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October 15, 2007

legal

Under the gavel: iPhone contains iPhthalates

Posted Oct. 15, ’07, 2:14 PM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Legal

PhthalateNot all of you follow the iPhone news over at our sister site, iPhone Central, and we get that: you want your Mac news untainted by all the gushing about one silly little device that everybody’s going ga-ga over. Still, we find it impossible to deprive you of news of the latest in a line of lawsuits over that silly little device.

Acting on information revealed in a report issued this morning by Apple’s best-friend-forever-until-they-started-dating-our-ex-who-we-weren’t-over, Greenpeace, the Center for Environmental Health is suing has given Apple legal notice for using toxic chemicals in the construction of the iPhone. At issue, in particular, are the use of the world’s most unpronounceable chemical, phthalates, in the vinyl plastic covering on the earphone wires. Phthalates (seen at right; aren’t they cute?) are a key ingredient in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and have been potentially linked to adverse effects on reproduction. They’ve been banned in children’s toys in San Francisco and Europe.

“There is no reason to have these potentially hazardous chemicals in iPhones” said Michael Green, Executive Director of Center for Environmental Health. “We expect Apple to reformulate their products to make them safer from cradle to grave, so they don’t pose a threat to consumers, workers or the environment.”
A spokesperson for the Center said that their goal was to “encourage the manufacturers…to reduce the use of these chemicals.” Earlier this year, Steve Jobs stated in his open letter on the environment that Apple planned to phase out the use of PVC in all of its products by the end of 2008. Hard to say if that will satisfy the Center for Environmental Health, but, well, I would hope we could all agree that reducing the use of toxic chemicals makes the world a sunnier place.

Update: The Center has not yet sued Apple, but rather given Apple 60-days legal notice, a necessary step on the cobblestoned road to litigation.


3 Comments

Justin Ames said:

No it won't satisfy the Center for Environmental Health. They will never be satisfied with Apple, how else are they going to get publicity. They may not be bombing the companies buildings, but this may as well be eco-terrorism.

October 15, 2007 2:44 PM
fletcher Author Profile Page said:

I consider myself an environmentalist, but I've never had a lot of respect for some of GreenPeace's tactics.

To me their attacks on Apple look like an attempt to grab attention for themselves rather than a genuine attempt to change Apple's business practices.

October 15, 2007 3:14 PM
Anonymous said:

Or...It would be nice if Apple would stop using toxins when perfectly harmless alternatives are available. What a crazy eco-terrorist perspective!?

October 15, 2007 11:37 PM

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