By Greentech Lead Team: Devices major Apple is planning
to allow environmental reviews of at least two suppliers factories in China.
Apple has agreed to the independent reviews in response
to two reports that IPE and other environmental groups released last year
showing hazardous-waste leaks and the use of toxic chemicals at suspected Apple
suppliers.
The reviews come as Apple faces rising criticism about
toxic pollution and factory injuries at overseas suppliers’ factories.
Environmental examinations would be separate from an independent probe of
working conditions at the Chinese factories of Apple suppliers.
According to USA TODAY,
the independent reviews will begin in March with two suppliers. The reviews
will focus on environmental issues, such as whether Apple suppliers are
discharging toxic waste into the water supply and soil.
IPE reports named two dozen suspected Apple suppliers in
2011, and Apple has confirmed it works with at least seven including Foxconn
Technology, Meiko Electronics, Unimicron, Ibiden Electronics, Wintek, Nan Ya
Printed Circuit Board and Compeq Manufacturing.
IPE’s report last August detailed how Meiko Electronics’
factory in Wuhan, in central China, discharged large amounts of waste into
surrounding rivers and lakes. A chlorine accident at Meiko Electronics in 2008
also led to the poisoning and hospitalization of 18 workers,
Apple agreed to allow environmental groups to examine at
least two of the 14 suppliers that Apple did environmental audits on last year.
Apple has promised the groups access to the factories.
Environmental groups urge Apple to make public the
results of the independent review. That includes disclosing the names of the
suppliers examined after they’ve been given an opportunity to fix any problem
identified.
Apple also plans to use a pollution database on IPE’s
website, containing records of more than 95,000 environmental violations by
Chinese suppliers, to monitor current suppliers and check on new ones.
The development could push the other Chinese suppliers
for improvements of working conditions. Apple joins Adidas, Nike, Patagonia and
others that have supported such monitoring to improve labor conditions in
contract plants.
“If Apple doesn’t change, then it could serve as a
very bad model for other companies,” said Ma Jun, founder of the Institute
of Public & Environmental Affairs.