Apple answers pollution claims
Source: Agencies |
September 2, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
APPLE is defending itself against a fresh barrage of criticism from Chinese environmental groups over alleged pollution by the manufacturers of its iPhones, iPads and other products.
In a report issued on Wednesday, a group of nongovernmental organizations accused the technology giant of violating its own corporate responsibility standards by using suppliers it said its investigations found are violating the law and endangering public health by discharging heavy metals and other toxins.
Apple said yesterday it was committed to "driving the highest standards of social responsibility" in its supply chain.
"We require our suppliers provide safe working conditions, treat workers with dignity and respect, and use environmentally responsible manufacturing processes wherever Apple products are made," it said.
In a letter to the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, the Beijing-based NGO that spearheaded the report, Apple said it took such concerns seriously but found discrepancies in the document. It proposed a "private conference call" with the institute, which responded by asking that other sponsors of the report be included in any dialogue.
Policing supply chains is a headache for big brand name companies, given countless scandals over labor, environmental, safety and quality problems brought on by outsourcing to myriad factories in China and elsewhere.
The latest report says Cupertino, California-based Apple is spreading pollution through its supply chain and names seven facilities owned by five separate suppliers for specific problems, mainly with disposal of hazardous materials.
Staff at two factories near Shanghai, Kaedar Electronics and Unimicron (Kunshan), said their managers were not available for comment yesterday.
An official with the local government in Kunshan said the situation had improved from several years ago with the installation of a wastewater treatment plant, and that the Kaedar factory was expected to move by 2013.
"It's true that it smells here, but the level of pollution is actually better than national standards," said the official.
The report also named Taiwan-based Foxconn, which assembles iPhones and iPads in factories in several Chinese mainland locations.
It said Foxconn's factory in the northern city of Taiyuan was emitting irritating gases and those responsible for treating waste from its facility in the southern boomtown of Shenzhen had discharged pollutants exceeding legal limits.
In a report issued on Wednesday, a group of nongovernmental organizations accused the technology giant of violating its own corporate responsibility standards by using suppliers it said its investigations found are violating the law and endangering public health by discharging heavy metals and other toxins.
Apple said yesterday it was committed to "driving the highest standards of social responsibility" in its supply chain.
"We require our suppliers provide safe working conditions, treat workers with dignity and respect, and use environmentally responsible manufacturing processes wherever Apple products are made," it said.
In a letter to the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, the Beijing-based NGO that spearheaded the report, Apple said it took such concerns seriously but found discrepancies in the document. It proposed a "private conference call" with the institute, which responded by asking that other sponsors of the report be included in any dialogue.
Policing supply chains is a headache for big brand name companies, given countless scandals over labor, environmental, safety and quality problems brought on by outsourcing to myriad factories in China and elsewhere.
The latest report says Cupertino, California-based Apple is spreading pollution through its supply chain and names seven facilities owned by five separate suppliers for specific problems, mainly with disposal of hazardous materials.
Staff at two factories near Shanghai, Kaedar Electronics and Unimicron (Kunshan), said their managers were not available for comment yesterday.
An official with the local government in Kunshan said the situation had improved from several years ago with the installation of a wastewater treatment plant, and that the Kaedar factory was expected to move by 2013.
"It's true that it smells here, but the level of pollution is actually better than national standards," said the official.
The report also named Taiwan-based Foxconn, which assembles iPhones and iPads in factories in several Chinese mainland locations.
It said Foxconn's factory in the northern city of Taiyuan was emitting irritating gases and those responsible for treating waste from its facility in the southern boomtown of Shenzhen had discharged pollutants exceeding legal limits.
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