Apple Addresses Factory Pollution In China 190
redletterdave writes "Apple reportedly sent five employees to meet with five different Chinese environmental groups on Nov. 15, only to learn about several troubling environmental issues at as many as 22 different product parts suppliers. In the three-hour meeting, the Chinese environmentalist coalition claimed the factories were releasing toxic gasses, heavy metal sludge and other pollutants. Apple acknowledged that a number of its supply firms have failed to properly keep track of their wastewater emissions and vowed to improve its environmental standards for suppliers; this is the first time Apple has admitted any wrongdoing in relation to environmental pollution from any of its Chinese supply chains. The meeting comes one month after one of Apple's Chinese suppliers of MacBook parts was shut down by China's government in response to resident complaints of 'unbearable odors,' which were described as a mix of chemical fertilizer and burning plastic."
Re:Really? (Score:1, Informative)
I'm not an apple fan, I like Linux. However all hardware manufacturers are guilty here not just apple.
Actually, Apple and other manufacturers are NOT responsible for their SUPPLIERS' mishaps.
Yes they are. Both the US and Europe have laws that clearly state companies can't use third world slave labor and smog factories to reduce their costs. They are expected to do due diligence on the factories and ensure standards are met, as well as ensure children are not part of the slave workforce. Whether those making the law bother to check up on the likes of Apple & Co is another matter.
Not really a new thing... (Score:4, Informative)
http://images.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/pdf/Apple_SR_2011_Progress_Report.pdf [apple.com]
http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/ [apple.com]