Chinese PC maker Lenovo is the greenest electronics manufacturer, while Apple is the least envioronmentally friendly, according to Greenpeace's recycling and toxic content ranking.

Lenovo displaces Nokia from the lead position it has enjoyed since the rankings began last year. Sony (in third place) and LG Electronics (twelth) received penalty points for pushing for rules that make users responsible for recycling.

'Given the growing mountains of e-waste in China - both imported and domestically generated – it is heartening to see a Chinese company taking the lead and assuming responsibility at least for its own branded waste,' said Iza Kruszewska, Greenpeace toxics campaigner.

'The challenge for the industry now is to see who will actually place greener products on the market.'

Competitive pressure, ongoing dialogue with Greenpeace campaigners, and consumer expectations have driven an improvement in companies' scores since the December 2006 edition of the rankings, with nine out of 14 companies now scoring more than five points out of 10.

Lenovo, which bought IBM's consumer electronics division in 2005, scores top marks on its e-waste policies and practice; the company offers takeback and recycling in all the countries where its products are sold. Lenovo also reports the amount of e-waste it recycles as a percentage of its sales. However, the company has yet to put on the market products that are free of the worst chemicals.

Other companies in the top five include Dell (fourth) and Samsung (fifth).

Sony Ericsson has moved back up the guide (they were 5th in December 2006) and is the first company to set a timeline of 1 January 2008 for eliminating substances in addition to those banned by the European RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electronic products), including phthalates, beryllium and some uses of antimony compounds.