Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) on Friday announced that the company is putting its products back on EPEAT rating registry, quoting that it made a ‘mistake’ in removing them from the green certified list.
After facing criticism on removal of its products from EPEAT, Apple’s VP of hardware engineering, Bob Mansfield said in a letter to customers (which was posted on Apple’s website):
“I recognize that this was a mistake.”
“Our relationship with EPEAT has become stronger as a result of this experience, and we look forward to working with EPEAT as their rating system and the underlying IEEE 1680.1 standard evolve.”
“Our team at Apple is dedicated to designing products that everyone can be proud to own and use.”
The Cupertino based company said that it will continue working with EPEAT, and for that it has put all its previously removed products back to the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool list.
It all began when Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) notified EPEAT, that the company no longer wants to submit its products to EPEAT for the environmental rating. EPEAT CEO Robert Frisbee reported that the Cupertino based company has pulled its 39 products, including MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, from the registry.
“They said their design direction was no longer consistent with the EPEAT requirements,” Frisbee said. “They were important supporters and we are disappointed that they don’t want their products measured by this standard anymore.”
Apple however clarified its withdrawal from EPEAT green initiative by saying, “Apple products are superior in other important environmental areas not measured by EPEAT, such as removal of toxic materials.”
After Apple’s previous decision of removing its products, the city of San Francisco decided to stop purchasing some of Apple products.
Apple stock climbed $7.66 to $606.56 in afternoon trading.
Below is the full letter from Bob Mansfield:
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. I recognize that this was a mistake. Starting today, all eligible Apple products are back on EPEAT.
It’s important to know that our commitment to protecting the environment has never changed, and today it is as strong as ever. Apple makes the most environmentally responsible products in our industry. In fact, our engineering teams have worked incredibly hard over the years to make our products even more environmentally friendly, and much of our progress has come in areas not yet measured by EPEAT.
For example, Apple led the industry in removing harmful toxins such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). We are the only company to comprehensively report greenhouse gas emissions for every product we make, taking into account the entire product lifecycle. And we’ve removed plastics wherever possible, in favor of materials that are more highly recyclable, more durable, more efficient and longer lasting.
Perhaps most importantly, we make the most energy-efficient computers in the world and our entire product line exceeds the stringent ENERGY STAR 5.2 government standard. No one else in our industry can make that claim.
We think the IEEE 1680.1 standard could be a much stronger force for protecting the environment if it were upgraded to include advancements like these. This standard, on which the EPEAT rating system is based, is an important measuring stick for our industry and its products.
Our relationship with EPEAT has become stronger as a result of this experience, and we look forward to working with EPEAT as their rating system and the underlying IEEE 1680.1 standard evolve. Our team at Apple is dedicated to designing products that everyone can be proud to own and use.
Bob
