KEY POINTS:
Apple got pinged a couple of years ago by Greenpeace for producing environmentally substandard computers, as ranked against several other brands. Despite the data Greenpeace used being for that initial ranking being out-of-date, Apple took the criticism seriously and moved to address issues raised.
It has moved some way up in Greenpeace's estimation but still ranks behind HP, Dell, Acer and Sharp.
There's not much environmentally friendly about a computer, despite the cutting down, possibly, in the use of paper in day to day work. That's because whatever a computer is made of, it's going to become redundant.
Maybe it will fail before five years and/or be deemed worthy of replacement. Then it's just high-tech rubbish. It's not like a wooden chair, for example. That should go 10-100 years and then it's almost completely recyclable.
A computer is on a fairly fast track to redundancy the minute it leaves the factory. If you can easily turn that lump of redundant tech-wizardry back into usable components, all good. This is the way of the world, after all - according to new evidence, even our universe looks like it may have been recycled from another (there goes the Big Bang theory - the new theory is called The Big Bounce).
While a Computer Electronics Association survey of 960 US adults taken this September found that most still put price and features ahead of green issues, it also showed consumers want easier ways to identify what items are better for the environment.
Apple's move to aluminium bodies for more of its line, starting with the Mac Pro over two years ago, taking in the iMac a year ago then, most recently, appearing in the unibody MacBooks, has definitely been a move in the right direction. Now there's only the Mac mini and one old model of MacBook still in the glowing white poly. And the AirPort Express, Extreme and Time Capsule, too.
Aluminium may be tough and rigid, light in weight, great for cooling and great for wireless, but it's also easily recyclable, whereas Polycarbonate is a bit trickier (but still possible). The use of glass in the LED monitors and the dramatic cutting of toxins in MacBook manufacture have also been applauded.
Apple has a fairly clear stance on the environment: "Apple strongly believes that reducing the environmental impact of our business starts with the design of our products." Apple has been slimming packaging and cutting down on the use of polystyrene foam, for example, over the last few years - even Adobe's latest CS4 release comes much less bulkily packaged than CS3, and with more cardboard.
Apple has also been cutting lead dramatically - from 483 grams in the original CRT G3 iMac to .6 grams in the latest, and power consumption in sleep mode from 35 watts in the CRT iMac to 2.2 watts in the latest.
You may not have considered this before, but the increasing use of wireless technology also helps the physical environment, with miles of PVC-coated wires no longer needing to be laid. Of course, that's without considering the question (still unanswered, categorically) of the damaging potentials of radio and electromagnetic waves.
Apple periodically releases Product Environment Reports and currently restricts or even bans certain substances.
But what recycling programs are available to consumers? Here anyway, apart form the occasional 'eWaste' initiatives, there isn't much computer recycling that's easy to find and use. Many just pass on an old or redundant Macs to someone else - this may be a godsend to the recipient for a while, but really you have just passed on the onus to recycle those components.
The batteries in laptops are a case in point - modern lithium-ion batteries, like those used in MacBooks, all need replacing eventually as after lots of use, they can no longer hold a charge.
Lithium metal batteries don't contain toxic heavy metals (as their predecessors did), but you can't just throw them in the rubbish as there is the possibility of fire when the metallic lithium is exposed to moisture, as the cells corrode. They must first be fully discharged to consume the metallic lithium content. Lithium systems can also contain toxic and flammable electrolyte. The Ministry for the Environment has posted information about NZ ventures for battery recycling.
I'd like a clearer stance at our Apple Resellers about recycling, perhaps with drop-offs for older components we'd rather not just throw out, and statements on what they do with components replaced under warranty.
From Apple, expect any new releases in January 2009 to further improve the company's environmental standing. Wooden Mac Minis, anyone?
