Greenpeace Again Ranks Nintendo Last With 'Pitiful' Green Electronics Score

Environmental group Greenpeace again ranked Nintendo at the bottom of its "Guide to Greener Electronics" list, issuing the Kyoto-based company a pitifully low mark for failing to meet Greenpeace's chemical, e-waste, and energy criteria. "Nintendo remains in last place with a pitiful 0.8 points out of 10, scoring zero on all e-waste criteria," says the group. "The company has banned phthalates and is monitoring use of antimony and beryllium, and although it is endeavouring to eliminate the use of PVC, it has not set a timeline for its phase out." Greenpeace commended the Wii and DS manufacturer for disclosing its operations' carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and for committing to cutting down its CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases by 2 percent over each previous year, but notes that an increase in the company's business led to a 6 percent rice in CO2 emissions in 2006. The environmental group also criticized Nintendo for not externally verifying its reports on CO2 emissions and for failing to provide enough appropriate information for disposing or recycling its products. Microsoft is ranked just a spot above Nintendo, tied with HP, with its score dropping to 2.7 out of 10 since Greenpeace's November 2008 report for "failing to clarify how its recycling data is calculated". Sony, meanwhile, moved up two places to 5th with a score of 5.5. The company gained points based on improvements with its TVs and PCs, and for "externally-verified greenhouse gas emissions for over 200 sites and committing to absolute cuts in GHG emissions." Nintendo has previously taken issue with Greenpeace's reports, arguing in December 2007 that it complies with relevant regulations on avoiding the use of dangerous materials and recycling, and that it has established its own Green Procurement Standards. "We are always actively looking at ways to continue to increase our environmental stewardship and hold this as a corporate priority worldwide," said Nintendo.