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September 27, 2006

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Greenpeace sets up fake Apple site

Posted Sep. 27, ’06, 9:36 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Apple » News

Green ApplesMan, Greenpeace just won’t let up. With the same ferocious determination they’ve showed in driving their little dinghies in front of whaling ships, the environmental activist organization is now plowing straight into Apple. We previously covered their reports on toxicity in Apple products, but now Greenpeace has taken it to the extreme by setting up a faux Apple website.

We love Apple. Apple knows more about “clean” design than anybody, right? So why do Macs, iPods, iBooks and the rest of their product range contain hazardous substances that other companies have abandoned? A cutting edge company shouldn’t be cutting lives short by exposing children in China and India to dangerous chemicals. That’s why we Apple fans need to demand a new, cool product: a greener Apple.
It’s hurting the children, you see?

So why pick on Apple? There’re a number of reasons, including Greenpeace’s claim that Apple lags behind HP, Dell, Nokia and Sony for environmental practices. But they also know that Apple is a hugely public company, and one that the industry will take note of. Can you imagine Greenpeace putting up a fake HP site? How much press do you think that will get?

I think we can all agree that environmental conservation is an important issue, and if Steve Jobs gets up there and talks about reducing toxic chemicals in their products, people will applaud him for it. Sure, it might seem like they’re being picked on, but it comes with the territory of being arguably the most visible and innovative computer company around. Makes us proud, Steve.


9 Comments

Kristian Salo said:

Offcourse they pick Apple. They were almost the last in the report and as you said they are the most visible. It is marketing - the same thing Apple is so good at. ;) I would prefer that the company that makes my iMac would be the greeniest on that list.

September 27, 2006 9:47 AM
Daniel said:

If, in fact, Apple is lagging behind its peers in terms of recycling and practices that are environmentally friendly, then I applaud Greenpeace for calling them out on it.

September 27, 2006 10:59 AM
Brianfit Author Profile Page said:

There's another reason that Greenpeace is targetting Apple, and it's a bit subtler than just being able to make headlines. (Full disclosure: I work for Greenpeace)

Apple has a vast network of fiercely loyal customers. Apple listens to those customers. A lot of those customers are in the eco-friendly, global citizen demographic that don't want anything to do with piles of toxic e-waste being scavanged by children in Asia and India.

So when we're measuring high-profile targets to set an example to the industry, Apple looks sweet: we can use our opponent's own weight against them, they're industry leaders, they genuinely are lagging behind other players and can do more without much effort, and they've got the kind of responsive leadership that listens to customer feedback.

It's judo. We can't take on the entire industry at once. But flipping Apple would be a great start, and a good high-profile example to the rest.

--b

September 27, 2006 12:07 PM
Mike Doyle said:

Except for the fact that the first thing that comes to this Mac user's mind upon seeing the Greenpeace fake Apple website is to wonder how long it will take before your use of Apple's copyrighted web and product design on that website earns you a call from Apple legal.

You'd win more converts with a friendly argument rather than a snarky attack site. Green guilt is not going to stop Apple from selling a single iPod.

Now go pour sand in the gas tank of a logging truck or wash an oil-covered seabird or whatever else it is Greenpeace does. Somehow I bet when you're hard at work doing that, you'll have telltale white earbuds propped in your ears.

September 27, 2006 1:02 PM
Inkling Author Profile Page said:

Follow the money guys. If you're rich and a celebrity (and Steve Jobs is both) you have to pay the eco-tax. Write them a big check and perhaps attack ordinary folk for their 'wasteful' lifestyles, and you can live as you please. Barbara Steisland and Ted Turner are good examples.

One of Seattle's billionaires, Craig McCaw, was much beloved of the eco-crowd for giving them money and beating up on a local Indian tribe for hunting an occasional whale in an open boat. But when the local press did a study to find out which of our local mega-homes wasted the most energy, McCaw was in a league all by himself.

In short, it's not how you live or how your business actually performs ecologically. That's why Roughly Drafted:

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/Home/Home.html

had no problem exposing how "Greenpeace Lies about Apple." It's a money and blame game and not "save the world."

Steve Jobs isn't playing their game. He doesn't write big checks to eco-groups and he doesn't beat up on the public about eco-issues. That's why Apple's at the top of Greenpeace's hate list. It has nothing to do with the environment or toxic chemicals.

September 27, 2006 1:24 PM
exnihilo said:

If you look at that website, you'll see something very funny. They took pictures of little children posing with Apple keyboards. If they are so toxic, why did they see it fit to pose those children with them? Maybe they should have taken measures to get those kids out of the so called toxic pits filled with "poisoned Apples." Yeah, let's prove how toxic Apple products are by having children pose with them. Strange.

September 27, 2006 6:08 PM
Greg said:

In a similar vein to the wirelack hack debacle, this one just...won't...die.

September 28, 2006 8:34 AM
Bo Norrman said:

Many US and international corporation are becoming aware of the need to adress qeustions such as use toxic materials in their products but also the need to become carbon concious, i.e. start reducing the CO2 emissions. What is Apple waiting for?? They should be on the top of the list at Climate Group, (http://www.theclimategroup.org/index.php?pid=354)

Time for Steve to act! If Arnold Schwarzenegger can act green, Steve Jobs should be abel to do it!!

September 30, 2006 9:45 AM
Chris said:

I hate to say it, but most if not all Apple mac users I know keep their macs for years and years and years, so that means they last longer and therefore are better for the environment surely!?!?!

Lets face it, PC computers break like its going out of fashion and most PC users would admit to buying a PC almost once every 2 years.

December 14, 2006 2:15 AM

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