E-Scrap News Magazine: Apple drops EPEAT

## Apple drops EPEAT

_By Editorial Staff, Resource Recycling_

Apple is withdrawing from the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), after being among the first OEMs to support the green electronics rating system.

EPEAT allows electronics manufacturers to highlight and validate their green design initiatives using a checklist of environmental criteria, such as designing devices for recyclability, energy efficiency, or elimination of hazardous components. The federal government, the largest purchaser of electronics and IT equipment in the U.S., gives [strong preference][1] for products registered with EPEAT when making procurement decisions.

"We regret that Apple will no longer be registering its products in EPEAT," reads a statement on EPEAT's website. "We hope that they will decide to do so again at some point in future."

While the move caught many at the organization by surprise, according to sources that spoke to E-Scrap News, a closer look at Apple's recent design trend reveals growing conflicts with the criteria needed to maintain a favorable EPEAT ranking. For example, an [iFixit teardown][2] of Apple's latest Macbook Pro revealed batteries that were glued to the product casing, screens fused to the product housing and other design decisions that gave the product a low repairability and recyclability score. Other products, like the iPad and iPhone, utilize similar design decisions.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

**UPDATE: **"Apple has been a leader in the EPEAT standards development process, and has consistently registered products in EPEAT that demonstrate sustainable design leadership," said EPEAT CEO Robert Frisbee in an email to_ E-Scrap News_. "As an organization dedicated to the greening of electronics, we are disappointed Apple is leaving this legacy behind. And as a consumer, I am sorry to no longer have the option of buying very cool Apple products with the knowledge they are certified to the high standards represented by EPEAT. We hope Apple sees a way back to EPEAT. Maintaining environmental integrity while producing products in the fast paced electronics industry is a challenging path, and we are honored to represent the many companies who continue to take this path through our registry. We take very seriously our mission of providing purchasers the information they need to select products that effectively reduce their environmental impact."

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[1]: http://www.epa.gov/epeat/
[2]: http://resource-recycling.com/node/2835
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URL: http://resource-recycling.com/node/2896