Apple’s Response to Eco Claims

Apple’s response to Greenpeace’s report of PVC, phthalates, and BFRs in the iPhone is short and sweet. Witness the words of the Apple spokesperson as told to MacWorld:

“Like all Apple products worldwide, iPhone complies with RoHS [Restriction of Hazardous Substances], the world’s toughest restrictions on toxic substances in electronics. As we have said, Apple will voluntarily eliminate the use of PVC and BFRs by the end of 2008.”

There’s another key quote from the Center for Environmental Health, the California-based organization that filed the 60-day notice of a suit yesterday. They aim to

“encourage the manufacturers through a negotiated settlement to reduce the use of these chemicals.”

I’m not a lawyer, but my wife is. If they want a negotiated settlement, that means they don’t want to go to court. Court is expensive. What exactly they want, I don’t know; if they want money, this is essentially a shakedown job. If they want to hurry Apple’s schedule or force a warning, they may be doing it on the basis of their ideals. Either way, it’s a lot of free publicity.