TMCnet Feature Free eNews Subscription
July 13, 2012

Apple Decides to Back Away from Earlier Decision Not to List Products on EPEAT Registry

By Ed Silverstein, TMCnet Contributor

Apple (News - Alert) has flip-flopped over its earlier decision not to be listed in a U.S.-government registry of environmentally-friendly products shortly after the city of San Francisco blacklisted the company. The city began the process of preventing its employees from purchasing Apple products with city funds.



News that Apple will once again be listed on EPEAT led Melanie Nutter, director of the San Francisco Department of the Environment, to say in a statement her agency “is pleased to learn that Apple is rejoining EPEAT.”

“Apple’s continued participation in the EPEAT program is consistent with their long standing commitment to environmental stewardship,” she adds.

There was a possibility other government offices, universities and large companies could have followed San Francisco’s example.

The U.S. federal government requires that some 95 percent of the laptops and desktops it purchases be listed in the EPEAT registry, according to The Wall Street Journal. Many universities also require the purchase of EPEAT-listed computers. Both Cornell University and University of California, Berkeley, had started reviewing whether to continue purchasing Apple products. Ford, HSBC, and Kaiser Permanente also have requirements to buy EPEAT-listed computers.

For an undisclosed reason, Apple had said it wanted to remove its 39 desktop and laptop computers, and monitors from the EPEAT registry. It may have related to design issues, according to TMCnet. Devices listed in the EPEAT registry are more energy-efficient and more sensitive to the environment in recycling, according to The Journal.

"We've recently heard from many loyal Apple customers who were disappointed to learn that we had removed our products from the EPEAT rating system," Bob Mansfield, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, said in a letter released to the media. "I recognize that this was a mistake."

Inclusion on the EPEAT registry is voluntary. In June, Apple asked that 39 of its MacBooks and desktops be taken off the registry.

Both iPhones and iPads are not certifiable by the EPEAT registry. Earlier, Nutter had said it was her hope “the city saying it will not buy Apple products will make Apple reconsider its participation.”

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2012, taking place Oct. 2-5, in Austin, TX. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. For more information on registering for ITEXPO click here.

Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO. Follow us on Twitter.




Edited by Rachel Ramsey
» More TMCnet Feature Articles
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. [Free eNews Subscription]
SHARE THIS ARTICLE

LATEST TMCNET ARTICLES

» More TMCnet Feature Articles