We are big Mac fans here at Blogpire, and much of the environmental blog world has been a buzz asking the important question: How green is the new Apple iPad?
iPad embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:
Arsenic-free display glass
BFR-free
Mercury-free LCD display
PVC-free
Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure
Shea Gunther at Mother Nature Network explains:
Apple has taken some lumps in the past, particularly from groups like Greenpeace, for using toxic substances like mercury and arsenic in their products. With e-waste being as big a problem as it is considering the huge number of products Apple and other tech companies produce every year, the decision to stop using these poisonous chemicals is a big one. The iPad (and nearly ever other electronic device) have a LONG way to go before they can truly be called green, but they’re getting greener and greener every go around.
earth2tech gave the new iPad a grade of B, and during the iPad’s announcement, Steve Jobs was sure to tout it’s green features. According to Infoworld:
Another green bragging point: Apple claims that the device’s specially designed lithium-polymer battery, combined with the energy efficiency of the iPad’s A4 processor, means the system can run for 10 hours straight.
The iPad’s form factor also contributes to its green credentials. It weighs a mere 1.5 pounds and is half an inch thick. Compare that to the bulkier devices it rivals — say, a netbook — and you can see the iPad contains fewer materials. Moreover, unlike a netbook, a keyboard isn’t a necessity for the iPad, which means you won’t have to invest in yet another hunk of plastic, metal, or the like. (That’s not to say the iPad doesn’t support a keyboard.)
Being the first to own the latest technology is definitely not green living, but at least consumers are faced more environmentally friendly options when making new purchases.