Apple Pulls Products from Environmental EPEAT Registry

[Mediaformae]

This is a pretty sad moment, honestly. I mean this was helpful on the user end as well, even if you don't give a crap about the environment. It made their products more easily repairable and accessible for maintenance.

I guess that's precisely what they don't want! Apple Care is got to sell.
Next thing you know, you'll have to upgrade your system through Apple's channels as well. Big money.

And yes, I do care about environment.
So, I hope that Apple doesn't rotten.

 

[charlituna]

.

If you use screws then people will either attempt to replace the battery themselves or take it to some back street dealer and have it done cheap, which can lead to this:

http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/3602097/ao-2011-149_final.pdf

catch there is that the phone battery is glued in place. It was an enclosure screw that got in there and the person just shrugged and grabbed another one instead of carrying what happened to the first

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What sucks is that now that Steve has passed on, every misstep that Apple makes is looked at so much more critically, at least by me. Every time I read a post like this I'm like "Hmmmmmmm would Steve have done this?" "Is Cook gonna f$%k up Apple."


Anyone else going through this?

Nope. Because I remember a handful of key points

1. Steve picked these folks. Picked them and trained them
2. Tech is developed over many years. We won't be totally Steve free for a good decade, perhaps two
3. Steve told them not to obsess with how he would do things. They know the basic philosophies, how they fulfill them is their decision.
4 Tim Cook is not a moron. And further he was the logistics guy even under Steve and knows a hell of a lot more about this game than any of us.

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Hang on - if you think that as a Buddhist, Steve didn't care about the environment, you're friggin dreaming bloke!

Buddhists give a crap about charity etc. for its own sake. What they are opposed to is using it to score points for the ego. You do it, you don't talk about it.

Tim is not a Buddhist so he's not following that vital teaching. Thus he has no issue talking.

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Has Apple actually gone mad now? So let me understand this, in order to make one product thinner, it has forgone it's ability to sell it's products to a massive, and to Apple emerging market? In fact, what about video editors, publication houses? Are they now not able to buy Apple computers?

Not at all. Most of them are not under buying laws to only go EPEAT cert. And the US only is by an executive order that Obama can change.

 

[JohnDoe98]

The problem is it's glued in place, you CANNOT remove it, I would imagine the only way it's done is by a special machine that breaks the battery and the casing or one or the other, think about it, Apple will charge $199 plus tax and take 3 to 4 hours to replace it in store, 3 to 4 day's if you send it away, that's because they will essentially strip your machine down, and rebuild it into a new top cover with new battery glued in place.

I guess you never heard of a hot air gun... It's actually pretty easy to remove the batteries when done properly.

 

[koban4max]

This is a pretty sad moment, honestly. I mean this was helpful on the user end as well, even if you don't give a crap about the environment. It made their products more easily repairable and accessible for maintenance.

And you'll still buy stuff from APPLE. Point is?

 

[RoboCop001]

I hope one day that manufacturing process advances would allow the assembly of their designs to be done in a repair and recycle friendly manner once again.

Perhaps there's a way to do it without glue today, but it's quite costly. Hopefully those advances would bring costs down as well.

I also hope that recycling processes advance as well to deal with these types of design choices.

I think both sides need to move forward here.

 

[usptact]

And this is the move of a company who claims to be green and doing everything to reduce harm to our precious planet!

 

[Mal]

And this is the move of a company who claims to be green and doing everything to reduce harm to our precious planet!

And they do just that. They simply aren't going to be stuck with the rules of an organization that's out of touch with the electronics industry and is trying to hold back Apple's progress by demanding unreasonable conditions that don't actually have anything to do with recycling.

jW

 

[Vertigo50]

If you don't like that Apple is making laptops less "user-serviceable" than that's one thing, but this change doesn't mean that Apple is no longer making their laptops environmentally-friendly.

EPEAT seems to be based on the idea that any Joe Schmoe should be able to disassemble and recycle a computer. That's fine in theory, but that makes for some unnecessarily large and simplified designs.

Apple sees that this is going to be a continuing problem in the future, and they are making a break with them now. I predict that other companies will follow suit, because Apple is always a leader.

Lastly, Apple has numerous programs in place for accepting and recycling old computers and devices. You can send it in to them, or you can even drop it off at a retail store. For crap's sake, they even give you a GIFT CARD if it has monetary value!!

I just wish everyone would quit reading into this that Apple is going to start spilling oil into the ocean and clubbing baby seals all of a sudden.

http://www.apple.com/recycling/

http://www.apple.com/recycling/

 

[3282868]

Curious, does any one know the specifics in Apple's recycling program? When/If a system/product is brought it to be recycled, what parts can be recycled and how? I can't imagine everything is able to be reused/melted down/etc.

OT, given the probable trend that Apple is leaning towards less user replaceable systems, what will become of the [supposed] "Mac Pro" refresh next year? Will Apple redesign the system to be less upgradable?

 

[Rodimus Prime]

What sucks is that now that Steve has passed on, every misstep that Apple makes is looked at so much more critically, at least by me. Every time I read a post like this I'm like "Hmmmmmmm would Steve have done this?" "Is Cook gonna f$%k up Apple."


Anyone else going through this?

SJ was leading the charge in leaving this stuff.
SJ was pretty much anti donating anything. After he left power apple started donating money and making it up to piss poor status on corporate philanthropy

 

[faroZ06]

There is this thing called an "uninterruptible power supply" you can buy for that you know

Yes, but I'd rather have an internal UPS (small laptop battery) than an external one. My external one just broke, actually. Having an internal one would involve less wires and would be smarter than a dumb, generic UPS. Also, you wouldn't be converting from DC to AC to DC during a power outage (correction of my earlier post).

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It has two Thunderbolt ports. You realize you can run firewire off that, and gigabit Ethernet, and still have four monitors?

They aren't anywhere near their top.

I do realize that, but those things would involve using external adapters, which are annoying and very expensive. Also, why did MacRumors make their forums do the "COLOR="#808080"" thing on every reply? It's annoying.

 

[Macist]

Just because Apple cannot comply with this scheme doesn't make them more unsound than anyone else. You can't recycle with a screwdriver alone and those MacBook cases look ripe for smeltin'.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

A 'fact' that has not been proven.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/0...es-ipads-incredibly-thin-but-hard-to-recycle/

That same difficulty of repair also makes the iPad, which Apple bills as being made primarily of a "recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure," difficult for recycling companies to disassemble into its constituent materials.

"Sealed units [like the iPad] make it difficult to remove the batteries," Steve Skurnac, president of SIMS Recycling Solutions, said in a statement. "From a recycler's point of view, the hazardous components [like batteries] need to be easily separated or removed."

It's the 5th result using Bing. Imagine how hard it would have been to find if you tried Google.

 

[AidenShaw]

Yes, but I'd rather have an internal UPS (small laptop battery) than an external one. My external one just broke, actually. Having an internal one would involve less wires and would be smarter than a dumb, generic UPS. Also, you wouldn't be converting from DC to AC to DC during a power outage (correction of my earlier post).

The external UPS, though, can power your USB/1394/T-Bolt peripherals as well as the computer and monitor.

The external one can be sized as you see fit. (The UPS powering my TiVo and splitter can record a full two hours on battery.)

The internal one can't power your peripherals, so a real risk of data corruption or loss. Even a large laptop battery would only last a handful of minutes powering a 27" display.

If all you want is coverage for very brief (less than a minute) interruptions (and you don't have external drives) your idea would be a good one.

 

[law guy]

It doesn't seem like good business sense, even if Apple is clamping down one user-servicable / upgradable designs given that the certification decisions go into purchasing decisions. Also interesting in that Apple helped develop the certification program. Shall we look for them to decide Thunderbolt was a bad idea soon as well?

From CNET: "The U.S. government requires that 95 percent of its electronics bear the EPEAT seal of approval; large companies such as Ford and Kaiser Permanente require their CIOs to buy from EPEAT-certified firms; and many of the largest universities in the U.S. prefer to buy EPEAT-friendly gear, CIO Journal reports."

Article Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-5...onment-minded-products/?tag=mncol;editorPicks

Of course Ford, Kaiser Permanente and the US Gov still have options:According to EPEAT's registry of participating manufacturers, Dell has 171 EPEAT-certified products, Hewlett Packard has 221, and Samsung has 309. Oh, and those folks also also workstation desktops on the market with PCI 3.0, USB 3.0 and E5 Xeons, and support 512 GB of DDR3 RAM and the latest video cards.

At a time when iPhones and iPads have made enterprise more Apple-friendly than its been since the 80s (i.e. the most friendly it's ever been) Apple seems determined to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

[Poisednoise]

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/0...es-ipads-incredibly-thin-but-hard-to-recycle/


It's the 5th result using Bing. Imagine how hard it would have been to find if you tried Google.

I don't think anyone's arguing that an independent recycler will not have problems: Apple clearly acknowledge this themselves by withdrawing from the EPEAT certification. The question is whether that actually matters, so long as Apple themselves are recycling it - particularly when, given that it's their product and therefore they know what they're doing, they're probably recycling it more efficiently than the independent company would.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I don't think anyone's arguing that an independent recycler will not have problems: Apple clearly acknowledge this themselves by withdrawing from the EPEAT certification. The question is whether that actually matters, so long as Apple themselves are recycling it - particularly when, given that it's their product and therefore they know what they're doing, they're probably recycling it more efficiently than the independent company would.

The argument was that it doesn't matter if they're EPEAT certified or not, as other companies aren't, and no one cares. I was commenting that people do care, and that the lack of a cert does have ramifications.

 

[Poisednoise]

The argument was that it doesn't matter if they're EPEAT certified or not, as other companies aren't, and no one cares. I was commenting that people do care, and that the lack of a cert does have ramifications.

I accept that there are one or two people who have, in this thread, stated that they couldn't give two hoots about the environment, but they are definitely in the minority. The lack of a certificate does have ramifications, yes, but not for the environment.

 

[faroZ06]

If all you want is coverage for very brief (less than a minute) interruptions (and you don't have external drives) your idea would be a good one.

Yeah, I think it would be good for Apple to put small ones in iMacs for 10-second or maybe 5-second power hiccups. It would even be useful in my Mac Pro because the external drives aren't very important, and I don't care if the screen goes black for a moment.

Anyway, this is too off-topic. I'm going to just make a thread.

 

[MacDav]

Sorry you are right

Said the fanboy, you went as far as to include mac in your username...

I am here because MacRumors is a great source (if not the best on the internet) of apple related news and a open forum for discussion about everything, whether that be apple related or not. I bring a level headed, non bias opinion to the table and it is not required that you own a mac to be eligible to comment, discuss or help new users who want advice. Sometimes it's good to listen to others opinions, whose interest span further than just apple, you may learn something.

This is my forum/news site for apple, I have others for non apple related interests... anything else?

Yes, you are right. I should welcome you with open arms. We need a lot more self-important, arrogant, no-nothings, who will take any opportunity they can to bash Apple. Yes, I agree "it is good to listen to others opinions" I hope you are listening to mine. You know zero about me except that my username is MACDAV and that I would prefer that you go elsewhere if your primary intent is to denigrate Apples products and business policies. Yes, you have the right to be here and there is nothing I can do about that. I'm sure new users are all clamoring for your expert advice and you are so selfless that you will give it to them whether they want it or not. I've been on the PC side of things for many years. I've built many of my own PC's from scratch over the years. The simple fact is that Apple makes a superior product. Don't even get me started on OSX vs. Windows. You are an uniformed and pretentious person and I wish you would go play somewhere else.

 

[gnasher729]

Remember the "Greenest Family of Notebooks" Campaign only 3 years ago? What a difference a few years can make: A complete reversal of direction.

Apple TV Ad: Introducing the Greenest Family of Notebooks
http://youtu.be/n42XFU3GLOk

Not at all. EPEAT requirements that it should be possible to dismantle a device with commonly available tools is meant not to protect so much the environment, but poor people in third world countries who recycle electronics by the shipload, when manufacturers are too cheap to recycle it properly and shipping the rubbish somewhere else is cheaper. But if you check the Apple US Store, you will find that Apple takes back all Apple products in the USA, and that they will be recycled in the USA, and by companies like http://www.werecycle.com/ who look competent enough to have the tools to take a Retina MBP apart.

 

[tomsamson]

Apple had to pull out since they wouldn´t have gotten the certificate for the retina macbook.
I think its great that thanks to this the media puts more focus on the point that Apple is pushing more and more towards devices which are complete consumables which are made to not be servicable and recyclable by anyone else than Apple.
This way of attempting to maximize profits is not ok by itself, added on top that they were at the same time touting how recyclable and environmental friendly their products are on their website was just too much.
I like the Apple devices for the great (external) design and functionality but these manners of using custom screws, custom soldered ram and an extra dose of glue everywhere etc have to stop.
Its just not ok when AppleCare becomes a mandatory purchase for every device and a bunch of device parts are forced to be thrown away every time one single one breaks just cause the can´t be separated well or in cost effective way.

I hope Apple feels a financial impact from this when governmental and educational organizations and large corporations reduce their Apple computer orders and that way force Apple into rethinking that strategy.

I´d love to buy a macbook retina update without feeling like i´m buying a glued together brick which will fill a landfill in around 1-4 years.

 

[Rogifan]

Do most people even know what the hell EPEAT stands for? When someone's buying an electronics device do they check to make sure it has an EPEAT certification? My guess is a big fat NO and NO. These knee-jerk reactions are quite annoying. Just becauseApple's macs no longer qualify for some standard most people have never heard of doesn't mean they're less recyclable. You can take your device to an Apple store (or they'll pay for shipping) and Apple will properly dispose of it. What's the problem?!?

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I´d love to buy a macbook retina update without feeling like i´m buying a glued together brick which will fill a landfill in around 1-4 years.

What evidence do you have for this statement?

 

[tomsamson]

Do most people even know what the hell EPEAT stands for? When someone's buying an electronics device do they check to make sure it has an EPEAT certification? My guess is a big fat NO and NO. These knee-jerk reactions are quite annoying. Just becauseApple's macs no longer qualify for some standard most people have never heard of doesn't mean they're less recyclable. You can take your device to an Apple store (or they'll pay for shipping) and Apple will properly dispose of it. What's the problem?!?

The point is sorta that few people besides Apple and the companies that work directly together with them can easily repair/replace/recycle parts.
Even Apple themselves usually dispose several parts when one breaks since its not cost effective to get the parts apart when they are glued together like that etc.

What evidence do you have for this statement?

Go read the ifixit teardown post for the macbook retina.

 

[CausticPuppy]

Am I the only one who never heard of EPEAT until this news story broke?