Electronics makers urged to go greener

Greenpeace research finds much work still needs to be done

Environmentally sound products should be promoted more heavily, says Greenpeace

Lenovo, Nokia, Samsung and Toshiba were the main winners in this year's Green Electronics survey (PDF) from environmental activist group Greenpeace released today.

The report highlights the greenest products submitted by electronics manufacturers in various categories, according to criteria including power consumption and the use of hazardous substances in manufacturing.

Greenpeace found that manufacturers are continuing to make progress towards environmentally sound products by phasing out hazardous chemicals, providing recycling programmes and adhering to new Energy Star requirements.

But the report criticised vendors for failing to promote green products prominently on their web sites, and urged TV and monitor manufacturers to prioritise the provision of in-use energy data and comparisons for their products.

"Our second survey showed companies making significant improvements over the last year, while also leaving significant scope for further gains," the report said.

"Now is the time for manufacturers to combine their best green practices and put them forth in complete and integrated fashion into the marketplace."

The report also urges all manufacturers to completely phase out hazardous PVC and brominated flame retardants, improve recyclability and design products with an extended lifespan in mind.

Mike Barber, corporate responsibility partner at consultancy Deloitte, argued that, as governments implement EU environmental policy into legislation, manufacturers will increasingly be forced to improve the green credentials of their products.

"The development by the British Standards Institution of the PAS 2050 method for measuring embodied greenhouse gas emissions from goods and services will provide some consistency of approach at a UK level and improve comparability of products," he added.

"However, adoption of this standard is voluntary and take up is very much in its infancy. Ratings systems, such as those used in white goods, could provide a consumer friendly mechanism for communicating the energy efficiency of personal electronic equipment, but no such standard with the requisite methodology, flexibility and simplicity seems yet to be on the horizon."

Big technology names including Apple, Asus, Microsoft, Nintendo, Palm and Philips declined to take part in the study.