iPhone Bad For Environment, Says Greenpeace
Back in May, Apple head Steve Jobs pledged that his company would become greener and that it would out-pace the competition when it came to removing toxic chemicals from the production of its devices. This was largely seen as a response to a Greenpeace-led campaign, which exposed the environmentally harmful nasties used in the production of Apple products and which named Apple one of the top environmental offenders. Now, Greenpeace is at it again, calling Apple out for taking a step backwards when it comes to the toxic chemicals found in the iPhone.
The environmental group got its hands on one of Apple's new handsets and took it apart, analyzing the various bits and pieces inside and finding a number of toxic chemicals present. These include Bromine, a toxin used as a flame retardant, and Phthalates, a plastic softener banned in European toys thanks to its apparent impact on hormone levels in children. Greenpeace also knocks the phone's overall design, taking particular issue with the soldered-in battery, which is hard to replace and difficult to remove when it comes time to recycle the phone.
Greenpeace claims that, "Apple is far from leading the way for a green electronics industry as competitors, like Nokia, already sell mobile phones free of PVC." Based on these findings it's hard to doubt that Apple took a bit of a step back from its green initiative to get the iPhone out the door. The question is, will the company respond to this Greenpeace challenge like it did the last?
For now, see how Apple's environmental policies stack up to other tech manufacturers such as Dell, Samsung and Sony.
From Greenpeace
Related Links:
- Earth Day's Tech Losers
- Apple Getting Greener
- Not-So-Earth-Friendly Tech
- Hollywood Maestro Mark Mancina Loves His iPhone





Rookie Cop Reportedly Berated, Called 'A Rat' For Arresting Off-Duty Officer
Rodents Run Amok at Upstate New York Walmart
Walmart Ending Membership in Conservative Group
Apple CEO Tim Cook interview at D10: the liveblog
How I Went Bankrupt at 23
Can a New Guy Save Best Buy?
Woman Claims Kangaroo Stalked Her for 2 Days, Then Attacked
Beyonce 60-Pound Weight Loss: Queen B Flaunts New Figure During Comeback Concert Series
I'm A Successful Entrepreneur But Might Get Deported
Facebook, Week Two: Fortunes Made and Fortunes Lost (Mostly Lost)















Comments
89
Subscribe to commentsFLUsteredOct 16th 2007 11:34PM
Important safety tip: don't eat your iPhone. Thank you, Greenpeace.
DaveOct 16th 2007 5:40AM
wreck-0 says:
who gives a $hit. Greenpeace is a coalition of wheat grass drinking, hemp wearing, bicycle riding, vegetarian hippys. We need to make an island and send all these hippys there. We will make sure to have plenty of trees on the island for you retards to sleep in.
10/15/07 11:16 AM
Umm...Wreck-o, do you mean that people who want reduce, reuse and recycle are flower children or, have umm, big hips? Just wondering...
waasm2001Oct 16th 2007 7:16AM
if they've lied to us...it's no more of a lie than our government tells us.
PhilOct 16th 2007 7:58AM
We should all be very fearful of greenpeace. For years they have been saying that humans are the worst thing for the environment (before it was because of our use of resources). Now that they've found this carbon link, they will really begin to hunt down the wicked ones that we all are. Afterall, nothing produces more carbon than animal life. I envision a world where Hitlers super race and genocide become a reality where only anorexic people who swing from trees will be allowed to live with all others being exterminated and it won't be Nazi Germany who will make it happen... it will be the Democratic USA. Remember my words my friends and remember this... next time some great professor is speaking on the topic, ask him if the process can be reversed? The answer is no. This is part of the Earth's life cycle, it has doen it before and will do it again. It is inevitible. Are we speeding up the process a bit? Perhaps. But it is inevitible and that is just the way that it is. They're just ticked off cause they can't outsmart God on this one.
LisaOct 16th 2007 8:27AM
How sad...so many of the comments on this board are indicative of the self centered,over entitled, narcissistic attitude that permeates our culture and will continue to bring on the demise of our environment. No one is asking people to "cave dwell"...just to stop and consider the effects of their choices and to support those organizations that care about BALANCE. And for those who are clueless, I'm not talking "checkbook" I'm speaking of the cycle of "give and take."
Jim FallonOct 16th 2007 8:54AM
Greenpeace was once a group of concerned envronmentalists. Over the years a group of well intentioned activists has become a group of eco-terrorists. Aided and abetted by a liberal press their main purpose seems to be the extortion of large donations from targeted companies. Apple Computer is a fine and reputable firm whose offense is probably a refusal to pay ransom to these eco-terrorists and has been targeted for a vicious smear campaign. The only thing Greenpeace wants to keep green is their bank accoubt.
MackenzieOct 19th 2007 12:42AM
"Green peace needs to pick its fights more carefully, if it wants to be considered a serious defender of the environment. Bad mouthing iphones, which is considered a necessity for a lot of people is like demanding that Al Gore stop flying around in his personal jets and live in just one house. iphone users are not going to give up their iphone, and Al is not going to give up his elite lifestyle, especially for the environment (whatever that is)."
Amen to that!
anibethc40Oct 18th 2007 8:51PM
Greenpeace is wise on its words when it said the truth about the i phone. Its better to not get it despite its tempting appearance until you read the whole story about the I phone. The funny thing, was I had doubts about the I phone and I was right to believe in the act of restraint. Apple computer has its share of neglecting its products and the performance behind it. What I hope that before people purchase anything that look tempting, they have to wait until the product gets a proving wide clearance from even the toughest critics. Otherwise, people are going to end up losing their money the hard way.
kamekoOct 22nd 2007 9:29PM
How sad do you have to be to consider an overpriced cellphone a 'necessity'?
Stop drinking the Apple Kool Aid. You are only making yourself look pathetic.