Filed under: Apple Corporate, Steve Jobs, Apple
Steve on a Greener Apple
Some environmentalists have been a bit down on Apple. Today, Steve responds to those criticisms, writing "[u]pon investigating Apple's current practices and progress towards these goals, I was surprised to learn that in many cases Apple is ahead of, or will soon be ahead of, most of its competitors in these areas. Whatever other improvements we need to make, it is certainly clear that we have failed to communicate the things that we are doing well."
He writes that Apple has been removing toxic chemicals from products and promoting product recycling. Did you know that a typical CRT contains 3 pounds of lead? I didn't. Apple no longer sells them, having eliminated the use of CRT's in 2006.
Apple's eWaste program continues to grow. In 2006, Apple recycled just under 10% by weight of the products sold seven years earlier. This seems to be in line with Dell and HP's figures, each at about 10%.
Apple's 10% iPod trade-in discount will now expand to Apple stores worldwide. And Apple is exploring the overall carbon "footprint" of their products although some scientists controversially question the need for this particular approach.
Thanks everyone who alerted us to this new Hotnews item.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joe said 1:58PM on 5-02-2007
Here are two interesting quotes I spotted:
"Apple is on track to introduce our first displays using arsenic-free glass in 2007."
"We plan to introduce our first Macs with LED backlight technology in 2007."
Based on the context around the LED statement, it sounds like this will be for smaller displays, ramping up when suppliers can increase output and decrease costs, so this sounds like it could be part of an upcoming MB/MBP (and if size is a concern, possibly a 12" model is coming soon).
The other statement isn't particularly exciting, as it only pertains to their methods of making the glass surface smooth and flat, but if they are making a change here, there will probably be updated displays across the board.
Granted, it's a seven month window, but it's likely that new displays are in the works. And that's more indication than we've had in quite a while.
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Phil said 2:26PM on 5-02-2007
"Did you know that a typical CRT contains 3 pounds of lead?"
No, but after moving one from apartment to apartment for the last seven years, I am in no way surprised by this news.
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JayC said 2:45PM on 5-02-2007
yeah, those 20" monitors weigh a ton.
after reading the Apple Board comments about eWaste, Apple is on target. I think most of the "green" and recycling comments are what everybody sees everyday...computer packaging, materials, recycling of used computers.
Apple made all of their packaging smaller and uniform. Dell was ahead for a "takeback" program. Apple is addressing that. They just need to take back ALL electronics.
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Woody Sabran said 2:48PM on 5-02-2007
Just goes to show those damn environmentalists don't have a clue what they're on about! Apple pwns the biosphere lol
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rp said 4:48PM on 5-02-2007
Man, Jobs has really been stepping up to the plate recently hasn't he? First you have the anti-DRM letter, now this. I like that he takes an extremely active role in what Apple does and how they are perceived. I kind of wish we could have a fireside chat with Jobs on a weekly basis so he could tell us the state of the Apple union and discuss his plans. I suppose once a month isn't too much to ask is it?
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univac said 5:53PM on 5-02-2007
Much to my surprise, Apple actually offers a free recycling program for your old Mac (or any other computer) if you purchase from the AppleStore and opt-in for the recycling program.
Info here: http://www.apple.com/environment/recycling/program/
I just set up a new iMac for a client today, and after registering it, she received an email thanking her for buying a new Mac and included two printable shipping barcodes and instructions on packaging your old machine, taking it to FedEx, and shipping it off.
Neat! It's about time!
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David said 11:27PM on 5-02-2007
When will Steve Jobs enlighten us on Apple's policy on illegally granted stock options?
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ErichD said 4:00AM on 5-03-2007
Wow, after reading that article you linked as proof of doubt, I think I understand why there are still people who comment here randomly assailing those of us aware of the gravity and oxygen that compose our rather unique atmosphere.
Honestly, I thought you were linking to this:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/04/21/tds-jason-jones-refutes-an-inconvenient-truth/
You know, come to think of it, why aren't we required to say "windows Rulez!" whenever we discuss the Mac?
Yes, now I'm more proud to own a Mac.
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Jan said 1:19PM on 5-03-2007
Building better quality would be a major improvement on the way towards greener hardware production. the iBook I previously owned had 3 major defects in less than 2 years, though I barely moved it around. Apple hardware quality sucks. The only reason I bought a Mac again was the OS which is superior in every aspect to Windows IMHO
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steve said 1:40PM on 5-03-2007
Re: climate change. Better safe and sorry -- if the vast majority of scientists that predict climate change are in fact correct then we are in deep trouble. Given the urgency of the threat to our species and many others, why create confusion by linking to fringe skeptics?
On page 2 of the article you link to about a warming Mars it says:
"His views are completely at odds with the mainstream scientific opinion," said Colin Wilson, a planetary physicist at England's Oxford University.
"Wobbles in the orbit of Mars are the main cause of its climate change in the current era," Oxford's Wilson explained. (Related: "Don't Blame Sun for Global Warming, Study Says" [September 13, 2006].) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/09/060913-sunspots.html
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james said 7:28PM on 5-03-2007
i think its really good thata apple has been removing these toxins from their products and theyre actually doing something the e-waste. all these electronics are going to damage our earth. i think Electronic Recyclers
and other companies should try to educate the citizens of the US in ways to recycle their products instead of dumping them in land fills or other developing countries
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