Apple Opts Out of EPEAT Green Standard

[Maura]

iFixit.org reports that according to a recent announcement by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), Apple has forthwith pulled all its products from being assessed by EPEAT, which is a “Green” body that requires products meet eight environment performance categories, such as product lifetime, toxic materials, and how recyclable the components and packaging materials are. iFixit.org explains that since 2007, all of Apple’s products have achieved Gold certification from EPEAT, and Apple has also often touted this fact when proclaiming its green credentials. So important is EPEAT, that federal agencies are only allowed to buy products that meet EPEAT’s standard, so this means that federal agencies will no longer be able to buy certain Apple products. iFixit.org goes on to say that the opt-out from EPEAT by Apple comes just a few weeks after the Website tore down the new MacBook Pro with Retina display, and noticed that EPEAT certification was not mentioned in the blurb accompanying the computer. Now we know why. iFixit.org thinks that the fact that the new MacBook Pro is so difficult to tear down could have a lot to do with it, as the EPEAT standard has very strict requirements for how easy it is to disassemble, and therefore recycle, a product. According to one person commenting on the story on iFixit.org, iPhones, iPads and iPod touches were never covered by EPEAT, so only laptops, desktops and monitors will be affected by this.

Many thanks to Super Moderator Thomasjtsi for the heads-up on this story.

Source: Apple Ditches Green Standard, Cuts Off Federal Agencies from Apple Products | iFixit

 

[Thomasjtsi]

It's no surprise to me... that only one week later Apple has chosen to go back on their opting out of the EPEAT Green Standard.
Source: Welcome Back: Apple Rejoins EPEAT | iFixit