The furore surrounding the hazardous substances found in the Apple iPhone stepped up yesterday after US environmental group the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) announced it is initiating legal action against the company.
In a statement the group, which campaigns against hazardous chemicals, said that the level of phthalates found in the phone by Greenpeace are in violation of Californian law. Under the State's law, products that can expose people to phthalates or other chemicals that are reproductive toxins or carcinogens must carry a warning label.
"There is no reason to have these potentially hazardous chemicals in iPhones " said Michael Green, executive director of CEH. "We expect Apple to reformulate its products to make them safer from cradle to grave, so they don't pose a threat to consumers, workers or the environment."
Under Californian law, Apple now has 60 days before the lawsuit is formally launched to address the group's concerns.
The legal action came as Apple attempted to downplay the implications of the Greenpeace report which revealed the iPhone contained hazardous PVC and BFR substances that had been removed from some other phones on the market.
In a short statement Apple reiterated its commitment to eliminating PVC and BFRs from products by the end of next year and insisted that "like all Apple products worldwide, iPhone complies with RoHS [the restriction on hazardous substances directive], the world's toughest restrictions on toxic substances in electronics".
Company responds to Greenpeace criticism with statement insisting iPhone meets all legal standards on hazardous substances 16 Oct 2007
Tests undertaken by environmental lobby group finds iPhone contains hazardous substances already eradicated by some rival phone manufacturers 15 Oct 2007Dump BFRs and PVCs in 60 days or face legal action 19 Oct 2007
Smartphone still using PVC and BFRs, claims environment group 16 Oct 2007"The marketing is greener than the product," claim campaigners 03 Mar 2008
Building giant details plans to develop three more commercially viable zero carbon homes over next three years 16 May 2008
Toyota claims the iconic hybrid vehicle has helped cut global carbon emissions by approximately 4.5m tonnes in the last decade 16 May 2008
More news
After two decades of development countless nanotechnologies are fast approaching commercial viability – and they have the potential to redefine the clean tech sector 16 May 2008
Green business courses are springing up think and fast, but as Vanessa Crossgrove Fry warns it could still be several years before we see Green MBAs take their place in the largest firms 14 May 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
