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Published on March 27, 2008

Environmental group Green-peace recently came up with good news: two Asian consumer electronic companies figure at the top of the rankings in Greenpeace's Guide to Green Electronics.   

The group first launched its guide in August 2006, as a challenge to electronic companies to "green" their products from production to disposal. The volume of toxic waste from production processes and management of waste and discarded products were points of concern in Greenpeace's guide. The group claimed that since the guide was launched, the world's leading consumer electronic brands have  greatly improved in their policies on toxic chemicals and e-waste.

I do not think the improvement of electronic companies was a result of Greenpeace's guide, but what is important is that the companies are paying attention to the environmental impact of their products and production process. 

This year, Greenpeace has named Korea's Samsung and Japan's Toshiba as two Asian electronic companies that have shown great improvement in their production process to keep the world green. It said Samsung is consistent in its practices and policies, keeping the company's top ranking with a score of 7.7 out of 10. Toshiba climbed from sixth rank last year to join Samsung at the top by improving its score on electronic waste management. Greenpeace said Toshiba has taken care of its own branded discarded products.

Samsung and Toshiba have edged out cellphone manufacture Nokia, which was the top company last year. Though Nokia's take-back practice improved in Thailand and Philippines, the company does not maintain the same standards in India and Russia.  

Meanwhile Motorola, also improved its take-back and recycling operations in the Philippines, Thailand and India. That moved the company up from 14th to 12th position. Gaming company Nintendo, with a score of 0.3 out of 10, has not moved from last place since the previous Greenpeace survey three months ago.

"Three electronic companies - Philips, Panasonic and Sharp were found to continue to ignore their responsibility for e-waste from their products," Greenpeace said.

Though there are still companies that place environmental issues below profit, the trend show that concerns about environmental impact are gradually growing in the industrial sector.

Ply Pirom, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Toxics campaigner, said his organisation would now raise the bar and challenge the industry to take a holistic approach to its practice and operations. He said in the future the criteria to rank companies would be expanded to include energy consumption, as well as tightened criteria on toxic chemicals and e-waste.

 "Companies have to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products - from production, to manufacture, to the very end of their products' lives," he said.

As an environmental group, Greenpeace has done its job of monitoring the policy and practices of electronic industry. Now it is our responsibility as consumers to decide what kind of companies to support. We can help heal the world just by making the right choices.

Pennapa Hongthong

can be contacted via e-mail at

pennapa@nationgroup.com.

Pennapa Hongthong

The Nation