Apple has reversed its decision to withdraw from EPEAT, the American environmental
standards body which certifies electronic products for recyclability and energy efficiency, mere
days after surprising the world by calling EPEAT’s standards outdated and irrelevant. Apple
might have been trying to strongarm the body into updating its standards, but no exact reason
has been given for rejoining. EPEAT does not currently cover mobile phones and tablets, and
Apple also points out that it doesn’t account for other factors such as the removal of toxic
chemicals. While 39 computer products qualify for EPEAT certification, industry watchers
speculate that the initial withdrawal had to do with Apple’s decision to fuse the display
glass and batteries to the aluminum body of its latest MacBook Pro model .EPEAT released
a statement welcoming Apple back and hinting that the two would be working together to
update the environmental standards. Many corporate IT departments as well as government
and educational institutions which purchase computers in bulk require or give preference to
products which EPEAT certified, which could have dented Apple’s sales.
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