Hewlett-Packard, whom Greenpeace recently targeted for failing to meet their deadline for phasing out toxics in their products, deserves credit for the HP Compaq 8000f Elite Ultra Slim Desktop PC, the industry’s first Microsoft Windows based desktop to be free of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) “from the wall to the mouse.” It’s so green that I might even pick one up the next time I need a new desktop.

The “Greenwasher of the Day” belongs to Samsung, which drops down in our new  ranking from 2nd place to joint 7th (tied with Sony and Motorola), as a result of a penalty point imposed for backtracking on its commitment to eliminate brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in new models of all products by January 2010 and PVC by end of 2010.  Its new timeline for removing BFRs and PVC in new models of notebooks is 1 January 2011 but there is now no timeline for removing these substances in TVs and household appliances.  It also loses points for failing to show support for improvements to the revised EU RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electronics); specifically, a methodology for further restrictions of hazardous substances, and an immediate ban on BFRs, chlorinated flame retardants (CFRs) and PVC vinyl plastic.   

Since November 2007, all new models of LCD panels are PVC-free, important in driving the market to phase out PVC, with Samsung being the number one supplier globally.  It states that all new models of mobile phones were free of BFRs by 1 January 2009 and free of PVC by 1 July 2009, and it has developed halogen-free memory chips and semiconductors for certain applications. It has also committed to eliminate phthalates and beryllium and compounds by the end of 2012 from all its products, not just from PCs, TVs and mobile phones. 

Samsung scores well on e-waste; it reports recycling rates of 137 percent for TVs (based on past sales 10 years ago - the average life span - since when, Samsung’s TV sales have increased tenfold), 12 percent for PCs (based on a 7-year lifespan) and 9 percent for mobile phones (based on a 2-year lifespan). However, to score top marks Samsung needs to put a reality check on the EU figures of e-waste recycled.  It also needs to extend its take-back programme to non-OECD countries.  It scores top marks for using 16.1 percent recycled plastic, (though only 0.2 percent is post-consumer), with a goal to increase to 25 percent by 2025 and use a majority of post-consumer plastic. 

On energy, Samsung has committed to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, despite growth in the company’s sales; it also supports the levels of cuts required globally and by industrialised countries to keep dangerous climate change in check, and its provides a certificate of verification of its GHG emissions in Korea. Samsung scores top marks (doubled) on the energy efficiency of its battery chargers, most of which exceed the latest Energy Star standard. The only criterion for which Samsung fails to score any points is renewable energy, where it needs to set a target with a timeline to increase the percentage of renewable energy it uses globally.

—Daniel

7:41 pm  •  7 January 2010 Share on facebook

Today Greenpeace released the latest Guide to Greener Electronics at a time when many companies are talking green.  Apple, Sony Ericsson and Nokia are free of the worst hazardous substances but Samsung, Dell, Lenovo, and LG Electronics have dropped in the ranking.  With many consumers now choosing green products, Greenpeace verifies the claims of companies and cuts through the greenwash.  The Guide tells who is actually walking the walk.

“It’s time for a little less conversation and a lot more action on removing toxic chemicals,” said Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International Electronics Campaigner.  “Apple is leading and HP is playing catch up, but the lack of action from other companies is ensuring that customers and the environment are still losing out.”

Several companies have failed to support bans on PVC, BFRs and chlorinated flame retardants (CFRs) during the revision of the EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electronics Directive (RoHS).  “Sony Ericsson and Apple are already calling on EU institutions to support such a ban,” said Casey Harrell.  “Other big players, such as HP and Dell — who have so far been silent — and Acer, need to ensure the ban is passed in the European Union Parliament.”

Samsung drops dramatically from second place to a tied seventh place for failing to eliminate BFRs in all its products by January 2010. With only its latest models of mobile phones free of toxic substances, it has set January 2011 as the deadline for eliminating them from new models of its notebooks and still has no definitive timeline for removing them from its TVs and household appliances. Nintendo, Microsoft and Lenovo languish at the bottom of the ranking.

“In 2010, we should see significant developments, with products free of PVC and BFRs in the PC and TV markets,” continued Harrell. “Any company failing to achieve this goal is taking a big gamble with its green reputation. More positively, it’s good to see non-ranked companies beyond the PC and TV sectors, like Cisco, committing to eliminate these harmful substances.”

Find us:
at Booth 4612, Sustainability Zone

Contact us:
ces2010@greenpeace.org

Tweets:
twitter: @greenpeace

Press Inquiries:
Daniel Kessler
510.761.5455
dkessler@greenpeace.org

— Tad Walker

4:06 pm  •  7 January 2010 Share on facebook

—Daniel

5:50 pm  •  6 January 2010 Share on facebook

CES 2010. The lights, the sounds, the greenwash. Greenpeace analysts are once again here at the “World’s Largest” consumer electronics show to help consumers and the throngs of industry media to see through the haze of both positive green news and industry misinformation.

While some electronics makers have moved to eliminate toxic chemicals in their products—Apple, for instance, which has phased out both PVC vinyl plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs)—others lag behind. Samsung, Dell, Lenovo, and LGE stand out as laggards, but HP had made news today by bringing to the market the first desktop PC to be free of both PVC and BFRs.

So, if both Apple and HP have shown the way, why is the rest of the industry behind? That’s a question we hope those at CES will ask of the companies as they tour around looking at all the hot new gadgets.

What are PVC and BFRs?
PVC contaminates humans and the environment throughout its lifecycle; during its production, use, and disposal it is the single most environmentally damaging of all plastics, and can form dioxin, a known carcinogen, when burned. Some BFRs are highly resistant to degradation in the environment and are able to bio-accumulate (build up in animals and humans).

With the growth of electronic waste, workers who deal with e-waste and the wider community are at significant health risks. Burning of e-waste to recover valuable resources, as routinely takes place in the backyards of China, India and much of the South, can form dioxins. Eliminating the substances will decrease exposure and increase the recyclability and reusability of electronic products.

Greenpeace at CES
Greenpeace will be all over CES for the next three days. On 10am Thursday in the Venetian Hotel,  we’ll be having a press conference to debut version 14 of the Guide to Greener Electronics, a ranking of the top consumer electronics companies based on both their commitments and actions to phase out toxic chemicals and other important green criteria.

We’ll also be handing out awards at 3PM everyday for the “Best New Green Products” as well as the “Worst Greenwash.” On Saturday afternoon, we’ll give the big prizes for the best and worst for the whole week.

In 2010, we should see significant developments, with products free of PVC and BFRs in the PC and TV markets. Any company failing to achieve this goal is taking a big gamble with its green reputation.

—Daniel

4:34 pm  •  6 January 2010 Share on facebook