EPA Gives Apple Silver Rating on Environment
by Bryan Chaffin, 2:10 PM EST, January 8th, 2007
The EPA rates Apple Computer highest amongst producers of notebook computers, and fairly well compared to producers of desktop computers and LCD displays. ArsTechnica noted Saturday that Apple was given a "Silver" rating in its Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), and met 17 of 23 "optional points" as set by the EPA. In comparison, Dell was also given a "Silver" rating, but met only 15 optional points (read the ArsTechnica story for a deeper breakdown of Apple's EPA ratings).
This comes in contrast to Greenpeace, an environmental activist non-profit that has cited Apple as being at the bottom of its own list of major electronics manufacturers. Greenpeace has claimed that Apple doesn't disclose all of its regulated materials used in production, and hasn't provided a time table for eliminating toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
For those interested in this issue, it should be noted that other environmental groups have targeted Apple in the past specifically because the company was so high profile. At the same time, the current EPA has a strong history of favoring corporations and turning a blind eye to many polluters. As is the case with any particular issue, the truth is more likely to lie in the middle.
Apple has invested resources into being environmentally responsible, including recycling programs. Its EPA ranking ahead of companies like Dell very likely represents the reality relative to the rest of the industry. The sad truth, though, is that no matter who is better than whom, the business of producing computers is not an environmentally friendly process, and almost all of Apple's production takes place overseas.
Accordingly, have a bag of salt on hand when hearing most reports on this issue.
The Ars Technica article:
EPA information should make GreenPeace red-faced over Apple targeting
By Mary E. Tyler | Published: January 06, 2007 - 06:23PM CT
If you've been following the Green My Apple movement courtesy of GreenPeace, you'll remember our recent coverage of GreenPeace's latest stunt: turning the NYC Apple store green courtesy of some tinted floodlights. In that article, yours truly took a lot of heat for assuming—for the sake of argument—that GreenPeace's word that Apple was a bad corporate citizen was accurate and that Apple had room to improve. Well... you know what they say about assumptions. GreenPeace has reason to be red-faced—at least if you believe the EPA.
A recent New York Times article on buying refurnished and environmentally friendly computers (free registration required) led to a nifty list called EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) made up by the EPA. Computers that meet 23 required environmental criteria get a bronze medal. If a computer meets 50% of an additional 28 criteria, it gets a silver medal. If it meets all 23 required and all 28 option criteria, it gets a gold. None of the 300 pieces of computer equipment rated got gold medals.
How did Apple do?
| Product | Kind | Rating | Optional Points |
Type | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Pro, 15.4-inch, 2.0GHz Dual Core | Notebooks | Silver | 17 | ||
| Apple MacBook Pro, 15.4-inch, 2.16GHz Dual Core | Notebooks | Silver | 17 | ||
| Apple MacBook Pro, 17-inch, 2.16GHz Dual Core | Notebooks | Silver | 17 | ||
| Apple MacBook Pro, 15.4-inch, 2.16GHz, Core 2 Duo | Notebooks | Silver | 17 | Flat Panel | 15.4 in |
| Apple MacBook Pro, 15.4-inch, 2.33GHz, Core 2 Duo | Notebooks | Silver | 17 | Flat Panel | 15.4 in |
| Apple MacBook Pro, 17-inch, 2.33GHz, Core 2 Duo | Notebooks | Silver | 17 | Flat Panel | 17 in |
| Apple Mac Pro | Desktops | Silver | 16 | ||
| Apple 20-inch, Cinema Display | Monitors | Silver | 15 | Flat Panel | 20 in |
| Apple 30-inch, Cinema HD Display | Monitors | Silver | 15 | Flat Panel | 30 in |
| Apple 23-inch, Cinema HD Display | Monitors | Silver | 15 | Flat Panel | 23 in |
In context, Apple's notebooks are the most environmentally friendly with 17 optional points. Apple's Desktop and monitors aren't top of the heap, though. The Mac Pro scores 16 optional points. Only three computers (out of 67) from Northern Micro (which makes the Spirit brand) do better (1@17 and 2@18). Meanwhile, HP, Lenovo and Dell don't break 14 points. At 15 optional points for Apple monitors, they are solidly at the middle of the pack along with several NEC models, but blowing Lenovo, HP and Dell out of the water because many of the latter's monitors only rate 13 points. Only NEC's flat panel monitors do better with 18 optional points (they're also the best scoring equipment rated).
So in the grand scheme, according to the EPA, Apple has the most eco-friendly notebooks, the 4th most eco-friendly desktop, and monitors that aren't too shabby. But, are they far and away better than other manufacturers? No. Could they be better? For sure.
Turns out that assuming that GreenPeace has their facts straight is a very bad assumption indeed. Of course, neither was my original assessment faulty: Apple also has a ways to go in being really "green." This is an area where Apple could innovate and really leave their competitors in the dust.
