Greenpeace applauds greener HP laptop

 

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Posted on 30 Sep 2009 at 17:45

Greenpeace has announced that HP's new ProBook 5310m Notebook is virtually free from potentially toxic chemicals. With only the power supply and cable still containing the possibly hazardous plastics.

Greenpeace has been pursuing hardware manufacturers for some time now, most notably over their use of PVC plastics and brominated flame retardants. Both of these have been linked to environmental concerns, causing significant problems over their lifecycle. Although debate still rages as to whether they are a direct threat to the health of end users.

The organisation ranks manufacturers based on its own points system, the scores are then published in its Guide to Greener Electronics. Greenpeace International's Toxics campaigner Iza Kruszewska said "HP has made the first step in catching up with Apple, which eliminated these materials from its entire product line almost a year ago. HP's action now puts pressure squarely on its competitors to put more products on the market that are cleaner and safer."

Earlier this year, Greenpeace staged protests at HP's headquarters in Palo Alto, USA, and at its offices in China and the Netherlands, in response to the delay on the company's commitment to eliminate these substances from its computing products, by the end of 2009. With the ProBook 5310m Notebook 2, however, it appears that HP is now back on track.

The organisation also claimed that Dell and Lenovo have delayed their phase-out commitments of these substances indefinitely. Acer claims that it will still achieve its target for eliminating PVC and BFRs4 in all products by the end of this year. Toshiba has a timeline to phase out these toxic substances in all its products by the end of March 2010.

Commenting on greenhouse gas emissions, Kruszewska said: "Just two months before crucial climate change talks take place in Copenhagen, it is encouraging to see that Philips, Acer and Samsung support the levels of cuts required to stem dangerous climate change. However, industry giants like Apple, Nokia and Microsoft still need to show true climate leadership."

Author: Seth Barton