Dell Stands By Its Environmental Record Despite Greenpeace Attack

Dell said Tuesday that it stands by its environmental record despite Greenpeace allegations that the company “continues to walk away from its commitment” to eliminate hazardous materials from its products. While all of Apple’s products are now free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and bromiated flame retardants (BFRs), its main competitor, Dell, “continues to walk back from its public commitment to phase out the use of these two chemical compounds that have been linked with numerous health problems throughout their lifecycles,” Greenpeace said in an e-mail Tuesday. “If Apple can do it, then why can’t Dell? That’s the question Greenpeace has been asking at protests around the world."

Dell has a “sustainability team” that “maintains an open line of communication with Greenpeace,” spokeswoman Michelle Mosmeyer told us. “We consider them an important partner and stakeholder in our long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, and we share in their passion for technology programs, products and solutions that make the least impact on our planet."

Dell is on track to eliminate all PVC and BFRs from its PC products before 2012, and its G-series LED-backlit monitors are already free of PVC, BFRs, arsenic and mercury, Mosmeyer said. “This task presents challenges, but we're working closely with our suppliers to find reliable, environmentally preferable alternatives that maintain the performance standards our customers require."

Marketing products free of hazardous materials “is just one aspect of Dell’s commitment to environmental responsibility,” Mosmeyer said. Dell also offers “free, convenient consumer recycling programs” and has an “industry-leading ban on exporting e-waste,” she said. Dell also leads the industry in “designing more sustainable packaging from materials such as bamboo, and meeting 25 percent of our company’s energy needs using renewable energy such as wind and solar,” she said. “While we've made solid progress in our quest for environmental stewardship, we know there’s more work to do. We have line of sight to achieving our PVC/BFRs elimination goal.”