Environmental Leader

In response to Apple’s new green MacBook ads and the buzz generated, Dell’s VP Communities and Conversations Bob Pearson created a forum post of “the real meaning of being green from the viewpoint of a Fortune 500 company.”

The main points of the post:

• Be part of the conversation. Pearson made the claim that unlike Dell, employees at Apple are not allowed to blog and that he “doesn’t recall” Apple joining the conversation about the environment, either via key conferences, the blogosphere, or reporter meetings.
• Apple hasn’t stated any goals – just made claims that Dell says are not accurate – and the Macbook was not designed and built with the environment and easy accessibility in mind any more so than Dell’s Latitude E-series, Pearson wrote.
• Citing the recent packaging initiative that will purportedly eliminate 20 million pounds of shipping materials, Pearson said that “actions speak louder than words” and urged its rival to do more and advertise less.

Steve Jobs acknowledges the criticism the company has received for not being quick to remove toxic chemicals from new products and lagging behind in the effort to recycle old products.

Jobs said it was not Apple’s policy to “trumpet plans for the future” but instead to talk about accomplishments, but said that policy would have to change. Apple now publishes information on its environmental initiatives on its website.

In Greenpeace’s November green electronics ranking, Dell dropped to No. 12, from its previous position (No. 8). In an even earlier version, Dell ranked fifth. Though the company earned points for its halogen-reduced products, it lost points for withdrawing from its commitment to eliminate all PVC plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) by the end of 2009.