Toxic iPhone

How Green Is My iPhone? Apple’s Steve Jobs failed to deliver on his promise, Greenpeace says.

In a report released today, Greenpeace Philippines disclosed that tests made by the group on the iPhone determined that the popular device contains hazardous chemicals and materials. “Apple could have demonstrated that it is a true industry leader with a green iPhone. Unfortunately, Apple missed that call and the public is left with an Apple that is no greener than what was promised by Steve Jobs in May,” said Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia toxics campaigner.

Below is the Greenpeace statement:

Scientific tests reveal iPhone contains hazardous chemicals and
materials, says Greenpeace

Manila/Amsterdam, 16 October 2007 - Apple´s iPhone contains hazardous
chemicals and materials, according to the results of scientific tests
commissioned by Greenpeace and released today. This is the first testing
of an Apple product following the commitment by Steve Jobs, Apple CEO,
to a `Greener Apple´, in May 2007.

An independent scientific laboratory tested 18 internal and external
components of the iPhone and confirmed the presence of brominated
compounds in half the samples, including in the phone´s antenna, in
which they (1) made up 10 per cent of the total weight of the flexible
circuit board. A mixture of toxic phthalate esters (2) was found to make
up 1.5 per cent of the plastic (PVC) coating of the headphone cables.

The insight into the components of the iPhone is presented in the
Greenpeace report, `Missed call: the iPhone´s hazardous chemicals´(3).
This is the third time that Greenpeace has tested an Apple product since
2006. Similar analyses of a MacBook Pro and an iPod Nano also revealed
the presence of brominated flame retardants and PVC in some components.

Apple launched the iPhone into the US market in June 2007. The discovery
of hazardous chemicals suggests that Apple is failing to make early
progress, even in entirely new product lines, towards achieving its
commitment to phase-out all uses of brominated compounds and PVC by the
end of 2008.

“Apple could have demonstrated that it is a true industry leader with a
green iPhone. Unfortunately, Apple missed that call and the public is
left with an Apple that is no greener than what was promised by Steve
Jobs in May,” said Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia toxics
campaigner. “We need to see that the talk of “a greener Apple” is
matched with real products in the market,” Baconguis added.

Dr. David Santillo, Senior Scientist at the Greenpeace Research
Laboratories, co-ordinated the project and deconstructed the iPhone for
analysis. He said, “Two of the phthalate plasticisers found at high
levels in the headphone cable are classified as “toxic to reproduction,
category 2″ because of their long-recognised ability to interfere with
sexual development in mammals. While they are not prohibited in mobile
phones, these phthalates are banned from use in all toys or childcare
articles sold in Europe. Apple should eliminate the use of these
chemicals from its products range.”

During its analysis, Greenpeace also found that the iPhone´s battery
was, unusually, glued and soldered in to the handset. This hinders
battery replacement and makes separation for recycling, or appropriate
disposal, more difficult, and therefore adds to the burden of electronic
waste.

“Apple is playing catch-up with its other competitors. If it wants to
grab industry leadership, it must respond to calls of designing out all
toxic substances from its products so that risks from production,
recycling and disposal are avoided,” Baconguis concluded.

For more information and interviews:

The Greenpeace Toxics campaign website:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics_

Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Toxics Campaigner +63 917 8715257
Zeina Alhajj, Greenpeace International Campaigner +31 (0) 6 53128904
Dr. David Santillo, Greenpeace Research Laboratories +44 (0)7813 874489
Omer Elnaiem, Greenpeace International Communications +31(0) 6 15093589

Grace Duran, +63917 8860662 for Photo and video of dismantled iPhone

Notes to Editors:

(1) Bromine: Whether in additive or reactive form, the presence of high
proportions by weight of bromine in electronic components is of concern
with respect to the disposal or recycling of end-of-life iPhone
handsets, as even cross-linked organic-bound bromine can contribute to
the formation of toxic chemicals, including persistent and
bioaccumulative brominated dioxins and related compounds during thermal
destruction or processing.

(2) Phthalates: The European Directive 2005/84/EC prohibits the use of
di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate(DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and benzyl
butyl phthalate(BBP) in all toys or childcare articles put on the market
in Europe (with a limit of 0.1% by weight).

(3) Greenpeace report on the iPhone: http://www.greenpeace.org/iphonereport_