Apple yesterday launched its thinnest ever MacBook laptop amidst claims that the light weight laptop underlined its recent commitments to improve the environmental credentials of its technology.
The company has been heavily criticised in the past year after Greenpeace launched a campaign attacking the manufacturers' use of hazardous components and environmental policies.
Apple boss Steve Jobs responded to the campaign last year pledging to improve the environmental performance of the company's technology and committing to phasing out use of PVC and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and enhancing recycling rates.
The company has taken the first step towards meeting its new environmental commitments with the launch of the MacBook Air, an ultra-thin laptop boasting a 13.3inch screen, 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, an 80GB 1.8-inch hard drive and fewer hazardous components than previous models.
Apple said that the laptop incorporated a mercury-free LCD display with arsenic-free glass and used BFR-free material for the majority of circuit boards as well as PVC-free internal cables.
Greenpeace welcomed the launch, heralding it as evidence that its campaign against Apple had proved successful. "This is a massive step," said campaign co-ordinator Zeina Alhajj. "In removing Mercury and Arsenic, Apple is going beyond what is required under the RoHS [restriction on hazardous substances] directive."
Apple said the laptop – which is expected to retail from $1,799 – also meets the Energy Star 4.0 standards for energy use and "consumes the least amount of power than any Mac". Moreover, it is to be sold in a retail box that is 56 per cent smaller than previous packaging, and made from 100 per cent recycled material.
The EcoGeek blog said that Apple had pushed Intel to produce smaller chips for the laptop and consequently other vendors should be able to benefit from the smaller and more energy efficient processors. "You can bet this technology will find its way into Sony, Dell, and HP laptops soon enough," it said.
Green group heralds new energy efficient laptops as major step forward in Apple's environmental performance 15 Oct 2008
Nintendo slammed again over poor toxics policy 02 Jul 2009
Promise to eliminate vinyl plastic and brominated flame retardants by end of 2009 will not be honoured by Dell and HP 31 Mar 2009
New study argues solar industry must act early to tackle potential toxic eWaste dangers arising from solar panels 14 Jan 2009
Price of EUAs hits 30-day high of €14 in wake of latest auction 10 Jul 2009
Engineering giant claims almost a third of its venture capital investment portfolio is focused on clean tech 10 Jul 2009Energy giant shells out undisclosed sum for a pipeline of solar photovoltaic projects in the south of France 10 Jul 2009
More news
From magnetic cars to rows over greenwashing, we run down the top stories from the past week 10 Jul 2009
Bill Beaver takes the microscope to the backroom deals that will shape the future of the US climate change bill 09 Jul 2009
Whenever a big story breaks about the dire straights in which the natural world finds itself, it always sparks something of a... 07 Jul 2009 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
