Greenpeace Criticizes Apple's 'Daisy' Recycling Robot, Says Focus Should be on 'Repairable and Upgradeable Product Design'

[MacRumors]

As part of its 2018 environmental report, Apple today unveiled the latest iteration of its recycling robot, named Daisy. Daisy is an upgraded version of Liam, the recycling robot Apple debuted in 2016. Daisy is smaller, faster, and more efficient than Liam, able to disassemble 200 iPhones per hour and obtain their component parts for recycling.

In response to Apple's environmental report and details about the new robot, Greenpeace has released a statement suggesting Apple's focus should be on product longevity rather than recycling robots.

Daisy, Apple's newest recycling robot.​

In a statement, Greenpeace Senior analyst Gary Cook said Apple needs to work on product designs that better accommodate upgrades and repairs, allowing for devices to be used for a longer period of time. Cook says customers clearly want to keep their devices for longer, citing demand for battery replacements under Apple's discounted battery program.

"Rather than another recycling robot, what is most needed from Apple is an indication that the company is embracing one of its greatest opportunities to reduce its environmental impact: repairable and upgradeable product design. This would keep its devices in use far longer, delaying the day when they'd need to be disassembled by Daisy.

Customers want to keep their devices longer, as evidenced by a 3 to 4 week wait for a battery replacement at Apple retail stores earlier this year, when Apple was compelled to dramatically reduce the replacement cost.

Greenpeace often champions device repairability and longevity, especially in regard to Apple products. Last summer, for example, Greenpeace teamed up with iFixit to rate the repairability of Apple devices, accusing Apple of shortening device lifespan with difficult, proprietary repair processes and components, ultimately leading to more electronic waste.

For its part, Apple in its environmental report says that device durability and longevity is one of its goals, citing its efforts to provide parts and repairs for five years after a product is no longer manufactured. "When products can be used longer, fewer resources need to be extracted from the earth to make new ones," reads the report.

While Greenpeace criticized Apple's lack of focus on repairability, it did laud Apple's efforts to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to Apple competitors. Samsung, for example, operates on 1 percent renewable energy, a sharp contrast to Apple's operations that now run on 100 percent renewable energy.

"Apple's latest environment report highlights the company's continued leadership in aggressively deploying renewable energy to tackle the greenhouse gas footprint of not only its own operations, but also its suppliers who are responsible for the vast majority of its emissions. Apple's leadership on climate change contrasts sharply with its main competitor, Samsung Electronics, who currently operates on only 1% renewable energy.

Greenpeace regularly gives Apple high marks for the company's dedication to environmental improvements, which is close to unparalleled in the tech world. Apple received a B- in Greenpeace's latest Guide to Greener Electronics, beating out Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Sony, Samsung, Lenovo, Huawei, HP, LG, and more.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Greenpeace Criticizes Apple's 'Daisy' Recycling Robot, Says Focus Should be on 'Repairable and Upgradeable Product Design'

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Nothing is ever good enough for Greenpeace. They criticize everyone.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Nothing is ever good enough for Greenpeace. They criticize everyone.

They must be Green with envy, having no Peace.

 

[itsmilo]

Nothing is ever good enough for Greenpeace. They criticize everyone.

Just like my mum

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I think what Greenpeace are trying to hint at is the value of Daisy in the long run.

Old devices are either passed down or sold on, and the ones that are broken are used for repairs or thrown away. It must surely be a minority that would actually think to themselves “Hmm... I’ll send this to Apple to recycle!”

Conversely, if the phones were easier to repair, more people would be inclined to do it themselves, thus (without realisation) helping the environment.

 

[PotatoLeekSoup]

Greenpeace lives in fantasyland. Apple goes 100% non-fossil fuels and creates a means for efficient and minimal waste recycling. Still not good enough. Like a whining child.

 

[Count Blah]

But that doesn’t make as much $$$ as glued in components and high priced upgrades

 

[BoulderAdonis]

No matter how big the loop - at some point it's still going to be best to **close** it.

 

[e1me5]

Well I keep my Apple devices for a minimum of 5 years. Isn’t this enough?

 

[Juicy Box]

I see both sides.

It make sense for Greenpeace to want see products longevity increased. Many iPhone users would like to see this too.

Apple makes a robot to decreased the waste of old iPhones, but a significant increase in iPhone longevity may have a decrease of their revenue.

 

[WWPD]

I'm still waiting for biodegradable Apple devices.

 

[Glideslope]

Isn't Greenpeace supposed to be stopping Seal Culling?

 

[chrono1081]

Not to sound like a jerk but having everything "upgradable" and "repairable" is utterly unrealistic. Electronics get smaller, faster, higher density, and thus, non-user repairable. Imagine if thumb drives were required to be user repairable, they'd be enormous. Or same goes for storage, we wouldn't have flash drives.

Technology evolves.

 

[Kabeyun]

Nothing is ever good enough for Greenpeace. They criticize everyone.

The Greenpeace whiners remind me of the MacRumors whiners: complaining about positive steps if they’re not their personally preferred positive step.

 

[raghu8912]

Nothing is ever good enough for Greenpeace. They criticize everyone.

Reduce the number of breaths/min, breathing releases Carbon Monoxide.
[doublepost=1524167605][/doublepost]

I see both sides.

It make sense for Greenpeace to want see products longevity increased. Many iPhone users would like to see this too.

Apple makes a robot to decreased the waste of old iPhones, but a significant increase in iPhone longevity may have a decrease of their revenue.

iPhone already has the longest life compared to any other mobile devices.
Green peace should focus on companies that don't update Software to intentionally reduce the life of the product.

 

[Santabean2000]

Can't believe the negativity here towards Green Peace.

They are 100% correct. Recycling is only the best of the worst options.

Emphasis on reducing ALWAYS trumps recycling.

 

[69Mustang]

Not to sound like a jerk but having everything "upgradable" and "repairable" is utterly unrealistic. Electronics get smaller, faster, higher density, and thus, non-user repairable. Imagine if thumb drives were required to be user repairable, they'd be enormous. Or same goes for storage, we wouldn't have flash drives.

Technology evolves.

While I agree with your premise, your examples need work. You could actually use items that were 1. at one time more repairable and 2. benefit greatly from the evolution of smaller, faster, higher density tech that negates some of the repairability. Our phones are a perfect example. Tablets are another. Flash/thumb drives were never in the repairability realm.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

I'm all for preserving and bolstering the environment.

But I also don't want some crappy android-like phone with removable backs and lots of places for water to ingress. Upgradable? Get a clue.

 

[IPPlanMan]

Nothing will ever be good enough for Greenpeace because that would render it irrelevant and dry up its fundraising.

Greenpeace is all about perpetuating the problem to stay relevant or the inadequacy of the solution to stay relevant. It’s not about solving the problem.

 

[apolloa]

But that doesn’t make as much $$$ as glued in components and high priced upgrades

Bingo, Apple just loves the throw away though $1000 devices as it makes massive profits from it. We should be grateful the iPhone still has screws in the bottom!

 

[mrzz]

Nothing is ever good enough for Greenpeace. They criticize everyone.

they are more than correct in their statement.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Can't believe the negativity here towards Green Peace.

They are 100% correct. Recycling is only the best of the worst options.

Emphasis on reducing ALWAYS trumps recycling.

Apple could do like other manufacturers and just let them go into landfills. At least they're doing something but Greenpeace can't even recognize that.

Instead, they use Apple's notoriety to attach them and gain publicity for themselves.

 

[Juicy Box]

iPhone already has the longest life compared to any other mobile devices.
Green peace should focus on companies that don't update Software to intentionally reduce the life of the product.

I don't disagree.
Although, and argument could be made that Apple has a history of introducing updates that slowdown devices and making them less usable.

 

[cmichaelb]

Aren't they supposed to be busy going after Japanese whalers? This is why we can't have nice things, someone always bitches.

 

[Jyby]

Science Rules!

 

[Kaibelf]

Bingo, Apple just loves the throw away though $1000 devices as it makes massive profits from it. We should be grateful the iPhone still has screws in the bottom!

Because massive numbers of people are throwing away iPhone X units less than a year after they even hit the market? Oh I see, you also want to complain about the pricing of premium items as well as designs that you want but can’t get from other vendors and then wrap it all up into a histrionic burrito.