Apple leaves EPEAT

iFixit managed to damage the battery when stripping the machine down ... which started leaking. That and their obsession with non-standard screws to stop people opening them up. What next, supergluing the case on and fitting a chassis sensor that phones home?
 
I'm not really talking about this particular MacBook, the point I'm trying to make it that Apple seem to be going more broadly in this direction.

“They said their design direction was no longer consistent with the EPEAT requirements,”
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Since Apple shift millions of computers it could potentially have quite a significant impact. All I'm saying is that, if I had a choice between a MacBook and MacBook that was 1mm thicker but better for the environment, I would choose the latter. But I seem to be alone in that!
 
It's because stuff is getting thinner and lighter and has to fit more in.
I wouldn't be surprised if other companies follow.

Technology is heading mobile and mobile stuff needs to be small and light. I can see desktop usage massively falling in the coming decade.

And yes I think you are in a massive minority. How many people actually knew about EPEAT before this? Have you checked every device meets it before buying? Even you who is concerned about this, I would expect the answer to be no.
 
Stuff isn't getting thinner or lighter on its own - it's by design. And it appears that Apple's future designs are at the expense of environmental responsibility. The focus shouldn't be shifted towards whether Joe average knows, checks or even cares about it.
 
theheyes said:
Since Apple shift millions of computers it could potentially have quite a significant impact. All I'm saying is that, if I had a choice between a MacBook and MacBook that was 1mm thicker but better for the environment, I would choose the latter. But I seem to be alone in that!
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Then you buy the thicker MBP. Apple going thinner is driven by the consumers. Apple have given the choice to people when they released the Air and it shows by the massive growth of MBA's that this is what people want so why wouldn't Apple accomodate the consumer?

If people weren't buying them and opting more for the thicker, heavier but user serviceable Mac's Apple wouldn't continue in this direction.

Although as advances are made I'm sure the range will return to being more environmentally friendly over time. It's a cycle that Apple is pushing the advancements in that will lead to manufacturers of the components used following suit etc.
 
It's laughable really, it's not like Apple will go, oh well the key on this machine is broken, let's throw the entire assembly and battery in the bin and use a new one. The parts all go back to the factories, they all get re-used.
 
uniQ said:
Then you buy the thicker MBP. Apple going thinner is driven by the consumers. Apple have given the choice to people when they released the Air and it shows by the massive growth of MBA's that this is what people want so why wouldn't Apple accomodate the consumer?
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The MBAs you cite are an example of a product that was a massive success and compliant. There is nothing stopping Apple from designing within the specification.

What they're basically saying is that it does not suit them anymore, so they're getting out. And you can reasonably infer from this that future products are going to be less environmentally friendly than their predecessors.

Is it such a bad thing to say, actually, why not put the brakes on the race to make already thin and light devices thinner until we can find a way that doesn't sacrifice recyclability?
 
theheyes said:
Is it such a bad thing to say, actually, why not put the brakes on the race to make already thin and light devices thinner until we can find a way that doesn't sacrifice recyclability?
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As I alluded to in my post Apple is pushing boundaries which create a cycle that will force the manufacturers of the components they use to also reduce size and weight. So it should come full circle eventually.

Apple has huge bargaining power, when they do something the suppliers take notice. Apple making the first move is like a kick up the backside. So in short the answer is yes, these revolutionary steps take a company like Apple to make the first move rather than waiting and expecting the suppliers to do it or believing they will, imo is just naive.
 
Arthur17 said:
It's going to make zero difference where I work. If we need Mac's, we buy Mac's. It's not like you can buy them from another manufacturer.

UK schools do not care about EPEAT.
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Same here, we just upgraded our Mac hardware a few weeks ago.

Apple not being in EPEAT is going to make no difference to our buying decision nor do I expect it will in most places.
 
Apple responded to it's departure from EPEAT to the loop:

Apple on Tuesday responded to concerns that it asked to have its products removed from EPEAT, the U.S. government’s list of environmentally friendly products.

“Apple takes a comprehensive approach to measuring our environmental impact and all of our products meet the strictest energy efficiency standards backed by the US government, Energy Star 5.2,” Apple representative Kristin Huguet, told The Loop. “We also lead the industry by reporting each product’s greenhouse gas emissions on our website, and Apple products are superior in other important environmental areas not measured by EPEAT, such as removal of toxic materials.”

It’s important to note that in addition to not measuring toxins and other environmental areas, EPEAT also doesn’t measure smartphones or tablets. Clearly these are two areas that are vitally important for Apple and not covered by EPEAT.

Companies like Dell have 171 products listed on EPEAT, but yet if you look on Dell’s Web site, none of their computers are even Energy Star Compliant.

By its own admission, the EPEAT certifications are old.

“Part of it is expanding EPEAT’s global reach through the multiple certification [process]; as well as moving into new, additional products; as well as updating the EPEAT [certifications], because they’re a little long in the tooth. [Each of those] is a huge project on its own,” Christine Ervin, an EPEAT board member told GreenBiz in March.

The hubbub over Apple pulling out of EPEAT is interesting because the products that were listed as gold products by the environmental organization are the same ones Apple is currently selling.

Apple has done more than any other technology company in recent memory to be environmentally friendly. What’s more, Apple publishes everything that makes up its carbon footprint on its Web site. Again, this is something EPEAT doesn’t measure.
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