Apple Yanks Products From EPEAT Certification Page
Here's a strange one. Ever heard of EPEAT? If you follow recycling or green design at all, you probably have. Much like the Energy Star certification, most companies clamor over having an EPEAT Certification. It's a symbol of extra effort and concern for the environment, showing that companies are being mindful to waste and toxic chemicals used in the building of their products. In fact, Apple is actually credited with being one of many manufacturers who helped create the standards, and as of last week, it had 39 different products listed as EPEAT Certified.
But that's changing now. For whatever reason, Apple has requested that all 39 of those items be pulled from the EPEAT shelves. Robert Frisbee, CEO of EPEAT told CIO Journal: "They said their design direction was no longer consistent with the EPEAT requirements. The company did not elaborate. They were important supporters and we are disappointed that they don’t want their products measured by this standard anymore."
Apple declined to comment on the matter, and it is still offering the same recycling programs as it has in the past. Some are suspecting that the new Retina-equipped MacBook Pro may have been the catalyst. That machine is so tightly built, and components are so well integrated, that it's nearly impossible to take apart piece by piece. According to Frisbee: "If the battery is glued to the case it means you can’t recycle the case and you can’t recycle the battery."
Will this have any substantial impact on sales? It's unlikely. Even the recent upheaval over production at Foxconn hasn't slowed profits at all, and while industry insiders may pay attention to Apple going a little less green, one has to wonder if the average consumer will put off that proposed iPad purchase just because it's not an EPEAT product any longer.
But that's changing now. For whatever reason, Apple has requested that all 39 of those items be pulled from the EPEAT shelves. Robert Frisbee, CEO of EPEAT told CIO Journal: "They said their design direction was no longer consistent with the EPEAT requirements. The company did not elaborate. They were important supporters and we are disappointed that they don’t want their products measured by this standard anymore."
Apple declined to comment on the matter, and it is still offering the same recycling programs as it has in the past. Some are suspecting that the new Retina-equipped MacBook Pro may have been the catalyst. That machine is so tightly built, and components are so well integrated, that it's nearly impossible to take apart piece by piece. According to Frisbee: "If the battery is glued to the case it means you can’t recycle the case and you can’t recycle the battery."
Will this have any substantial impact on sales? It's unlikely. Even the recent upheaval over production at Foxconn hasn't slowed profits at all, and while industry insiders may pay attention to Apple going a little less green, one has to wonder if the average consumer will put off that proposed iPad purchase just because it's not an EPEAT product any longer.
