subject: Apple Encountered Heavy Metal Pollution In The Supply Chain Challenge [print this page] On the iPad, iPhone, etc., when conquering a city in the global market, its manufacturer - Apple is experiencing increasingly severe environmental organizations in China pollution challenge.
Since mid-April, Friends of Nature, the public and the Total Environment Research Center asked 34 environmental organizations such as has released three "IT industry heavy metal pollution research report" (hereinafter referred to research reports), on 29 Chinese and foreign well-known IT brands in the supply chain questioned the existence of heavy metal pollution.
"July 15th, Apple has finally broken the silence hard, but the response remains relatively passive attitude." Ma Jun, director of Public Environmental Research Center told the "Outlook" Newsweek.
The Aug. 11 announcement of the third research report shows that in 29 IT brands, Samsung, HP and other 8 companies a positive attitude, and is expected to improve supply chain management more optimistic; Apple, Nokia and other six companies are performance negative, is expected to progress difficult.
In fact, Apple and other companies in the supply chain heavy metal pollution in question had long silence to right.
Environmental groups released on June 5 after the second research report, called the consumer, "wrote a letter to the well-known IT brands", there have been more than 260 Chinese consumers to Apple, IBM and three other IT brands to the letter, expressing IT products of heavy metal emissions concerns.
The subsequent June 29, U.S. Pacific environment Organization (PacificEnvironment) issued initiative, called the U.S. consumer called Apple back a letter from environmental groups in China, as of July 6, has over 900 customers at home and abroad sent a letter to Apple, expressed its concern in supply chain management.
June 30, U.S. Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BusinessandHumanRightsResourceCentre) also mentioned the contents of the investigation report to Apple, Ericsson and other companies, the letter inviting their response and will respond to the situation with more than 10,000 subscribers Share.
When the Pacific Environment on July 6 phone providers responsibility manager of Apple when being told that Apple will not disclose any vendor-related information, including potential investigation, time and or survey results.
Until July 15, environmental groups were only for the first time Apple supplier responsibility manager's response, denied that the three environmental groups question the supplier.
However, Apple to break the silence, continue to "trade secrets" refused to provide more information.
July 22, Apple made to environmental organizations, publicly display materials, joint construction (China) Technology Co., Ltd., there are environmental violations recorded the other three business lines as part of Apple's supply chain, hoping Apple will investigate the information.
As of August 10, environmental groups did not receive any reply to Apple.
Environmental groups said the joint construction (China) Technology Co., Ltd., its factory is located in Suzhou Industrial Park, by the Taiwan Sheng Hua Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 1999 investment. Earlier media reports said the company's touch screen mobile phone OEM widely used in Apple, Nokia, Motorola and other leading IT enterprise products.
According to CCTV's "Focus" reports, the company in September 2009 because of irregularities, illegal use of toxic chemical solvents, ignore the field of occupational hazards prevention and employee protection, causing a number of workers poisoned, part of the disabled employees.
"We respect the company's trade secrets, but we challenge to Apple's business, there are an excessive violation of the business more serious, such cases have involved corporate social responsibility, we believe that Apple should be thoroughly investigated to clarify, through improve supply chain management system to prevent causing more abuse, rather than trade secrets as an excuse to evade responsibility. "Ma said.
IT products for heavy metal pollution in the environment and public health continue to abuse the situation, many consumers through the network and letters to environmental organizations have expressed their surprise, sadness and anger. "Helpless in a diffuse, we have heard: What can I do? I can influence and change these companies have done?" Ma said.
Ma Jun, advocates, environmental organizations should continue to encourage consumers to launch a "green choice" by the hands of the purchasing power of Dizhi IT companies involved in heavy metal contamination of products, or to users in demanding IT companies to honor their commitment to green when sold in order to promote IT enterprises in solving the supply chain to the specific pollution problems.
Friends of Nature, said the Director-General Bo, Friends of Nature have been involved in previous related research activities, and has been adopted by members of the power and the vast network platform to promote students, consumers and citizens called for more young people to participate. In the future, Friends of Nature will continue to promote the work of publicity and possible use of new web technology, mobilize more public and IT companies to start "pollution liability" dialogue.
