Apple, Nokia, Others Get Greenlight from Greenpeace

Overall, Nokia does best on the toxic chemicals criteria, followed by energy. However, it needs to improve when it comes to e-waste issues. It gains a point for having almost all its new models of mobile phones free of BFRs (bromide flame retardants). Nokia scores very well on toxic chemical issues; all its new models have been free of PVC since the end of 2005.

All Sony Ericsson products are already free from PVC vinyl plastic and BFRs, with the exception of a few components that are still being phased out. Sony Ericsson has already met the challenge of the new criterion on chemicals by banning antimony, beryllium and phthalates from new models launched since January 2008.

Toshiba is strongest on the chemicals criteria, with three models of laptops having circuit boards free from BFRs, mobile phones with reduced PVC and BFRs, and EcoMark-certified products without PVC. Toshiba has announced that it will launch a TV (model 55X1) in December 2009 that has no BFRs in the cabinet and no PVC/BFRs in the main control circuit board.

On chemicals, Philips has committed to eliminating PVC vinyl plastic and all BFRs in all its new product models by the end of 2010, and six types of phthalates and antimony by Dec. 31, 2010. Philips is weakest on e-waste and recycling, scoring zero on use of recycled plastic and for no longer reporting on recycling rates based on past sales.

Apple does best on the toxic chemicals criteria, where it scores most of its points. It scores substantially less on waste and energy. In this evaluation, Apple wins and loses some points on toxic chemicals, but gains on energy. All Apple products are now free of PVC and BFRs, with the exception of PVC-free power cords in countries where their safety certification process is still ongoing.

LG scores most of its points on the energy criteria, gaining points for supporting the need for global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to peak by 2015 as well as mandatory cuts of GHG emissions of at least 30 percent in industrialized countries by 2020. It discloses externally verified domestic GHG emissions and has committed to reducing GHG emissions by 5 percent (75,000 tons) below the 2008 level by 2012 and by 10 percent by 2020.

Sony does relatively well on chemicals. Sony’s chemicals score is boosted by having models on the market that are partially free of PVC and BFRs, including the company’s Vaio laptops, video recorders, Walkman line, camcorder and digital camera models. It still needs to set a timeline for eliminating all phthalates, beryllium copper and antimony and its compounds.

Motorola scores relatively well on the chemicals criteria and has a goal to eliminate PVC and BFRs, though only in mobile devices and not all its products introduced after 2010, despite the fact that Sony Ericsson has already achieved this goal and Nokia is almost there. Motorola has finally launched its first PVC and BFR-free mobile phone, the A45 ECO and a couple of models of chargers.

Since November 2007, all new models of LCD panels are PVC-free. Samsung also states that all new models of mobile phones were free of BFRs (brominated flame retardants) by Jan. 1, 2009, and free of PVC by July 1, 2009. The company has also developed halogen-free memory chips and semiconductors for certain applications. Samsung is 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.

Panasonic’s score on use of toxic chemicals is boosted by many models of PVC-free products on the market, including DVD players and recorders, home cinemas, video players and lighting equipment. Panasonic gives two examples of products free of BFRs – fluorescent ceiling lamps and a kitchen lamp. Despite putting these PVC-free and BFR-free products on the market, Panasonic has yet to commit to fully eliminating all PVC and BFRs across its whole product portfolio.