Apple Admits Mistake, Says It’s Back in EPEAT - hughesthind1949

In a rare admission of error, Apple said Friday that it's back in EPEAT, the environmental standards group for electronics products that it withdrew from earlier this week.

"We've recently heard from many superpatriotic Apple customers World Health Organization were disappointed to learn that we had removed our products from the EPEAT military rank system," interpret a missive from Bob Mansfield, Apple's senior frailty president of hardware engineering, that was posted on the company's website. "I recognize that this was a mistake. Starting today, all eligible Orchard apple tree products are back on EPEAT."

"It's important to know that our dedication to protecting the environment has ne'er changed, and today it is as strong As always. Apple makes the near environmentally responsible products in our industry," the letter said.

Withdrawal Raised Hackles

Apple's climb-down from the organization came as a surprise to galore, especially because it had played a part in coming up with the EPEAT standards.

The move meant that Orchard apple tree products could no more be purchased by roughly organizations, including the city of San Francisco, which mandates EPEAT-approved computers for its staff. Across the U.S. northern government, purchasing standards call for leastwise 95 percent of computers to be up to EPEAT standards.

It also caused disappointment among many in Apple's nucleus user base, the very group Katherine Mansfield referred to in his letter of the alphabet.

"I am very happy to announce that all of Apple's previously registered products, and a number of unexampled products, are back on the EPEAT registry," wrote Robert Frisbee, EPEAT CEO, in a message happening the organization's website. "We look low to Apple's strong and fanciful thoughts on ongoing standards development. The outcome must reward new directions for both design and sustainability, simultaneously supporting the environment and the market for all manufacturers' elegant and high-performance products."

Regaining the Gold

Apple's return to EPEAT was marked with the awarding of a "gold" evaluation to the company's 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. That represents EPEAT's highest rating.

"I call back this is a great instance of them hearing to customers who don't desire [their computers] designed against the environs," said Casey Harrell, a spokesman for Greenpeace. "But the devil may comprise in the inside information. At least the first shipments of the parvenu MacBook Pros have the batteries glued to the casing, and that makes it very sticky to take them out and reprocess."

Afterwards Apple's secession from the group, there had been speculation that the company's use of gum to hold in batteries and displays in some new products was causation a problem with environmental certification. Paste would make IT more difficult to recycle the products.

An EPEAT spokeswoman declined to savoir-faire the specifics of Apple's intent but explained the basic rating is awarded for qualifying 23 mandatory requirements. Passing 50 percent of elective requirements results in a silver rating, and the gold standard is awarded to products that meet at least 75 percent of optional EPEAT criteria. That leaves both room for products to puzzle top First Baron Marks of Broughton smooth if they bomb in some areas.

With Apple back in the group, IT will straightaway personify able to participate in discussions currently taking place toward a revision of the standard for computers and monitors.

"They will be updated and obviously all the stakeholders wishing to realise innovation and innovative design incorporated," said Sarah O'Brien, director of outreach and communications for EPEAT.

Martyn Williams covers mobile telecoms, Silicon Valley and general engineering breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Martyn on Twitter at @martyn_williams. Martyn's e-postal service speak is martyn_williams@idg.com