Mac junkies who liked to wax about the eco-friendliness of their computer company of choice can now no longer do so with a third party validation to back up the claim. Apple has announced that it is opting out of the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) program which is designed to be the global environmental standard of choice for electronic products. The program receives funding from the EPA and major companies like Ford require that their electronic products be EPEAT certified.
Apple cited its design direction as the reason that it could no longer be in keeping with the EPEAT standard, since the standard requires that electronics can disassemble easy for recycling purposes. Since Apple’s products are glued together, they no longer meet the standard. Not cited as the reason but strongly implied is likely the fact that the company believes their products have such a magic halo that people will buy them anyway without the envirocred. Apple plans to introduce their own environmental standard to replace EPEAT: cue the laugh track on how credible that will be.
So which computers are EPEAT certified? Check out the program page before you purchase your next tablet, computer and electronic device. If you’re not yet an Apple junkie, this gives you an excuse to not jump on the bandwagon. If you’re already a Mac fan, you’re probably shrugging in your black turtleneck and saying “meh” in the most hipster way possible while stroking your neck beard.
