Check your Carbon Footprint

People usually buy things by looking at the good quality and whether the good is economical or not. But, now they have to focus on other aspect also, how eco friendly that good is, and if its an e-good then how will that good be disposed and recycled.

Recent study of Greeenpeace, an environment NGO, shows that most of the companies failed miserably when it comes for e-disposal management. These multinational companies are still usuing hazardous chemicals in manufacturing their goods, which are really difficult to dispose after it expired.

Most of these e-waste is routed to third world countries like India etc. where these good are recycled with poorest of technologies which led to high level of pollution and land fills.

Though some companies do have started e-waste handling campaign but it is still negligible compared to consumption and disposal.

Some figures from Greenpeace :

1 NOKIA: Creative take-back scheme
2 SONY ERICSSON: New environmental warranty
3 TOSHIBA: Reporting use of renewable energy
4 SAMSUNG: Good on toxic chem, poor recycling
5 FUJITSU SIEMENS: Good on energy, poor e-waste
6 LG – Improved score on recycling & energy
7 MOTOROLA: Improved on energy & recycling
8 SONY: Has room for improvement on energy
9 PANASONIC: Good energy, poor e-waste criteria
10 SHARP: Reporting of energy efficiency of products weak
11 ACER – To improve on cutting toxicity & recycling
12 DELL – Loses on withdrawing from its commitment to eliminate PVC plastic & BFRs by ‘09 end
13 HP: Still needs to improve on e-waste
14 APPLE: Now reporting product carbon footprint , new iPods are free of PVC and BFRs
15 PHILIPS: Scores well on toxics and energy but scores zero on other e-waste criteria
16 LENOVO: Scores well on toxic chemicals, poor on recycling & energy
17 MICROSOFT: Poor score on recycling & energy 18
NINTENDO: Zero on most criteria except chemicals mgmt & energy
Source: Greenpeace

So before you think of buying a good, apart from economical viability, do check the Carbon Footprint.

Thanks&Regards,
Mohit