Call for electronics companies to 'clean up'

That's according to a new report issued by Greenpeace which evaluates the progress and future challenges of 16 of the largest consumer electronics companies on the elimination of hazardous chemicals, the reduction of energy footprint and their ability to build sustainable supply chains. The good news is that more than 50% of the mobile phone market, represented by Samsung, Apple and Nokia, is now free from the worst hazardous substances: Polyvinylchloride (PVC) and Brominated flame retardants (BFRs). However, Apple remains the only company to have eliminated the use of these substances in all of its products. "Apple has shown us a glimpse of a greener future, leading the sector on toxic-free products and starting to address the huge environmental footprint of electronics manufacturing," said Greenpeace UK's head of IT, Andrew Hatton. "But the industry still has a long road ahead of it before it's giving customers the level of efficiency and sustainability they are asking for." The report identifies supply chain transparency and the elimination of all hazardous chemicals from across the supply chain as key next steps for the industry to 'detox'. While some companies such as Lenovo and Huawei were recogcnised for setting a positive example with small solar installations on factories, others such as Samsung, Microsoft and Dell and were criticised for not taking their environmental targets serious enough. "Electronics companies are at the forefront of new technology and innovation," Hatton continued. "They are designing our future, and we need that future to be a lot cleaner and greener than where we are now." For the full report, Green Gadgets: Designing the Future, click here.