Greenpeace Thumps HP, Dell, and Lenovo in Latest E-Waste Ratings

Greenpeace has released its latest update on toxic materials in consumer electronics products...and HP, Dell, and Lenovo get failing grades.

Environmental watchdog group Greenpeace has released the latest update to its Guide to Greener Electronics, highlighting how major consumer electronics manufacturers are working to reduce and eliminate toxic substances and chemicals from their offerings. And while previous editions of the Greenpeace guide have picked on media darling Apple, the latest edition shifts PC makers Lenovo, HP, and Dell towards the red end of the scale for failing to keep promised to phase out toxic chemicals during 2009.

Dell, HP, and Lenovo each said they would eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PCV) plastics and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their products by the end of 2009, but so far none of the companies have done so—in fact, they’ve actually said they will not reach that goal. Lenovo says it will live up to the promise in 2010; HP and Dell haven’t given any indication when they might be able to remove the substances from their products. So far, Acer remains on track to remove PVCs and BFRs from its products during 2009.

Greenpeace generally gave Apple a favorable rating this time around, noting that while the company hasn’t certified its power cords as PVC-free, it has managed to remove PVC and BFRs from its other products. Greenpeace also gave a thumbs-up to Philips’ efforts to go green, jumping from 15th place to 4th place between the 10th and 11th update to Greenpeace’s guide, mostly based on commitments to take financial responsibility for recycling its products.

Topping Greenpeace’s list are Nokia and Samsung, based on keeping promise to curb CO2 emissions and “support for clear climate change cuts,” respectively. And last on the list? That would (still) be Nintendo.