We've given HP, Lenovo and Dell - the world's biggest PC makers - a penalty point in our updated Guide to Greener Electronics, for backtracking on their commitments to eliminate PVC plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their products by the end of 2009.
Staff at the Dutch headquarters of 'Harmful Products' (as we've now rebranded HP') were greeted on arrival this morning by Greenpeace activists confronting them with pictures of the pollution HP's toxic products cause in Asia and Africa. The PC giant has already received a public reminder of the need to reprioritise toxic chemical phase out, when activists recently returned 'toxic laptops' to the company's Chinese headquarters.
The Greener Electronics Guide is updated quarterly to reflect the progress (or lack of) which IT companies are making towards achieving truly green products.
It is our way of getting the electronics industry to face up to the problem of e-waste. We want manufacturers to get rid of harmful chemicals in their products. We want to see an end to the stories of unprotected child labourers scavenging mountains of cast-off gadgets created by society's gizmo-loving ways.
