CONSUMER ELECTRONICS are becoming greener, but manufacturers have a long way to go to eliminate hazardous substances from computers and mobile phones and make them more energy efficient, Greenpeace said.
In a survey published at the CeBIT information technology fair in Hanover this week, Greenpeace praised notebooks and mobile phones from Sony, Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Apple.
"We have already witnessed the arrival of greener products in the market, such as Apple's new laptop, the MacBook Air, and Nokia's new phone, the Evolve," Greenpeace international toxics campaigner Yannick Vicaire said.
"Manufacturers still have a long way to go, but more and more are now taking the environmental impacts of their products seriously," he added.
Greenpeace tested 37 products that 14 major brands picked out as their greenest and agreed to submit for testing, awarding them points for substitution of toxic substances, energy efficiency and recyclability.
The top products were the Sony Vaio TZ11 notebook, the Sony Ericsson T650i mobile phone and the Sony Ericsson P1i PDA (personal digital assistant). Microsoft and Nintendo did not participate.
Greenpeace said its survey, which it began in 2006, was nowhere near comprehensive enough to be used as a green guide for consumers.
Greenpeace toxics campaign leader Zeina Al-Hajj said it was time for the green IT debate, a recurring theme at this year's CeBIT and other technology fairs, to produce results beyond isolated, showcase products.
"It's not enough just to offer a green computer for the tree-huggers. Environmentally friendly devices must become a general trend and dominate mass production," she said.
