PC Makers Catch Green Wave

July 18, 2007

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PC and electronics makers have never given much thought to environmental issues, USAToday reports. That is, until now. For the first time, almost every major PC and electronics maker is trying to change that.

Here are just a few of the industry’s latest green initiatives. Dell has announced a plan to become “the greenest technology company,” by beefing up its recycling program and building more Earth-friendly PCs. Apple made a similar pledge to become “greener.” Toshiba has announced a new recycling program.

Companies are motivated by customer demand as much as altruism, says Scott Martin, a marketing director at Motorola. Confidential Motorola customer surveys show a marked increase in environmental concerns, he says.

It’s still unclear whether often-costly environmental programs generate enough goodwill to be worth it, according to the article.

It’s hard to judge if most buyers consider the environment when buying electronics. Most shopper surveys don’t ask about it, probably because most shoppers don’t think about it.

That’s not surprising, as the environmental impact of an electronic product, such as lead leeching into groundwater from TVs in landfills, can be hard to see.

Preventing that kind of indirect harm is a tough sell. “Consumers do not buy products for their greenness,” says David Thompson, environmental director for Panasonic.

Lots of good examples of companies initiatives in the article.

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