Last month Apple asked that EPEAT, the standards group responsible for rating the recyclability of electronics products, drop 39 of its computers and monitors from its rankings. The company is being honest about prioritizing design over recyclability. But will mainstream consumers care?
This is Jonathan Koomey’s fourth essay in a series of four this week that highlights, and excerpts from, his upcoming book, “Cold Cash, Cool Climate,” which discusses how entrepreneurs and investors can profit from tackling climate change, one of this century’s greatest challenges.
The latest iteration of the One Laptop Per Child project was unveiled at CES, and it’s fully focused on integrating with off-grid clean power, both solar and human-generated. Many of the kids that could be using the laptop won’t have access to grid power.
A report released Wednesday morning by a group of Chinese watchdog groups criticizes Apple for using suppliers that consistently threaten the environment and the health of their workers. It will be interesting to see if calls for greater transparency are answered, given Apple’s generally secretive tendencies.
Many people use the iPad to replace a physical library of paper books, mostly because it’s very convenient to do so. But is it also better for the environment? A recent report considers the ecological effects of e-books in general, and specifically addresses the iPad’s impact.
[qi:_earth2tech] Google Earth’s bird’s-eye view of the globe is being used by environmentalists, concerned citizens, and yes, eco-bloggers, to map the effects…