May 21, 2008

Greenpeace: Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony Peddling Toxic Game Consoles

Greenpeace is continuing its attack against game consoles with a new report,”Playing Dirty” (PDF). Greenpeace says its scientific analysis - carried out in its own labs -  detected hazardous chemicals and materials such as polyvinyl chloride,  phthalates, beryllium and bromine indicative of brominated flame retardants in Wii, Sony’s PlayStation 3 Elite and Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

But the tests also showed that each manufacturer had avoided or reduced uses of individual hazardous substances in certain materials within their consoles [Greenpeace says]. For example, the Nintendo Wii managed quite well without using beryllium in its electrical contacts, and use of PVC and phthalates was limited. The PlayStation 3, meanwhile, included “bromine-free” circuit boards and the Xbox 360 used fewer brominated materials in its housing materials.

In its November 2007 electronics report, Greenpeace slammed Nintendo and the game consoles market as a whole.

The organization also asked gamers to write game console makers “and let them know what you expect of them in making their products cleaner and greener.” The move is a continuation of a campaign launched in December to get gamers to persuade Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft to make their products greener.

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