Today Apple published another open letter from CEO and cofounder Steve Jobs, this time about Apple’s environmental policy. Apple has come under a lot of fire lately from groups like Greenpeace for their perceived lack of environmental consciousness, including their use of toxic chemicals in computer products and their computer disposal practices. In the letter, Jobs addresses these concerns, providing information on how Apple has removed chemicals from their products and timelines for future removal. He also compares Apple’s progress to that of other major computer companies such as Dell and HP.
Apple highlighted how in mid-2006 they eliminated CRT monitors, which each contain 3 pounds of lead, from their entire product line. In a rare candid moment, they expressed the intent to begin shipping computers with LED-backlit displays by the end of this year*. These will replace the fluorescent backlighting currently used, which requires the use of mercury. They also expressed the intent to remove arsenic (used to make the display glass smooth) and PVCs from their products by the end of 2008. Apple’s commitment to recycling was also discussed, including the 10% discount you get on a new iPod if you bring back your old one to be safely disposed of.
Apple has called out the other computer makers by showing how it has already done more and by adopting more aggressive timelines for future progress. If this open letter provokes as much discussion and action as the previous letter on DRM did, then I expect we will soon see responses from all across the industry.
*As a side note: I believe that all home and industrial lighting is (eventually) going to be provided by LED’s. They are cheap, use almost no power, and do not contain any toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, their light output is small compared to traditional incandescents and fluorescents, but researchers are working on this.
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