According to Greenpeace — who’s here at CES to right and properly scold the consumer electronics industry for not doing more to keep the planet hospitable for humans — Apple is making them happier [PDF link].

Apple continues its climb up the ranking from 11th place in v.12 to 9th in v.13 and is now in 5th place, with a score of 5.1 points, up from 4.9. Apple does best on the toxic chemicals criteria, where it scores most of its points. It scores substantially less on waste and energy. In this evaluation, Apple wins and loses some points on toxic chemicals, but gains on energy. All Apple products are now free of PVC and BFRs, with the exception of PVC-free power cords in countries where their safety certification process is still ongoing. For this Apple continues to score full marks (doubled). The tightened C1 criterion now requires companies not only to have a chemicals policy informed by the precautionary principle, but also to show support for bans on PVC vinyl plastic and brominated/chlorinated flame retardants (CFRs/BFRs) during the revision of the EU’s RoHS Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electronics). Apple gains a point for lobbying the EU institutions, but for full marks it needs to provide a public position on its support for immediate restrictions in RoHS 2.0 on organo- chlorine and bromine compounds. It also needs to clarify its stance regarding the position of the trade federation TechAmerica on further immediate restrictions and in particular PVC and BFRs. Apple loses a point for providing even less information (on its updated web-pages) about its supply chain communications than before. This criterion evaluates disclosure of information flow in the supply chain. Apple also loses a point for minimal information about its future toxic chemical phase-out plans, reducing its communication on this subject on its updated web-pages.

Are you also happier knowing your iPhone is greener? And is Apple doing enough, or should Greenpeace continue to single out their singular brand?

Apple is on a big, green tear lately, and like another jade-skinned giant, you better not make them angry — because you won’t like them when they’re angry. Case in point, Apple has joined the “we’re resigning from the US Chamber of Commerce” parade. Said Catherine A. Novelli, VP of worldwide government affairs:

“We strongly object to the chamber’s recent comments opposing the E.P.A.’s effort to limit greenhouse gases. [...] Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it is frustrating to find the chamber at odds with us in this effort.”

Read the full letter [PDF link]

[New York Times via Daring Fireball]

Apple has set up a new, environment-focused section of their website, which covers their full product range and life-cycle — including TiPb’s titular iPhone [PDF link].

Give it a look and let us know how you think Apple’s doing.

[Thanks everyone who sent this in!]

When Apple began their recall program for the iPhone 3G AC adapters, some noted that the massive packaging the new adapters were sent in seemed to be running in stark opposition to Apple’s newly stated “greener” goals.

Ginormous would be one word for them. Wasteful, another.

Could things have changed however? While we received three of the huge boxes only a couple of weeks ago, this week we received two much smaller padded envelopes instead. Did Apple and/or their shipping company respond to the concerns, or just realize how insane the previous packaging was?

Anybody else getting the newer, slimmed-down packaging? Anyone still getting the huge boxes?

Because of Apple’s high media profile, Greenpeace likes to have a little fun with them. Nothing gets headlines like bashing Apple in the tech industry, especially if you’re hippie enough to make Steve Jobs seem more like Stephen Colbert. With Al Gore on their board, however, it’s probably safe to say Apple has to at least appear to be one of the more — if not most — environmentally friendly major tech company in the US. Case in point, and unprecedented second open letter from Steve Jobs:

For the past several years, Apple has made a concerted effort to be more transparent about the steps we are taking to protect the environment and make our business more sustainable. In this environmental update, I’d like to inform you of our recent progress and introduce you to a groundbreaking system of reporting that we believe is unmatched in our industry.

The iPhone got a brief mention as well:

More recently we introduced our first BFR and PVC-free iPods and iPhone 3G with mercury-free displays.

Sounds okay? Second steppish enough at least? Not quite for Greenpeace:

Not quite the breakthrough we were hoping for.

Ouch. Though, to be less sensationalistic, they did have lots of positive feedback as well.

Hopefully Apple will make true on their timeline, and other manufacturers will follow suit.

It’s not easy being green, but I don’t think any of us want to live on the earth from Wall-E, do we?