Chinese environmental groups take issue with Apple over pollution
A new report from China has accused Apple of being unresponsive to concerns over pollution, as well as taking advantage of lax environmental protection rules in developing countries to manufacture its products.
Five Chinese non-governmental organizations released a report on Wednesday accusing Apple of taking "advantage of loopholes in developing countries' environmental management systems," according to the Financial Times.
Apple is said to have relented to the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, a co-author of the report, only hours before the document was publicized, in a move characterized as "highly unusual" for the iPhone maker. Apple reportedly invited Ma Jun, director of the institute, to start a dialogue on the allegations.
The five groups behind the report have swayed 29 electronics companies to work with them on containing pollution in their overseas supply chain. But the institute has singled out Apple as being unresponsive.
Apple's decision to talk with the institute also reportedly came with a claim that some of the factories included on Ma's list where not suppliers for Apple products. Ma said Apple gave him no further details, however.
"Although Apple does not directly manufacture anything itself and does not disclose, with very few exceptions, the names of its suppliers, the Chinese environmental groups say they used public information and court documents to form a list of more than 20 Apple suppliers with environmental violations to their name," the Times report said. "These suppliers also work for other companies."
The same consortium accused Apple in January of ignoring health concerns and failing to properly oversee its suppliers. Three-dozen environmental groups from China published that prior report, entitled "The Other Side of Apple," which ranked the Cupertino, Calif., company as the least responsive among more than 25 technology companies surveyed for details on working conditions.
Concerns over Apple's overseas supply chain are not new. This May, an explosion at a Foxconn-run iPad 2 polishing plant killed three people and injured another 15.
Foxconn's assembly factories in China have been the subject of perhaps the most criticism of Apple's supply chain. The iPhone maker was even forced to make a public statement last year after a number of suicides occurred at the main Foxconn plant in Shenzhen, China.
Last year, another incident with supplier Wintek led to bad press for Apple, after dozens of workers filed a lawsuit claiming they were poisoned by the chemical n-hexane while cleaning glass iPhone screens. The workers alleged that a Wintek factory manager in China forced them to use n-hexane instead of alcohol because the chemical dries faster and leaves fewer streaks on glass.
Apple conducts an annual audit of its overseas partners and their factories. This year, that audit found one facility in the Far East that employed 42 underage workers, prompting Apple to terminate business with the facility.
Five Chinese non-governmental organizations released a report on Wednesday accusing Apple of taking "advantage of loopholes in developing countries' environmental management systems," according to the Financial Times.
Apple is said to have relented to the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, a co-author of the report, only hours before the document was publicized, in a move characterized as "highly unusual" for the iPhone maker. Apple reportedly invited Ma Jun, director of the institute, to start a dialogue on the allegations.
The five groups behind the report have swayed 29 electronics companies to work with them on containing pollution in their overseas supply chain. But the institute has singled out Apple as being unresponsive.
Apple's decision to talk with the institute also reportedly came with a claim that some of the factories included on Ma's list where not suppliers for Apple products. Ma said Apple gave him no further details, however.
"Although Apple does not directly manufacture anything itself and does not disclose, with very few exceptions, the names of its suppliers, the Chinese environmental groups say they used public information and court documents to form a list of more than 20 Apple suppliers with environmental violations to their name," the Times report said. "These suppliers also work for other companies."
The same consortium accused Apple in January of ignoring health concerns and failing to properly oversee its suppliers. Three-dozen environmental groups from China published that prior report, entitled "The Other Side of Apple," which ranked the Cupertino, Calif., company as the least responsive among more than 25 technology companies surveyed for details on working conditions.
Concerns over Apple's overseas supply chain are not new. This May, an explosion at a Foxconn-run iPad 2 polishing plant killed three people and injured another 15.
Foxconn's assembly factories in China have been the subject of perhaps the most criticism of Apple's supply chain. The iPhone maker was even forced to make a public statement last year after a number of suicides occurred at the main Foxconn plant in Shenzhen, China.
Last year, another incident with supplier Wintek led to bad press for Apple, after dozens of workers filed a lawsuit claiming they were poisoned by the chemical n-hexane while cleaning glass iPhone screens. The workers alleged that a Wintek factory manager in China forced them to use n-hexane instead of alcohol because the chemical dries faster and leaves fewer streaks on glass.
Apple conducts an annual audit of its overseas partners and their factories. This year, that audit found one facility in the Far East that employed 42 underage workers, prompting Apple to terminate business with the facility.
Comments
Yes, I'm sure Apple is the cause of Chinese pollution. Bring the jobs back to the US!
Uhm... you do know that Apple used to manufacture all around the world, right? I believe my first Mac was made in Cork, Ireland.
Maybe China's EPA needs to investigate there first!
/
/
/
Uhm... you do know that Apple used to manufacture all around the world, right? I believe my first Mac was made in Cork, Ireland.
Uhm... you do know that Apple used to manufacture all around the world, right? I believe my first Mac was made in Cork, Ireland.
Um, you do know that Apple computers haven't been manufactured anywhere outside of Asia in 20 years right?
On topic.....China has environmental groups???
I admire China cause I think they have opened themselves for better things in business, infrastructure, education but they still lack some core values....
Oh good another environment group that hopes to use apple as a publicity bandwagon, by specifically accusing apple of things every company does. I think it?s good we have organisations that highlight issues like this, but don?t just highlight one company when the practice is widespread.
I 100% agree with you, it's just that it's human nature to have a scapegoat. Just like when the Patriots were caught illegally videotaping opponents when it was/is widespread in the NFL, or Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens being the poster boys for steroids in baseball when everyone was taking them. Or how Bush was labelled an idiot when his advisors and staff probably convinced him that things were worse than they were. It's never any one person or company's fault, but someone has to be the whipping boy. It's just how things work.
On topic.....China has environmental groups???[/QUOTE]
Just before expo 2010, they stopped factory work for a few months and minimized automobile traffic, cleared up the skies a lot. But it's not like that anymore
Gov needs to enforce regulations on factories to start off but good luck trying in a developing nation that is growing.
Funny, with all the sarcasm, no one seems to think that US has outsourced a significant amount of pollution to China and many other developing countries.
USA is perfect.
/s
seriously though something needs to be done period. outsourcing is killing the USA and undeveloped nations. jobs are low, profits are high, and we live in an unsustainable bubble.
granted this screams pr stunt but there is a fundamental truth beneath this bs.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/e7cad0f4-d...0144feab49a.ht
Personally I think the Chinese should be applauded for making some effort at mitigating the damage being done to their country while producing the products westerners can't seem to get enough of, as long as the price is right.
Any efforts at protecting the health of it's citizens should be encouraged. If Apple can help apply pressure in that regard IMO it's the very least they can do.
Yes, I'm sure Apple is the cause of Chinese pollution. Bring the jobs back to the US!
I know I exaggerate a bit - but my first thought was, "Love it." Years ago companies started to manufacture in places where the cost-of-manufacture was lower than in the U.S. There is a certain threshold that when reached, companies start looking at pulling back. Has China reached that point - were manufacturing cost is, let's say, to pick a number, 70 percent of the cost in the U.S.?
If not, they are closing the gap really fast. Foxconn recognizes that danger. It is thinking of adding its of robots to their lines. Is a Chinese robot really that much cheaper than one that "works" in the US? What if Apple would quietly install robies in their old set of manufacturing buildings in Sacramento, CA. I give them (the Chinese) five more years to have a run with it. After that who knows. Can't wait to see on the label "Designed by Apple in California, assembled in California."
If china was held to the same standards as the US on this stuff, maybe it wouldn't be quite so attractive for outsourcing
which brings back the point: how can people so vigorously defend and support corporations which do not give a damn about people other than as a means to increase profit one way or another.
On topic.....China has environmental groups???
Yes that was my first thought ... and Apple is considered a priority?