Greenpeace Says Console Companies Still Playing Dirty

A new report by Greenpeace has found that while Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony have improved their manufacturing processes, all three current-gen game consoles still contain various hazardous chemicals.

The report, entitled "Playing Dirty," showed that each of the Big Three console companies had cut back on certain toxic materials but continued to employ others in their manufacturing processes. Nintendo's Wii, for instance, now uses beryllium-free electrical contacts, but has a high level of bromine in its main internal housing. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 both show high levels of bromines and phthalates in some components, but reduced bromine levels in others, particularly in the Xbox 360.

"The game consoles all contained high levels of bromine - used in circuit boards and plastic casings," the report said. "Brominated flame retardants do not break down easily and build up in the environment. Long-term exposure can lead to impaired learning and memory functions. They can also interfere with thyroid and estrogen hormone systems and exposure in the womb has been linked to behavioral problems. Components of the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 also contained high levels of phthalates, one of which - DEHP - is known to interfere with sexual development in mammals: including humans and, especially, males."

Along with the inherently toxic nature of some materials in the consoles, Greenpeace claimed the consoles are also a significant contributor to "e-waste" at the end of their lifespans, when they are typically dumped into landfills and become harmful to both the environment and workers. The group suggested toxicity levels could be significantly reduced across all consoles if manufacturers would simply adopt each other's methods for reducing their use.

"If manufacturers only looked at each other's products, they'd quickly see ways of replacing their own dirty components with toxic-free materials," the report said. "A greener, cleaner game console is possible."

Game consoles have become a popular target for Greenpeace recently. In November, the environmental watchdog included console manufacturers in its quarterly Guide to Greener Electronics, which resulted in Nintendo becoming the first company in the history of the report to score an absolute zero. Microsoft fared little better, with a score of 2.7 (out of ten). Sony scored respectably well at 7.3, but the guide examined entire product lines, and did not specifically mention the PlayStation consoles. A Clash of the Consoles campaign followed in December, which featured Mario, Master Chief and Kratos competing for the prize of a greener game console.

The full "Playing Dirty" is available for download here. (PDF format)

Permalink

When has anyone anywhere ever cared what Greenpeace (a borderline terrorist group) thinks?

I do, I have been a loyal supporter of their Save the Whales campaign, I will admit that some of their actions are counter productive but their motivation is a good cause.

Also how can an organisation that has been the victim of a bomb attack be a terrorist group?

HalfShadow:
(a borderline terrorist group)

What?

Malygris:

HalfShadow:
(a borderline terrorist group)

What?

Piracy: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/press-releases/greenpeace-flotilla-blockades-nuclear-base (Preventing a ship from reaching it's destination is considered piracy under maritime law)

Piracy: http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/001104.html (Ramming a whaling boat)

Tresspass and illegal seizure: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/activists-seize-coal-plant/2007/11/15/1194766806351.html (breaking into and shutting down a power plant)

Laws do not make things right or wrong, and if those actions are terroristic, then so is just about every government on the face of the Earth, not that they aren't.

Whaling boats kill intelligent life for monetary gain for example, that isn't right.

HalfShadow:

Malygris:

HalfShadow:
(a borderline terrorist group)

What?

Piracy: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/press-releases/greenpeace-flotilla-blockades-nuclear-base (Preventing a ship from reaching it's destination is considered piracy under maritime law)

Piracy: http://ambit-gambit.nationalforum.com.au/archives/001104.html (Ramming a whaling boat)

Tresspass and illegal seizure: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/activists-seize-coal-plant/2007/11/15/1194766806351.html (breaking into and shutting down a power plant)

Well by those deffinitions I can think of examples were the American, Icelandic, British and French governemnts have all commited terrorist activiteies, ironically two French examples commited on Greenpeace

Whoah.

Long time prescriber, but had to comment on this.

A borderline terrorist group because they protect a living intelligent being by trying to stop the killers?

Please halfshadow, enlighten us as to what you believe a terrorist group is by definition.

"When has anyone anywhere ever cared what Greenpeace (a borderline terrorist group) thinks?"

Are you an american? I ask that only because i'm from australia and we have grown up with green peace, hell my brother in law who's a sth african has donned the scuba gear and sabotaged, long before he came to oz, so i'm not sure if the states are the only ones who don't know what green peace is.

Would make sense seeing as american's are paranoid as fidgety fackk about supposed "terrorist groups", they're governed by a paranoid "war is money" mentality, spewed out by a societal government churning mouth piece lambs to the slaughter.

As a journalist i read and hear some stupid shit, but this has to top the list as the most stupidest f*cking thing i've read heard in quite a f*ck shite while.

My only question is how have you posted 277 comments with out being fire bombed? Or banned?

Oh, and halfshadow, i'm here to stay, we welcome you to the f*cken party.

b@IL3Y:
Would make sense seeing as american's are paranoid as fidgety fackk about supposed "terrorist groups", they're governed by a paranoid "war is money" mentality, spewed out by a societal government churning mouth piece lambs to the slaughter.

First off, you have to remember that in the US (where I reside) anything that we think is odd is automatically a terrorist threat (and not to get political, but you can thank the Southern States and their voting record for that). So, we are a bit unsure about Greenpeace, because, you know, they fight for their beliefs in an almost renegade fashion, so they must be a part of Al-Qaeda.

Secondly, (once again) living in the US, makes you almost completely unaware of what else is happening in the world because, for the most part, Americans are a very ethnocentric society. It's not our fault, really, because to the north there's not much going on (well, maybe seal clubbing, which Canadians think is some sort of religious right) and we try not to think about the South (you know, poverty, slash and burn, government sponsored forced labor, etc. etc.) things that are just too depressing for our fragile little minds.

So, you have to excuse some of us if all we care about is American Idol, SUVs and preventing terrorist attacks from groups like PETA. Well, at least until the next election.

And finally, it's not a real party until someone brings up politics!

Bush sucks. All right, NOW it's a party. On topic, I can see where Greenpeace is coming from here, but I really do not think they should pervade every aspect of our life. Have you heard of someone getting radiation poisoning from a console?

A Username Not In Use:

Well by those deffinitions I can think of examples were the American, Icelandic, British and French governemnts have all commited terrorist activiteies, ironically two French examples commited on Greenpeace

When a government does such things it is called an act of war. When a private civilian group does such things it is usually labeled terrorism, piracy, or criminal behavior. I do what I can to be kind to the environment but I am not going to support some hippie nut jobs in their quest for more attention. I met some of these people in college and they are as arrogant as fundie Christians.

Malygris:

Along with the inherently toxic nature of some materials in the consoles, Greenpeace claimed the consoles are also a significant contributor to "e-waste" at the end of their lifespans, when they are typically dumped into landfills and become harmful to both the environment and workers.

Along with cell phones, PCs, MP3 players, batteries, television sets, cars/engine fluid, styrofoam, etc etc... Essentially everything in life today has a toxic component to it, be it the product itself, or the process used to create it. Sure, there are more efficient ways to do things; they're also more expensive and if used people would then likely bitch about the inflated cost of the product. Unless you want to go live in the woods somewhere like a hermit you aren't going to escape it, sorry.
I suppose the next time I mass produce a home entertainment system I'll make it eco-friendly by building it out of kittens or something. I mean, I know what's trying to be done here is in good faith, spreading the word or whatever. But it's a bit ridiculous at the same time since you could pick apart virtually anything like this, not to mention it's an article about the toxic components of computer systems being posted on the internet. Unless I'm mistaken, said internet is still indeed connected to through these "inherently toxic" machines, so shouldn't people who support this action recycle their computers after reading this in order to keep from further harming the planet? I mean who knows, you could die tonight and your family might throw out your PC, contributing even more to the problem.
Production methods aren't going to change anytime soon, for both fiscal reasons and because what we have works (in its own way). It's why you can recycle your LI batteries at Best Buy, and send your used ink carts to HP. But if people are really dead set against "e-waste", they should vote with their pocket books and not buy the products that generate it it. Of course, it might be kind of hard to come off as deep and superior talking about issues like this in the local coffee shop without your iPod.

HalfShadow:
When has anyone anywhere ever cared what Greenpeace (a borderline terrorist group) thinks?

People who AREN'T idiots? Try looking into Greenpeace's history before calling it a borderline terrorist group.

Just because you don't like someone dosen't make them a terrorist. It makes them a prick, or in the case of Greenpeace, a group of pricks. Yes, whaling is a bad and all that, but bromine? I handle bromine quite regularly. It's a mild irritant, and its reaction with water (formation of HBr- hydrogen bromide) produces such a weak acid that the very mention of the chemical makes me want to point and laugh at these stupid people.

And bromine-carbon halogen compounds are so fucking stable that you could bury them in the soil for the next millenia and their impact on the enviroment would be negliable. This report is the largest sack of shit I have ever read since the last state of the union address, and its worse because its by a bunch of peopl I used to admire for 'letting themselves be wholly known'

PS. Anyone spotting where that bastardised quote comes from gets twenty-five coolness points.

I have. As soon as you start putting others lives at risk, your point is moot.

Just because you don't like someone dosen't make them a terrorist. It makes them a prick, or in the case of Greenpeace, a group of pricks. Yes, whaling is a bad and all that, but bromine? I handle bromine quite regularly. It's a mild irritant, and its reaction with water (formation of HBr- hydrogen bromide) produces such a weak acid that the very mention of the chemical makes me want to point and laugh at these stupid people.

And bromine-carbon halogen compounds are so fucking stable that you could bury them in the soil for the next millenia and their impact on the enviroment would be negliable. This report is the largest sack of shit I have ever read since the last state of the union address, and its worse because its by a bunch of peopl I used to admire for 'letting themselves be wholly known'

PS. Anyone spotting where that bastardised quote comes from gets twenty-five coolness points.

"A greener, cleaner game console is possible."

Yes, also, more expensive. Thus not viable when you're trying to break into the market.
Another thing: "Long-term exposure can lead to impaired learning and memory functions." Are these people licking their consoles 24/7 or something? I don't see how the console could possibly be a health hazard when you use it.. like a console.

The whole Greenpeace / terrorist discussion is lost on me. They break the law to try and set things right (according to their views) and in the process endangering lives. Terrorists they aren't, due to them not trying to kill people (on purpose), but i would call them vigilantes.

The reason many people think of Greenpeace as a terrorist group, or whatever, is they get lumped in with every other whacko environmental extremist group(ELF, Earth First, and many others). Like it or not, the actions of the extreme end of the spectrum will reflect badly on every other organization working toward the same goals. I view them at best as an organization with good intentions and terrible guideance, and at worst as a bunch of raving anti-capatilists and hypocrites. They are a huge multi-national organization who take in hundreds of millions of dollars a year, are accountable to noone, and have the ear of the press.

The main problem I have, is it will NEVER matter what anyone does, if you're not living in a grass hut by yourself in the forsest you arent living up to the standards of the environmental nut jobs. EVERYTHING you do in your life they will find a way to deem bad for the environment, and they will never tell you how many private jet trips their corporate heads take. They are MORE than happy to tell you how to live your life, regardless of how they live theirs. They are an effective propoganda machine and nothing more, and as to their claims ill be mentally retarded if I have an xbox in the house, they can stuff it. Ill happily lick my console(LOL) before I go to bed each night.

renahzor:
The main problem I have, is it will NEVER matter what anyone does, if you're not living in a grass hut by yourself in the forsest you arent living up to the standards of the environmental nut jobs. EVERYTHING you do in your life they will find a way to deem bad for the environment, and they will never tell you how many private jet trips their corporate heads take. They are MORE than happy to tell you how to live your life, regardless of how they live theirs. They are an effective propoganda machine and nothing more

That's it right there.

Well, for all the bullshitting they do, some good comes of it

First of, why not a definition of terrorism:
Terrorism is a term used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political or ideological goals (as stated by Wiki).

Now, I suppose you could call Green Peace eco-terrorists, but I think it's a long shot.

And for this report, yeh, well, you really think TNCs are going to sacrifice money in order to become eco-friendly? Nope, all they care about is money, so this is wasted.

"The purpose of terrorism is to terrorize." Josef Stalin

Terrorism is the use of *illegal* violence or the threat of *illegal* violence *in order to instill fear* to cause someone to perform an action, or abstain from an action. Thus "terror." And it only pertains to acts which are illegal and out of the auspices of the group.

To wit: A government is not terrorist for threatening war (War is the legal right of government) or reprisal against an organization (see previous). Neither are peace officers, because they instill fear and use violence to prevent illegal actions.

This distinction MUST be made, because otherwise, any sort of law-enforcement or national defense initiative is terrorism. Attacking civilians is a violation of the laws of war... but the difference between a civilian and a soldier is a ratty beret and an M16. More to the point: Terror/fear must be the purpose, otherwise it's just random violence (Or political/ideological violence - You can assassinate a person without being a terrorist). A soldier going crazy and shooting a bunch of people because he's crazy isn't a terrorist - He's a nutjob.

By this definition? Greenpeace may be a terrorist organization. However anyone who says "If you don't shut the hell up I'm going to put my fist through your teeth" is a terrorist as well.

HalfShadow:
When has anyone anywhere ever cared what Greenpeace (a borderline terrorist group) thinks?

Well, I do.
You cannot dismiss the absolutely abysmal quantity of resources daily harvested and consumed to build all those machines and the data supports, nor the fact that what you get in your pocket or living room is just the tip of the iceberg.

I couldn't care less that some people call some of Greenpeace's activities unlawful (which is in fact the result of an amalgalm).
For example, there are good social achievements and business evolutions which have been made real because some companies didn't follow the rules, most of the time because it didn't follow common sense.
Although this does not in any way mean that laws shouldn't be respected, I say that there are cases where laws are obviously limited and don't seem to protect citizens as much as they should.
Besides, that green "terrorism", sometimes counter productive, is largely about messages and awareness, and is a necessary dose of chaos against the lack of humanity displayed day after day by those who gross billions of dollars, thanks to the cynical exploitation of natural and human resources.

Now, I think they're going a bit over the top there. Plastic is not good for health, but people don't eat plastic either.
I think the main problem these guys had is about the mass in general. But again, many trinkets we use contain or are built upon chemicals which, put together, are dangerous to some degree, but not as small quantities.
Yes, "e-waste" is the main problem, and it's not just about the chemicals inside the products, it's literally about the amount of material that's left in those sort of junkyards.
We need to slow the pace down.

A Username Not In Use:

Well by those deffinitions I can think of examples were the American, Icelandic, British and French governemnts have all commited terrorist activiteies, ironically two French examples commited on Greenpeace

You can add the Reign of Terror.

renahzor:
The reason many people think of Greenpeace as a terrorist group, or whatever, is they get lumped in with every other whacko environmental extremist group(ELF, Earth First, and many others). Like it or not, the actions of the extreme end of the spectrum will reflect badly on every other organization working toward the same goals. I view them at best as an organization with good intentions and terrible guideance, and at worst as a bunch of raving anti-capatilists and hypocrites. They are a huge multi-national organization who take in hundreds of millions of dollars a year, are accountable to noone, and have the ear of the press.

Not that I'm feeling like Greenpeace should be defended teeth and nails... arguably, their millions would seem to do less damage to the environment than the millions, say billions, of certain corporations and companies.
Besides, they use planes? Good lord. Should they cross the oceans on wooden barques, and communicate by smoke puffs (which requires burning wood! oh noes).
They'd better start a genetic program to grow worldwide telepathic communication and telekinetic abilities to fly on their own.

I'd also rather have more people care about the environment than less.

this is proof of too much free time.....but anyway bromines and phthalates are really only harmful when eaten in this plastic forms and if im gonna open up my xbox to munch on the interior i think i deserve the backlash. The point is there is next to nothing that they can really do if they want to keep the standard of technology, that being said ill get right on the next plastic :)

but i will say this they can kick and scream all they like about this, it doesnt change the fact that they are lucky the companies even bothered in the first place to reduce the crap inside, all companies get handed is a list which they have to comply to for the government standards after which they can do whatever they feel.