Apple faces scrutiny from European environmental and consumer groups over its claims that its latest devices are “carbon neutral,” a term that the European Union says is “misleading” and proposes to ban in companies’ advertising and other marketing materials.
Kenza Bryan for Financial Times:
The iPhone maker last month put its “environmentally friendly” credentials at the centre of its biggest annual product launch. It called some Apple Watch models its “first-ever carbon neutral products”, part of a drive to extend the classification across all its devices by the end of the decade.
But the US tech giant’s decision to rely on credits to cancel out the 7-12kg of greenhouse gas emissions behind each new Watch prompted a sharp reaction from consumer groups in the wake of a long-trailed clampdown by the EU on “greenwashing”.
“Carbon neutral claims are scientifically inaccurate and mislead consumers,” Monique Goyens, the director-general of BEUC, the European consumer organisation, told the Financial Times. “The EU’s recent decision to ban carbon neutral claims will rightly clear the market of such bogus messages, and Apple Watches should be no exception.”
In the days following the Watch launch, Brussels said that by 2026 it would ban “neutrality” claims that are based on the purchase of carbon credits, which compensate for the release of emissions by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
MacDailyNews Take: That this “carbon neutral” argument centers on misleading, “scientifically inaccurate” marketing is amusingly ironic.
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“Amusingly ironic,” indeed.
A sound argument is one that is not only valid, but begins with premises that are actually true.
GIGO.
I hope that someday Apple will again be run by smart people who aren’t easily duped by the charlatans of the day.
Apple displays its vast ignorance with the very notion that there is anything virtuous in being “carbon neutral”. There is nothing at all wrong with carbon. It is a very common naturally occurring element. People have much carbon content. The world requires CO2 in order to sustain life. Carbon is very good. Say it. Repeat it. Now, tell Apple to cut out the lying and insanity about carbon. It is not good to proudly display a disrespect of the Creation.
Well said, Kent. Yes carbon is a natural element and plant life lives off it worldwide. I remember the first Star Trek movie in 1979 and this exchange:
Ensign Perez: “Carbon-based units”?
Dr. McCoy: Humans, Ensign Perez. Us.”…
Not unlike The Catholic Churches instatement of “Indulgences” to “clear” one’s sin.
False beni for the sinner and fraudulent gain for the Church.
There is NO solution for the “dirt” resulting from energy creation and use…only trade-offs. Work to minimize the “dirt,” but use of inefficient and expensive energy creates more “dirt” in the long run.
Carbon credits make me feel & look good.
…and of course the only way to set the EU extortionists…I mean regulators, at ease is to purchase more carbon credits or some BS like that.
Carbon Neutral = corporate extortion = higher consumer prices, nuff said.
And Al Gore created the market for carbon credits so he is making huge personal profits off of this scam. He is guilty of conflict of interest and should be indicted, tried and fried for his criminal and incredibly stupid behavior.
And he’s (Al Gory) has likely made $Billions while being on the Apple Board of Directors for ages. The fake “inventor of the Internet” has been a scam artist from his days in divinity college (he got kicked out); the US Army in Vietnam (he was a pretend “reporter” for the Army newspaper) thanks to daddy Al Gore Sr. who was a USA senator who profited mightily from Oxcidental Petroleum for decades and Al Jr. still does. BTW, Al Jr. was raised living in a penthouse hotel suite in Wash D.C.— just in case you didn’t know. And Sr. was in the pocket of Armand Hammer who dealt with the USSR and profited greatly.
Planting some trees or purchasing carbon credits somehow nullifies all impact on the environment? The great irony is the epic toxic waste that will eventually come to pass when the life of solar panels expires.
What nonsense.
The ‘bad’ parts of the solar panel, basically the cadmium, and lead in soldering, are what needs to be managed during solar panel recycling. If we can develop safer materials to replace the two, the rest of the solar panel (glass, aluminum, plastic, and silicon) can easily be safely recycled.
I hope Apple puts a GREATER emphasis on environmental concerns during the October 30th announcement. They hardly said ANYTHING about ‘green and clean’ during the iPhone/ Watch announcement
What did the tree say to the tree hugging socialist?
More CO2 please.