may be more open to the group ’s content of environmental conservation .

So far , tell Hind , it seems to be working — he said that the Greenmyapple.com Web site has attract more visitor than any other Greenpeace Web site — more than half a million drug user since it was launch .

“ If Apple does not become a leader in this area , the manufacture will not become as green as quickly . They ’re prominently abstracted , ” he said .

Symbolically greening the Apple store

Greenpeace began the week with a protest out of doors of Apple ’s downtown San Francisco store , located on Stockton Street . The caller projected a heavy green - filter floodlight on the illuminated Apple logotype outside the edifice , and projected a picture recording highlight toxic engineering science issues on an adjacent building as well .

While the Greenpeace spokespeople agreed that lawmaking such as the European Union ’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances ( RoHS ) guideline and other legislative effort can help , it does n’t want to look for the humanity ’s government activity to die lawmaking compelling companies to comply .

“ What we need to underline in this hunting expedition is that this is strictly a corporate province , ” said Greenpeace toxics campaigner Zeni Alhajj .