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Plant a tree for your new PC
Dell has a new program to plant a tree for each computer it sells, saying it could offset CO2 emissions from the machines. I’m not sure who did the math on that, but the program is commendable nonetheless. More impressive is Dell’s free recycling of all computers, monitors, printers, and other gadgets without requiring the purchase of a newer model.
Apple lags on this account, only recycling machines that are replaced with a new Mac. Its poor environmental policies have given rise to a Greenpeace campaign to pressure the company to reduce their use of PVC and brominated fire retardants and step up their recycling efforts.
Dell’s tree planting program is unveiled on the heels of this year’s MacWorld expo, which has Macheads oogling over the new iPhone. The iPhone may be able to surf the web with the ease of a desktop computer, but can I recharge it while riding my bike to work like this new Motorola gadget?
And, as encouragement to you out there fighting the good fight and keeping companies on their toes, here's Michael Dell on the inspiration for his company's policies: “I am personally interested in the environment, but I have to give credit to our customers who have encouraged us in this direction.”
New York Times: Dell Says Plant a Tree, Help the Environment (10 Jan 2007)
So Michael Dell is basically telling than the by now infamous The Economist article is wrong. Buyers requests (and thus also choices) do have an impact, hopefully always a good one!
One should probably by a laptop instead of tower pc because of its lesser consumption.
But then can one make a pc that will last longer than now? The PC development seems to be running amok because of gamers rather than normal users ...
When I first saw the Greenpeace ranking with Dell almost on top I couldnt believe it. But this announcement shows that Dell really tries to decrease their environmental impact. Great! Apple seems to be lagging behind by far. They introduce a new product and don't say a word about what it will do to the environment. I mean millions of people will throw away their current working phone to get an iPhone, Apple could at least make this iPhone a bit envi-friendly, and tell people not to flush their old phone through the toilet....