Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by Megan Treacy
Greenpeace International has released its annual "Guide to Greener Electronics" where it ranks leading electronics companies on their policies towards toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change. This year, PC makers made up the bottom of the list, Apple floated somewhere in the middle and cell phone makers got the highest marks. Below is the list with each company's score from 1 - 10 (10 being the best) with the brief explanation of the score provided by Greenpeace.
- 7.45 Nokia - Scores top marks for leading competitors on toxic phase out.
- 7.1 Samsung - Holds second position for commitment to reduce absolute emissions.
- 6.5 Sony Ericsson - Up two places with better product energy efficiency reporting.
- 5.7 LG Electronics - Up two places but needs to eliminate hazardous chemicals from all products.
- 5.5 Toshiba - Moves up two places with an extra point for promising to cut GHGs.
- 5.5 Motorola - Scores higher and climbs two places because of use of renewable energy
- 5.3 Philips - Falls from 4th to 7th position and needs to put its commitment to responsible recycling policies into practice.
- 5.3 Sharp - Rises from 9th to joint 7th place with its energy efficient products.
- 4.9 Acer - Put out 16 new models of a monitor that are almost free of hazardous chemicals and climbed two places from 11 to 9 but still needs to sort out the power cord.
- 4.9 Panasonic - Advance from 12th to 10th place for energy efficiency and PVC-free product range, but still bad on e-waste.
- 4.7 Apple - Drops one position to 11th with no change in scores but gets kudos for their green MacBook.
- 4.5 Sony - Plunges from 5th to 12th place for inadequate commitments on eliminating hazardous chemicals, e-waste policy and cutting GHGs.
- 3.9 Dell - Stays at 13th place because of backtracking on toxic phase out.
- 3.5 HP - Is at 14th position and has no products on the market free of toxic substances.
- 2.5 Microsoft - Loses a point for a poor recycling policy but stays in 15th position.
- 2.5 Lenovo - Down two places with no set timeline for toxic phase out on all products.
- 2.4 Fujitsu - Debuts second from last with no products that are free of hazardous chemicals.
- 1 Nintendo - Stays put in last position with a glimmer of hope with partially PVC-free consoles.
As you can see, this year PC makers were highly criticized for either backtracking on commitments to remove hazardous chemicals from their products or not producing a policy to do so at all. You can download a PDF of the full scorecard
here.
via
Greenpeace International 
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Filed under: ecogeek
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by Megan Treacy
At the Panasonic Eco Technology Center in Kato, Japan, they've come up with a way to recycle old CRT TVs three times faster. Typically, workers could only disassemble 24 sets per hour because of the time-consuming task of separating the thick glass contained in the front and backs of the tubes. Now, with a new method that users a powerful laser, workers can disassemble 72 per hour.
The laser system has also allowed the center to handle more TV sizes than the old hot wire method they had been using, increasing the amount of sets being recycled by the center by an even larger amount. This new method was developed right on time, as Japan is transitioning from analog to digital broadcasting in July 2011, meaning the volume of CRTs arriving for recycling is about to double.
Japan requires the recycling of many home electronics, including CRT and flat-panel TVs.
via
PC World
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Filed under: ecogeek
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by TreeHugger
Photo credit: Bluefly
Leanne Marshall,
Project Runway's Season 5 winner, presented a sneak peek of her long-anticipated sustainable collection for
Bluefly.com on Tuesday.
Available exclusively at the online retailer starting July 8, the nine-piece collection comprises a tank and a tunic in two colorways, a skirt, jacket, and three different takes on the dress, including a smoldering off-the-shoulder fuchsia number and an ultramarine duchess-silk-and-organza confection.
...
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Filed under: Treehugger
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by TreeHugger
Hmmm, the smoky flavor of carcinogens give PAHs for thought. Photo via Flickr by brandi666
Stand out of the line of fire of smoky fumes. Sure, that's the first defense. But what about the dangers of grilled dogs, ribs, and salmon? I've long heard tales of how a charcoal grilled burger is the equivalent of a carton of cigarettes. So when flipping through
Cure magazine at my acupuncturist’s office, I discovered an article from Lena Huang about
“Good Grilling” with easy steps t...
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Filed under: Treehugger
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by TreeHugger
Outer-hallway meeting room, with privacy glass, allowing natural light penetration.
SAP, USA, newly constructed LEED "Platinum" headquarters building.
I recently had a chance to speak with representatives of the global business software company SAP, as well get a tour of the firm's nearly completed LEED Platinum US Headquarters building in Newtown Square Pennsylvania. The result, written as a composite interview, is a profile of SAP's global sustainability strategy, punctuated with a photographic tour of the new building.
There was a discussion of sustainability strategy wit...
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Filed under: Treehugger
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by Energy Saving Trust
The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) is to proceed with the development of a pair of eco-friendly prototype properties in Derwenthorpe.
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Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by Energy Saving Trust
Global survey finds high levels of interest in low carbon vehicles.
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Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by Energy Saving Trust
Firms can save money through low carbon vehicles, says Lloyds TSB Autolease.
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Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by Energy Saving Trust
ExxonMobil is to increase its polypropylene compounding capacity in Europe to meet growing demand.
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Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by Energy Saving Trust
Energy providers need to "up their game" when it comes to relating to customer needs, a price comparison website has said.
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Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by TreeHugger
Photo credit: Cheap Chic Weddings
Major,
major kudos to Ann Kagawa Lee of Honolulu, Hawaii, winner of
Cheap Chic Wedding's annual toilet-paper wedding dress contest, who made this mind-boggling matrimonial ensemble out of
bathroom tissue—a textile fit for a recession!—tape, glue, and a breathtaking amount of commitment.
Lee's stunningly detailed creation, which has drawn comparisons to an Oscar de la Renta couture gown, according to the Web site, was inspired by a potent combo of
Gone W...
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Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by TreeHugger
Photo credit: Fashion Fights Poverty
Mark your calendars: One of the largest fashion fundraisers in our nation's capital,
Fashion Fights Poverty, will be hosting Washington, D.C.'s first fashion swap on July 18.
Bring in your gently used togs to be consigned, traded for "new to you" pieces, or donated to D.C.'s
Covenant House, an organization that offers shelter, protection, food, clothing, counseling, and job training to disadvantaged youth. Details below....
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Filed under: Treehugger
Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by TreeHugger
Photo courtesy of EcoFriend
Car designer
Harsha Vardhan suggests that this two-wheeler concept is the car of the future.
His Transporter TW (Twin Wheel) is a single-seater
electric vehicle that uses magnetic fields for driving the car. The two gianormous wheels, suspended over a superconducting fluid, are propelled by those shifting...
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Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by TreeHugger
Photo: Flickr, CC
This is a Big Deal
A Californian regulation mandating that all ocean-going vessels within 24 miles of the state's coast must use cleaner burning low-sulfur diesel fuel is now in effect. This will have a big impact on air quality (
big cargo ships have terrible emissions, and we too often overlook them and focus on cars & trucks), reducing smog and saving an estimated 3,600 people from premature deaths between 2009 and 2015. "The req...
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Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by TreeHugger
Photo credit: Edun
This week saw the launch of a sustainable collaboration between
YOOX.com, an online fashion and design boutique, and
EDUN LIVE, an offshoot of
EDUN that specializes in T-shirts. Dubbed
"ever.green," the series of limited-edition, 100 percent organic cotton tees for men and women will capitalize on the star power of its celeb guest designers to garner sales, the proceeds of which will go directl...
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