Having the Greener Electronics Guide pushing the electronics industry to face up to the problem of e-waste and force the manufacturers to get rid of harmful chemicals in their products. Let’s help the Greepeace to put an end to the stories of unprotected child labourers scavenging mountains of cast-off gadgets created by society’s gizmo-loving ways.Greenpeace first released the ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’ in August 2006. The guide ranks the 18 top manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones, TV’s and games consoles according to their policies on toxic chemicals and recycling.

This year the sixth issue of the Guide, they added the leading manufacturers of TVs – namely, Philips and Sharp – and the game console producers Nintendo and Microsoft. The other market leaders for TVs and game consoles are already included in the Guide.

7.7 Samsung - Scores well on toxic chemicals policy. Loses points for incomplete takeback practice.

7.7 Toshiba - Continued improvement, especially on e-waste and recycling policy.

7.3 Nokia - Strong on toxic chemicals elimination but penalty point for deficiencies in takeback practice remains.

7.3 Sony - More products free of toxic PVC and improved reporting on recycling and takeback especially in the US.

7.3 Dell - Unchanged since the last version, still no products on the market without the worst chemicals.

7.3 Lenovo - Unchanged since the last version, still no products on the market without the worst chemicals.

6.7 Sony Ericsson - Drops 6 places due to losing points on its e-waste policy and practice.

6.7 LGE -Dropping 2 places, loses point on recycling reporting.

6.7 Apple- Steady rise, new models reducing the use of toxic chemicals, takeback programme still needs to be global.

6.7 Fujitsu-Siemens - Dropping down, needs toxic elimination timelines and better reporting of amounts recycled.

6.7 HP - Timeline for eliminating worst toxic chemicals, though not for all products; needs to improve takeback coverage.

6.3 Motorola - Penalty point for poor takeback practice lifted. Still no timeline for eliminating the most toxic chemicals.

5.7 Acer - Dropping down. Still no products on the market without the worst chemicals and needs better takeback coverage and reporting of amounts recycled.

5 Sharp - Some plus points on toxic chemicals elimination and slight improvement on takeback policy and practice.

4.7 Panasonic - New to the guide - some plus points on toxic chemicals elimination but poor takeback policy and practice.

4.7 Microsoft -Improved timeline for toxic chemicals elimination (2010) but poor takeback policy and practice. More4.3 Philips - Improved toxic chemicals elimination deadline but zero points on e-waste recycling.

0.3 Nintendo - Tiny improvement but still way behind.

Greenpeace also reported that since the Guide was first published in August 2006, many electronics companies have vastly improved their environmental policies and practice. The leadership position has changed four times and the average score has risen significantly as the companies compete to outdo each other.

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Sources: Greenpeace.org