Archive

Greenwash: E-waste trade is the unacceptable face of recycling - HP, Acer and Lenovo criticised

 

Greenpeace: HP, Lenovo and Dell still on the toxic stuff

 

Greenpeace: Apple is phasing out PVCs

 

Greenpeace: Philips springing forward

 

Goodelectronics:Protest against Apple Computer Taiwan

 

Dell: Taking Strong Stance Against Exporting E-Waste

 

National Labour Committee: High Tech Misery at Chinese suppliers of Dell, Lenovo and HP

A report issued by the National Labour Committee reveals the harsh working conditions of young migrant workers in China. According to their press release: "Twelve hours a day, seven days a week, the people who put your keyboard keys into place are paid 60 euro cents an hour to do it. And they're not even allowed to raise their heads or go to the toilet... Taiwanese-owned Meitai factory in Dongguan City, Guangdong province (southeast), employs two thousand young workers, 75% of them women, to produce computer equipment including keyboards and printer cases for Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft and IBM (as we go to press IBM and Dell are yet to confirm this). The damning research, published online by the National Labor Committee, was carried out between June and September of 2008, and updated mid January 2009. When we contacted the companies cited in the report, only Microsoft and HP replied to say that they had been made aware of the report. Both gave similar statements about their commitment to the "fair treatment and safety" of workers contracted to produce their software."

BBC News: Dell set to cut 1,900 Irish jobs

 

[DE] WEED & SACOM: The Dark Side of Cyberspace

 

Join the Procure IT Fair network

The Procure IT Fair campaign is looking to extend its network. The campaign offers a European network of experts and campaigners around sustainable procurement.

Japan Times Online: Toshiba and Fujitsu let workers hold side jobs

Toshiba Corp. is planning to allow 16,700 workers to take second jobs while they are on temporary leave due to production cuts, company officials said Thursday. The move is likely to spread across the industry as companies scramble to avoid further layoffs by taking exceptional steps to combat the deepening global economic downturn. The semiconductor unit of Fujitsu Ltd. is also allowing its workers to take side jobs, which is normally prohibited, after adopting a work-sharing system in January.

IT News Africa: HP South Africa launches innovative recycling programme

Hewlett Packard (HP) has introduced a business-to-business recycling and take-back programme in an effort to promote environmentally friendly practices in the IT industry. Through the programme, businesses are encouraged to dispose of their electronic waste, which will be collected and recycled by HP.

Goodelectronics: HP reports on worker labour rights awareness training program at Chinese supplier

In its Global Citizenship report 2009, Hewlett Packard reports on the labour rights awareness training program that is currently under way at its Chinese supplier Chicony. The report also provides an interview with the training partner and the management at the HP supplier factory. SACOM, a participant in the training programme is a member of the GoodElectronics network.

Social Funds: IT Companies Improve CSR Performance but Still Face Challenges

 

Swiss E-Waste Guide: HP unveils conclusions and next steps of project to tackle electronic waste in Africa

HP together with the Global Digital Solidarity Fund (DSF) and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa) today unveiled the first results of a pilot project to tackle the problem of electronic waste (e-waste) in Africa. This initiative was carried out in South Africa, Morocco and Kenya and has allowed HP to gather vital information on how African governments, organisations and society are dealing with the rising problem of e-waste management, as well as test solutions on the way forward.

UNI Global Union: HP and EDS workers are fighting against the greediness of their management

Whereas the European economy plunges further into the crisis with its array of drastic social consequences, HP/EDS management is taking advantage of the current situation to shed jobs and cut wages and benefits. Nothing justifies the severity of the announced measures. In reality, HP is not a company in crisis. It is a very profitable company which announced excellent results at the end of 2008. In a period of uncertainty where governments are trying to restore confidence and maintain purchasing power through stability plans to avoid a long-term economic depression, the EMF and UNI-Europa call on the HP/EDS management to shoulder its responsibility towards its workforce who has contributed to the success and the growth of the company in the recent years.

makeITfair: Company Responses to makeITfair's List of Principles - HP and Philips forerunners

In 2008, makeITfair developed its List of Principles, in coordination with a number of NGOs and initiatives that deal specifically with mining issues. At the beginning of February 2009, makeITfair sent a short questionnaire to consumer electronics companies about recent initiatives they have taken that would address social and environmental issues within the mining phase of their production chain. 18 out of the 24 companies responded to makeITfair’s questionnaire. HP and Philips are mentioned among the forerunners in their approach towards sustainability issues in the mining pfase of their supply chains.

Goodelectronics: Chinese battery supplier to Sony and Toshiba continues to ignore demands of workers poisoned with cadmium.

For years now, the Chinese company Gold Peak Batteries Limited is at loggerheads with civil society groups in China as well as abroad over recurring Occupational Health and Safety issues. In 2004, an outbreak of cadmium poisoning cases occurred in four subsidiary factories of Gold Peak Batteries in mainland China as well as in Hong Kong. One case concerns the cadmium poisoning of workers of the Gold Peak Batteries plant in Hong Kong. Another case concerns the cadmium poisoning of workers at JetPower, a Gold Peak subsidiary based in Shenzhen, China. Workers of this factory recently struck up new protests against the projected closure of the Shenzhen plant, for fear their medical claims will not be resolved. Starting from last week, 10 JetPower workers with excessive cadmium levels started a new round of action again and take turn (24hours) to stop JP plant to deliver their products. They have been demanding negotiation with management on their compensation package. ... Gold Peak Batteries has long-established supply agreements with some of the world’s biggest consumer brands. Gold Peak rechargeable batteries and components are used in electronic products manufactured by Black & Decker, Canon, Casio, EverReady, Fuji, JVC, Kodak, Konica, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Rayovac, Ricoh, Siemens, Sony, SonyEricsson, Toshiba and Uniden, to name some. Its batteries are found in cordless and wireless phones, toys, power tools, and are sold across the world.

China Labour Bulletin: CLB urges Apple to investigate reports of serious management misconduct at China supplier factory - also appeals to Lenovo

China Labour Bulletin has written to major electronics companies, including Apple, Nokia and Motorola, urging them to investigate reports of excessive overtime, management abuse and the firing of striking workers at Wintek Dongguan Masstop, one of their major suppliers in China. An investigation by Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) showed that employees at Dongguan Masstop, part of the Taiwan-based Wintek Group, were forced to work more than 100 hours overtime each month (including public holidays) so that the factory could fulfill its orders. Those who refused to work additional hours were given a demerit and fined 60 yuan.

WEED & SACOM: Fujitsu Siemens Refuses to Take Responsibility for Labor Rights Violations in its Supply Chain!

Taiwanese-invested Compeq Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has been communicating closely with SACOM and WEED following the release of /The Dark Side of Cyberspace Report /in December 2008. The report uncovers serious violation of workers rights such as excessive overtime hours, payment below the legal minimum wage and an authoritarian system of labor control...SACOM was impressed by these stakeholders’ strong commitment to continuously improving labor and environmental standards in the electronics industry. ... Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC), while awarding Excelsior a preferred Chinese supplier in 2007, positions itself as merely “an observer” in this serious case of worker exploitation. Behind the facade of the FSC code of conduct, there seems no real effort on FSC’s part to collaborate with Excelsior to take concrete corrective actions.

Business & Human Rights: Fujitsu response re: SACOM-WEED report alleging rights violations at Excelsior Electronics [part of PC Partner] factory

Fujitsu Siemens issues a response to the report and following press release by WEED and SACOM regarding the working conditions at Excelsior, one of its suppliers. In its response, the company states:

Milieudefensie: Philips bears responsibility for unacceptable mining practices

In June 2009, Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands) published a report, entitled 'Mining matters: Unacceptable metal mining in developing countries and the responsibilities of companies in the Netherlands'. This report deals with the conditions under which tin, bauxite and copper are mined, and the supply chains through which seven Dutch companies are involved. One of the companies reviewed in this report in Philips.

The Times Online: Britain is hit hard in Hewlett-Packard’s plan to cut 5,700 jobs

Hewlett-Packard struck a further blow to the beleaguered manufacturing industry yesterday by cutting hundreds of jobs in Britain as part of a move to lose 5,700 positions in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (Emea) region. The printers group blamed plummeting demand for computers, printers and IT services for the job losses, which are part of a big savings drive. More than 700 full and part-time workers at its plant in Erskine, Renfrewshire, were made redundant yesterday. The company is moving production of servers and storage devices to the Czech Republic to save money. About 15,000 of its full-time employees in Emea – including thousands of UK workers – will lose their jobs as part of a programme that began in September and will run until May 2011, the company said.

Greenpeace: Apple praised for BFR-free and (almost) PVC-free computers

 

Greenpeace: HP, Lenovo and Dell penalised for breaking their green IT promises

 

As you sow: Apple Challenged on Laggard Climate Policies

 

Dell: Dell publishes its list of suppliers

 

EMF: HP/EDS management cannot muzzle workers’ representatives

 

Samsung: To invest $4.3bn in green transformation

 

Associated Press: Dell settles federal discrimination suit for $9.1M

 

CSR China: Loss of iPhone cause of employee suicide at Apple supplier

 

AppleInsider: Despite Foxconn troubles, Apple "unlikely" to change supplier

 

Amnesty International: Human exploitation fuels mining trade in DRC: Apple, Dell look away

 

Electronic Industry Workers Coalition (EIWC): worker demands in Mexico denied by supplier of HP, Dell, Philips and Lenovo

 

Guardian Blog: William Shatner targets Hewlett-Packard for toxic waste

 

Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal: HP defends environmental practices

 

Taiwanese Environmental Groups: Acer's stakeholder engagement methods questioned

 

Environmental leader: Dell Cuts Power Use by 48M KWH, Saves $5.8M

 

Sony: Sony Europe uses 100% renewable energy

 

Sony: Sony Launches High-power, Long-life Lithium Ion Secondary Battery

 

Business & Human Rights: HP launches mini pilot on principles for company-level grievance mechanisms

 

The Dong-A Ilbo: Samsung to Ease Hiring Rule for College Graduates

 

Dell: Dell makes more corporate responsibility information available online

 

International Metalworkers Federation: Dispute at Toshiba Indonesia resolved

 

International Metalworkers Federation: Rights abuses escalate at Toshiba Indonesia

 

Goodelectronics: HP has stated new environmental commitments in response to recent Greenpeace actions

 

Think Green Alliance: Dell & HP Aim to Ensure Mineral Supply Chains Are Conflict-Free

 

Human Rights Campaign: Dell Awarded Perfect Score in 2010 Corporate Equality Index

 

Evening Herald Newspaper: EC approves almost €15m for ex-Dell workers

 

AllAfrica.com: Peace Campaigners Turn up Heat on Apple Over Conflict Minerals

 

Business Green: Fujitsu points way to greener datacentres

 

SACOM: A pilot labor rights training program at two Chinese suppliers of HP

 

Business Week: Apple Launches Major Green Effort

 

Greenpeace: Green points for Hewlett Packard and Apple

 

Greenpeace: Dell and Lenovo slow learners, Fujitsu slow-footed

 

Greenpeace India: Philips 'strongly resisting' individual responsibility for e-waste problem

 

GreenerComputing Staff: Apple earns kudos for removing toxics from electronics

 

Limerick Reader: Boycott of Dell products urged

 

Green Electronics Daily: HP Voluntarily Collecting Data from Supply Chain on 240 Chemicals

 

Cereal: In the Mexican crisis, the workers save the electronics industry but in return labour conditions worsen - HP, Lenovo and Philips mentioned

 

Enough Project: HP in support of the Conflict Minerals Trade Act

 

Global Post: Silicon sweatshop series - new allegations of labour violations at Apple's supplier

 

Guardian: Dell leader in climate change survey

 

Guardian: climate change survey shows Acer is increasing emissions and not setting targets to reduce them

 

Business Green: Dell protects laptops with bamboo packaging

 

GoodElectronics: Labour rights issues not adressed at supplier of Apple, Samsung and Lenovo

 

Greenpeace China: How Samsung and others break China's pollution rules

 

Karat: Dell sells Polish factory, workers previously complained about work regime

 

Goodwill Industries: 96 million pounds of e-waste recycled in US in partnership with Dell

 

Gizmodo blog: Apple hunts down leaks like Gestapo

 

Portfolio.com: Apple is starting to clean up its environmental act

 

Buyer Guides now published in six different languages

The Procure IT Fair Buyer's Guide is now available in Czech, Dutch, English, French, German and Hungarian.

Buyer's guide published in French

The Procure IT Fair buyer's guide has now also been published in French. The guide was already available in German, Dutch, English and Czech. this version has been adapted to suit the national context of France, and also gives a number of concrete suggestions on how to include social criteria in the process of public procurement. With this guide, the Procure IT Fair campaign aims to enhance the working conditions in supply chains of computers through procurement by public institutions throughout Europe.

Greenpeace: Apple does well in Guide to Greener Electronics

 

Greenpeace: Samsung, Dell and Lenovo disappoint in Guide to Greener Electronics

 

Greenopolis: Asus announces bamboo laptop, environmental benefits questioned

 

Greenzer: Sony Shows Off a Greener Vaio at CES

 

Greenpeace: Action against poisonous Dell [in Dutch]

 

Triplepundit: Apple Snubs Green Shareholders, Refuses Sustainability Reporting

 

PCWorld: Acer Unveils Greenest Laptops Yet in New Aspires

 

Breitbart: thousands of workers on strike at Chinese Apple supplier over pay and use of toxic chemicals

 

Digitimes: Apple supplier says strike has ended

 

SHARPS releases English version of documentary showing health issues at Samsung Korea

 

Greenpeace: Small Indian company produces green computer sooner than Dell, Samsung and Lenovo

 

ISuppli: Apple's iPad costs $11.20 to manufacture

 

French Buyers Guide spread around

The French version of the Buyers Guide made by Procure IT Fair is finding its way through France.

CNET: Effort to trace 'conflict minerals' in electronics - mentions HP

 

Philips: Philips delivers strong sustainability performance in 2009 and launches new targets for 2015

 

Reuters: Apple supplier is a 'fortress of secrecy'; Journalist roughed up by security guards

 

SOMO urges Dutch parliament to demand social criteria for the procurement of computers

On behalf of the Procure IT Fair campaign SOMO has submitted a lobby letter to members of the Dutch parliament, urging them to press for the formulation of ambitious social criteria to guarantee the sustainable procurement of computers.

PC Pro: Apple finds child labour in supply chain

 

Telegraph blog: Apple's factories are getting worse, not better

 

European Metalworkers' Federation: Outrageous Bonuses for Top Management in Philips

 

ANROAV: Calling on Samsung to Accept Responsibility for Occupational Deaths

 

PC World: Greenpeace Hits Samsung for Delaying Toxic Phase-out

 

Procure IT Fair round table meeting - Amsterdam, March 31 2010

Procure IT Fair will hold its next round table meeting in Amsterdam on March 31, 2010. The meeting will focus on best practice examples of sustainable IT procurement throughout Europe, and will deal with the role of resellers in implementing social criteria.

BusinessGreen: Congo tracking project aims to end IT industry's use of "blood tin" - Apple, Dell, HP and Sony mentioned

 

Global Post - Silicon Sweatshops: An illness in Suzhou, health conditions at Apple supplier worse than previously reported

 

International Metalworkers' Federation: One more Samsung worker dies – activists arrested

 

Greenpeace: Dell targeted for breaking promise on toxic chemicals

 

The Telegraph: Four suicide attempts in a month at Foxconn, factory supplying Apple

 

Enough Project: Activists protest Apple's conflict minerals problem

 

Guardian: Apple silent on pollution in China

 

European Metalworkers' Federation: Philips makes a mockery of employee participation

 

GoodElectronics: Taiwanese electronics workers fight for their rights at Samsung supplier

 

SACOM: Calls on Apple CEO Steve Jobs to reform purchasing practice in response to Foxconn suicides

 

ABC news: 70% wage increase for workers at Foxconn, supplying Apple, Dell and HP

 

Gizmodo: undercover report from hell factory supplying Apple, Dell and HP, among others

 

CSRWire: International Investor Coalition Urgently Calls on Apple, HP and Dell for Improved Working Conditions in Electronics Manufacturing Facilities

 

GoodElectronics: Electronics companies, including HP, participate in factory-based women’s health initiative in Mexico

 

AP: Samsung commissions semiconductor safety study