TechCrunch reports that Greenpeace is chiding Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) for the iPhone's toxic chemical ingredients. Moreover, Greenpeace's analysis suggests that the iPhone is losing "green ground" to other mobile phone competitors which are in the process of eliminating the iPhone's toxic chemicals.
According to Greenpeace, the iPhone contains toxic brominated compounds (indicating the presence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs)) and hazardous PVCs. Two of the "phthalate plasticisers" found at high levels in the iPhone headphone cable are classified in Europe as 'toxic to reproduction, category 2′ and are banned from use in all toys or childcare articles sold in Europe.
Greenpeace's analysis of competitors is most interesting: Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) is totally PVC free while Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) and Sony Ericsson already have products on the market with BFR free components. I am in Greenpeace's camp on this one. I also think that if Apple cleaned up the iPhone, it would find that green means green -- particularly in Europe.
That's something that Apple shareholders and Greenpeace would both celebrate.
Peter Cohan is president of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter. He has no financial interest in the securities mentioned.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-16-2007 @ 1:01PM
Jon said...
Who cares about Greenpeace and what they say. Apple is revolutionizing the Techworld
10-15-2007 @ 12:11PM
John C. Randolph said...
Describing anything from Greenpeace as "analysis" is ridiculous. They are not in the business of analysis, they are in the business of threatening companies with bad publicity in hopes of being paid to go away. They've tried this with Apple before, and Steve Jobs wouldn't play their game.
Expect Greenpeace to keep trying, though. They're a vindictive little pack of self-righteous twerps.
10-15-2007 @ 12:12PM
Steve said...
I still think that Greenpeace is merely looking to steal Apple's thunder as the temple for idealists, which Greenpeace USED TO occupy. The quantity of PVC, or any materials used in a iphone is miniscule. There are so many environmental problems in this world that dwarf whatever good or bad Apple is doing. It is Jealousy and ego that makes Greenpeace target Apple. I used to support them; now I give my support to truly enlightened organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Fund. They're the one who actually do something good for the planet.
10-15-2007 @ 1:11PM
Donna said...
The greenpeace (does not warrant a capital "G") organization is a group of people who can't survive in a normal workplace environment. They don't live in the real world and their best is most people's worst. If they stood for something good, clean and healthy, it would be terrific. But, mostly, the people who belong are over-zealous, simple minded wackos. If I were Steve Jobs, I wouldn't give them any credence.
10-15-2007 @ 1:30PM
beanspants said...
Does 'PVC' in this case mean something different than polyvinyl chloride, ie the plastic pipes that fill your house? Nope. This is too funny. They are good enough to carry your water and sewage, but not good enough to put close to your ear for an hour a day.
10-16-2007 @ 12:48PM
george scandalis said...
Peter, perhaps you could print a correction/retraction in your blog as Greenpeace acknowledged earlier today that they were wrong and that Apple was in fact violating no laws, rules, guidelines or standard manufacturing practices.
It appears that Greenpeace was looking for a large visible target to enhanse their own media presence and you bought into it.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/16/greenpeace_vs_apple/