Apple Releases Statement Defending its Decision to Withdraw Products from EPEAT

[Akshay Masand]

The Cupertino California company spoke out in defense of its decision to remove its products from the EPEAT environmental rating program by noting that it already takes a “comprehensive approach” to making environmentally-responsible products. The whole stance was conveyed by a statement made by Kristin Huguet, an Apple spokesperson.

According to Huguet, “Apple takes a comprehensive approach to measuring our environmental impact and all of our products meet the strictest energy efficiency standards backed by the US government, Energy Star 5.2. We also lead the industry by reporting each product’s greenhouse gas emissions on our website, and Apple products are superior in other important environmental areas not measured by EPEAT, such as removal of toxic materials.”

For those of you who didn’t already know, the whole issue was brought about when the newly-appointed CEO of EPEAT, Robert Frisbee, revealed that Apple had asked the group to remove 39 of its products, including desktops, laptops, and monitors. This was due to Apple reportedly telling the executive that its “design direction” had diverged from EPEAT’s requirements. The news came as a bit of a surprise as Apple helped develop the EPEAT standard in its early days but lately has moved away from the group’s requirements of making products that are easy to disassemble in the interest of recyclability.

The recently released statement from Apple suggests that the Cupertino California company felt EPEAT was too narrow in its scope as it doesn’t track removal of toxic materials or energy efficiency. It should also be noted that EPEAT doesn’t certify smartphones or tablets, which are currently Apple’s largest streams of revenue. Although a move from EPEAT is unlikely to have a significant value on Apple’s sales to consumers, it could compact the sales of Macs to government agencies. As of right now, federal agencies are required to be 95% EPEAT-certified and just yesterday, San Francisco said that it is notifying city agencies that Macs will not qualify for purchase with city funds.

Apple has been pretty open to show off its continued efforts to make greener products so the move was a bit unexpected. That being said, we’ll have to see what comes out of Apple’s decision to pull products from the EPEAT registry by waiting and being patient.

Source: The Loop

[BenderRodriguez]

no one will ever say "I bought a Mac because it is ECO Friendly compared to a Windows computer and I'm willing to pay $1000 more to help the environment"

Unless its a BIG company

[thevmax]

no one will ever say "I bought a Mac because it is ECO Friendly compared to a Windows computer and I'm willing to pay $1000 more to help the environment"

Unless its a BIG company

Well said!

[dsg]

Why didn't Apple£ just try to work with EPEAT to expand EPEATS regulations, this could have made more company's greener and the regulator would have a greater impact on the environment

[jeffrh]

Why didn't Apple£ just try to work with EPEAT to expand EPEATS regulations, this could have made more company's greener and the regulator would have a greater impact on the environment

Probably because it is all just a bunch of BS drempt up by self appointed pretentious tree huggers, that will make absolutely no difference whatsoever in this world.

[Silverado1987]

Probably because it is all just a bunch of BS drempt up by self appointed pretentious tree huggers, that will make absolutely no difference whatsoever in this world.

+1

[lkailburn]

Probably because it is all just a bunch of BS drempt up by self appointed pretentious tree huggers, that will make absolutely no difference whatsoever in this world.

Good attitude. I'm sure you also think we will never run out of oil too.

[rickuk]

Apple are getting too big for their boots, they are sounding very arrogant with 'we don't card a stuff about the enviroment just look how thin we can make our products, don't worry about us polluting the enviroment for future generations we know better'

Its all bad press for Apple

[jeffrh]

Good attitude. I'm sure you also think we will never run out of oil too.

Our country is going to run out of borrowing power WAY before we run out of oil. If the greenie liberals would spend as much time worrying about how we are going to feed our families when China stops lending us money as they do about how much power my light bulb uses, then perhaps they would actually make a difference for the future of our children.

[lucca567]

Apple are getting too big for their boots, they are sounding very arrogant with 'we don't card a stuff about the enviroment just look how thin we can make our products, don't worry about us polluting the enviroment for future generations we know better'

Its all bad press for Apple

Sadly enough any kind of bad press for apple will still not hurt its sales. I'm yet to hear someone say "I'm no longer buying from apple they aren't eco friendly"

[Steen]

Why didn't Apple£ just try to work with EPEAT to expand EPEATS regulations, this could have made more company's greener and the regulator would have a greater impact on the environment

Who's to say they didn't mate. Logically that would have been the first avenue prior to pulling out of an organization one helped organize.

[Anonymous]

Sadly enough any kind of bad press for apple will still not hurt its sales. I'm yet to hear someone say "I'm no longer buying from apple they aren't eco friendly"

What about San Fran?

[steve-z17]

I doubt this will hurt Apple at all. Most of their sales are from Tablets and Phones which aren't even scored from EPEAT. Just another Apple article trying to draw attention...

[Holyloktar]

@jeffrh I guess Apple are tree huggers too since they helped create the standards currently in use by EPEAT.

@lucca567 Quote from iFixit's article, "The federal government has significant buying power, and federal agencies can only purchase products that meet the EPEAT standard." Apple Ditches Green Standard, Cuts Off Federal Agencies from Apple Products | iFixit

The regular consumer probably doesn't care and won't make a difference, but if their products aren't on the list I would say that could have a pretty significant impact on Apple's sales. iFixit gave the new MacBook Pro a 1 out of 10 for repairability. Pretty disappointing.

[iPhonePutz]

Probably because it is all just a bunch of BS drempt up by self appointed pretentious tree huggers, that will make absolutely no difference whatsoever in this world.

Well said. Many of these certifications come with a fee as well and companies choose to not pay for the cert, even though they come or exceed the standards. It's more marketing BS.

[PvtJok3r]

Our country is going to run out of borrowing power WAY before we run out of oil. If the greenie liberals would spend as much time worrying about how we are going to feed our families when China stops lending us money as they do about how much power my light bulb uses, then perhaps they would actually make a difference for the future of our children.

jeffrh you're an IDOT maybe we wouldn't be borrowing money from China if we didn't need to fund a war to get oil out of it and i am sure your proud of your party for doing that.

[Rcworship]

jeffrh you're an IDOT maybe we wouldn't be borrowing money from China if we didn't need to fund a war to get oil out of it and i am sure your proud of your party for doing that.

Oh, yeah. Have a look at how much oil has been had as gas is almost $4.00 a gallon=P

[jeffrh]

jeffrh you're an IDOT maybe we wouldn't be borrowing money from China if we didn't need to fund a war to get oil out of it and i am sure your proud of your party for doing that.

You think we went to war for oil, and you call me the idiot. HA! You have been programmed to believe that. Show me the evidence we went to war for oil... Did we get the oil you speak of? Just another clueless lemming repeating what you have been told to believe.

[dennder]

Why didn't Apple£ just try to work with EPEAT to expand EPEATS regulations, this could have made more company's greener and the regulator would have a greater impact on the environment

Since Apple helped to develop the standard, i believe they did try to work to expand. It's just that EPEAT did not want to modify criteria.
Not every organization is as agile (see nokia's and rim's downfall) as today's Apple. They do change too many things and other may not wish or be capable to follow, that's as simple as that.
Apple left EPEAT for making devices smaller in size, thus going back to glue instead of screws. If there was some easy-to-undo glue, that would make it's way to the epeat's standards, i believe apple would use it as one of those first to use in the world. Plain and simple.

[trevorrawson]

jeffrh you're an IDOT maybe we wouldn't be borrowing money from China if we didn't need to fund a war to get oil out of it and i am sure your proud of your party for doing that.

It's sad to me that you listen to media instead of educating yourself.