The 'cabbage' logo and the big, green, Apple

Apple is spitting about Woolworths' new logo - and the US Chamber of Commerce's approach to climate change.

In a week where Apple gets antsy about the green, vegetable-like (but also kinda Apple-like) new Woolworths logo, Apple has also quit the US Chamber of Commerce over its stand - or lack thereof - on climate change.

Green cabbage

Over the Tasman, Woolworths in Australia insists its new logo is a stylised W, or a piece of fresh produce. But Apple thinks it's an apple, and in any event too close to its own distinctive symbol. Apple wants to stop Australia's largest retailer from using it.

Apple has therefore mounted a legal challenge to prevent Woolworths from using it. Unfortunately, it already adorns Woolworths' trucks, stores and products.

Apple, reports the Sydney Morning Herald will have to convince IP Australia, the federal government agency that governs trademarks, to knock back Woolworths' application to trademark its logo, which to me looks more like a cabbage.

But I kinda see Apple's point - Woolworths, which filed for the logo in August last year, could have at least made the top stalk thing point the other way.

Apple is annoyed by the fact that Woolworths has gone for a blanket trademark that would allow it to slap its branding and logo on every imaginable product.

That's because Woolworths' application includes a wide class which includes electrical goods and technology, thereby putting it in direct competition with Apple should the retailer choose to brand computers, music players or other devices with its, er, cabbage.

Since Woolworths has gone into credit cards and mobile phones, the likelihood of the big chain - which also has NZ outlets - possibly going into computers at some point is feasible.

Green Apple

On another front, multiple sources, including the Washington Post, have reported that Apple has given up its membership of the US Chamber of Commerce over the Chamber's position on climate change legislation.

In a letter to Thomas J Donohue, President and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, Apple's Vice President of Worldwide Government Affairs, Catherine A Novelli stated Apple's position, then submitted Apple's resignation.

Novelli wrote "Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it is frustrating to find the Chamber at odds with us in this effort."

As a result, Novelli added, "we have decided to resign our membership effective immediately."

Needless to say, with Al Gore on your board, you can expect some agitation on issues like this. But it's not just him - while Apple CEO Steve Jobs hardly ever gives interviews, he did speak to BusinessWeek on September 22 about Apple's green stance.

The company has finished a multiyear data-mining project to help it fully understand the environmental impact Apple has on the planet, and it has published data that may stir up controversy.

Apple's research suggests that emissions figures from facilities, as reported by Dell and Hewlett-Packard, only make up a small slice of a company's environmental impact.

Apple also believes the results should be reflected more directly - in the products that tech companies make. Apple's Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook says "... making products cleaner involves real engineering. It's about innovating, and it's hard work."
Dane Parker, Dell's director of environment, health, and safety, has admitted that the collective use of products has a much bigger impact than the reduction of emissions from company facilities.

Steve Jobs also wants Apple to set the pace in addressing lowering the amount of power required to run Apple products.

Apple is currently winning plaudits for an intensified effort to eliminate toxic materials. Apple therefore hired chemists to help suppliers come up with alternatives to bromine and other toxic chemicals in components supplied to Apple, many of which have been simply banned by the Mac and iPod maker. With PVC, the additive that gives computer cables their flexibility, Apple had to come up with a "special blend" of polyester to replace it.

Consumers have noticed the reduction in packaging, and even printed manuals, for the latest Apple products.

Apple recently launched an environmental publicity initiative to showcase its efforts on such issues.

Apple is not alone in resigning from the US business organisation, by the way. It's the fourth. California's largest utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Co, resigned previously, as did PNM Resources, and Exelon.

In addition, Nike has resigned from its position on the Chamber's board, but has yet to revoke its membership.

- Mark Webster mac.nz