When we debuted our Guide for Greener Electronics, we started the discussion with needing cleaner and greener cell phones and laptops in our homes and pockets. Last week we introduced the need for the gifts we give to video game lovers to be cleaner and greener too. But I want to take a moment to highlight that that is not the end of greening the electronics industry. It doesn't stop with what we purchase.

Our world is getting smaller, we know this not only from our nation's more recent immigration, trade agreement, and climate change discussions, but also from the toxic toy story's that have saturated our tv's and newspapers the past few months. I'll be the first to admit that it's sometimes hard to put ourselves in the shoes of others whose lives we can barely even image. But it is because the world is getting smaller that we need to.

Listen, I'm no hippy. I'm a somewhat odd mix to the environmental justice movement. I like shopping, makeup, and late nights out with my friends. Being an environmentalist can be difficult sometimes. There are many issues that effect every aspect of your life, of your routines. I understand the world is not black and white. There are many grey areas that sometimes keep us from being the very best that we can. But it is our duty to try and to do better when we know better. And that is why we publish these guides, talk to the companies, and explain everything we find out and know to people like you. The people who buy these products and the people who want to be making informed decisions.

The hidden story of the electronics industry are the environmental impacts of the complete life cycle. Such as . . .

- The manufacturing process where the companies chose what chemicals went into the laptop that I am using right now. If you would like to know what they are read the report we released a couple weeks ago on just that subject. We found out through taking apart many different laptops that it is possible to produce a more environmentally friendly one.

- The consequences of what is leached from our computers into our homes, offices, and coffee shops. BFR's (brominated flame retardants) are additives to our products and so they leach out and become part of our dust and find themselves cozy little spaces to bio-accumulate in our bodies. Check out this recent report and interesting website. 35 people were tested and found that yes BFR's have settled in our bodies.

- The people who break these products apart on open flames, unprotected in the e-waste landfills of developing nations.

The good news is that all the companies we talk to know this. And so they should be doing better.  . . . because they know better.  

There are many organizations around the world working on ending the devastating toxic waste trade between developed and developing nations.  And so as much as I love(d) my mac (it was totally stolen Oct 1) it is difficult to not think about where it came from, what it is doing, and where it will eventually end up without thinking about all of the people and places that are effected by each segment of that computer's life.

Besides looking through our webpages, check out two of the organizations that are working with us.

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition

Basel Action Network 

Holla from Cali,

Renee  

Opps we did it again. We just released our 6th Greener Electronics Guide and this time we've expanded! We've include game consoles and TVs.

Remember how this goes?

We rank companies on their policies and practices on toxic chemicals and takeback. The main point to why we do this each quarter is that as electronic products become more often than not disposable products, companies need to look more closely at the life cycle of their products. Toxic chemicals in means toxic chemicals out. And most of the time those toxic chemicals are being released into your home, and the land, water, and bodies of the people who 'recycle' them in the developing world. And you don't have to be a genius or a CEO of some mega corporation to realize that  . . . well, that's just crap.

You can read the guide here. But I'll give you a sneak preview.

Nintendo got a zero. I mean a zero, boys and girls. I'll admit we are tough critics, but we've never given a zero before.  Microsoft scored a 2.7 and Philips did ummm not too well with a 2.

People are always asking what's with scoring them based on their policies and practices, basically what they tell us. Don't worry folks, we are all good follow up-ers here at Greenpeace and we are making sure they stick to their promises. But the bottom line is that companies should be transparent. They should be telling their customers what it is in their products and they should make them safe and toxic free.

So this is it. One step closer to greening the electronic industry.

Take Care,

Renee  

Seattle is awesome and it totally doesn't rain everyday. It hasn't rained once. It's super cold, but not rainy.

Yesterday we went to Pike Market and snacked on cheese and lattes most of the afternoon. There is a crumpet shop. Who knew what a crumpet was? Well . . . a lot of people, but I wasn't one of them until we walked up 1st and Pike.

I'm here in Seattle visiting an old friend Liz. She is 5 months pregnant and just married. So weird. When did people start doing that?

Sometimes I feel Liz is way more environmentally aware than I am. She makes her own cleaning products and recycles in ways I still don't understand. When the baby comes she is going to make her own food and use cloth diapers. And with the news reports every other week or so on new toxic chemicals found in toys, she is growing concerned with what she is bringing into the house.

But the reality is the everyday items we use in our homes have toxins as well. One of the most dangerous chemicals that has been getting attention on a state level across the nation are brominated flame retardants. I also mentioned those when I was in San Jose traveling around with that giant skull made out of e-waste.

Warning: ridiculously long words ahead 

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have many subsets, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs. There are three common commerical types, but two have been voluntarily phased out due to health and environmental concerns. The one that is still in use is called deca-bde. It exists in an ungodly number of home items. Including your tvs, couches and mattresses. One of the reasons it is so horrible is because it is an additive and leaks out of whatever product it is in. That's why the dust in our homes is so full of chemicals. It's also why you shouldn't carry around those plastic reusable water bottles.

States have started recognizing the dangers of BFRs. Maine's ban on deca-BDE goes into effect at the end of the year. One thing Liz can feel safe about is that Washington state has also passed a ban on deca. A number of other states are also debating the same type of legislation. You should know about it. Do a quick search on your state and deca ban. See what you find out. With all this talk on gross chemicals in our homes, knowing that there are people in your communities working to end it is pretty comforting.

Happy Saturday.

Renee  

Hi Everyone,

So I'm sure you are busy with your holiday plans. Maybe baking a little pumpkin pie? I've moved out to the west coast for a few weeks. I'm visiting a friend who just got married and is now 5 months pregnant. I'm reaching that age where friends are doing things like that now. Liz and I met when we were 14. And as I think back through all those years, I never thought either one of us would end up where we currently are. She in Seattle with her husband (I mean her kid won't even be a Floridian!!) and me at Greenpeace talking about superfund sites. The good news is we both feel right at home and are pretty darn happy.

So . . . I wanted to mention this website I just found about superfund sites. In case you didn't know they are disgusting and a huge problem for communities. Its pretty interesting to find out who the top 25 polluters are, though I'm not that surprised -- Dow and Exxon anyone?

Right now it talks mostly about places on the east coast, but places in Texas, Louisiana, and California are taking a toll on its residents too. In fact here is a list of sites in Louisiana. I just did a quick google search on Lafayette, Louisiana where I was born and where most of my family continues to live. I found 10. Broussard, Louisiana a city that has one stop light and about 10 relatives - has one. 

Anyways, just thought you might be interested in learning more. Check out the site and do a quick search of your town. 

Take care, Renee  

I always wake up to NPR and sometimes I have a hard time telling if what I am hearing is a dream or reality, especially with the current state of our nation. This morning I heard two things that kept me guessing.

(1) Our national debt hit a record high -- $7 Trillion. I just kept picturing little kids making up numbers . . . . I have 7 gazillionbillionmilliontrillion dollars. Its like  . .  what?!? . ... . .. We owe who what?

(2) Children toys contain the date rape drug GHB.  

Is it safe to get out of bed yet?

Renee  

I'm not sure how many of you have heard, but Target has been, um, targeted by dozens of environmental organizations over the past year to eliminate PVC from their product lines. And on Monday they announced that they be eliminating the amount of PVC, also known as vinyl, in their own products including infant toys, shower curtains, and fashion accessories. They also announced that they will begin collaborating with their vendors whose products are sold in their store in order to do the same. Just to give you a better understanding of what a large victory this is let me tell you that Target is the 5th largest retailer in the country with $59 billion in revenues.

In a world where doll manufactures are almost weekly recalling their products because they contain banned chemicals, this step shows that companies are listening to us. They are hearing that consumers want toxic free products. That they are demanding it. This victory and several like it tells the story of a world that is changing. Companies are beginning to take on the series threats that are facing our world and how their actions are contributing.

An International Herald Tribune article came out yesterday explaining how companies are starting to ask questions of their entire supply chain. The article even provides a quote from an executive saying that "if you are going to make a real difference, you have to let go of your corporate ego". Wow! Can you believe that statement? The world really is changing. They are listening and they are paying attention to us.

But it's easy to start letting up the pressure when you hear statements like that. This is not the time to stop demanding a toxic free future. This is the time to step it up. Remember the chemical industry spent almost $10 million more on lobbying Homeland Security to not protect us from chemical threats than the department spent on actually protecting us.

If you want to know more about the Target victory, read this.  

 Thank you Center for Health, Environment, and Justice to leading this campaign and the dozens and dozens of local and national groups for keeping up the pressure and creating a system where corporations are starting to take responsibility for their actions.

--Renee