Nintendo Responds to Greenpeace Report
By Jonathan on Monday, December 10th, 2007 at 6:40 PM PST In Game Companies, Game Consoles, Gamer Life, Games Industry, Nintendo, Nintendo
You may remember a couple weeks ago when Greenpeace issued a report where they ranked Nintendo as the electronics company most harmful to the environment. And you may also remember soon thereafter when Ars Technica challenged the report and accused Greenpeace of pretty sloppy research. Well, now Nintendo has finally spoken up and given their two cents on the matter:
We were surprised by the content of the Greenpeace report, given that we take great care to comply with all relevant regulations on avoiding the use of dangerous materials, recycling, etc. For example, all Nintendo products supplied worldwide are designed to comply with relevant global standards.
In order to certify that Nintendo products comply with standards for hazardous chemical substances, Nintendo has established the Green Procurement Standards, which require our component suppliers to certify that any parts they deliver do not include hazardous chemical substances, and ensure that Nintendo fully controls its products internally.
We are always actively looking at ways to continue to increase our environmental stewardship and hold this as a corporate priority worldwide.
And now the crucial decision: who should I believe? The environmental agency who has employed numerous unorthodox tactics in the pursuit of their goals over the years; or the company who has brought me some of my most beloved games for almost the entire course of my life? Decisions, decisions.
Via GoNintendo
Greenpeace said Nintendo were the worst offenders of the lot according to their findings. If anyone (including Nintendo) wants to dispute that they are going to have to provide evidence that shows the other companies rated above them actually deserve to be rated below them. Neither Nintendo nor anyone else has done that. It simply seems that other companies are doing more to be greener than Nintendo and if they don’t like being ranked bottom they should do more or prove they do more than other companies.
At the end of the day I find it astonishing that anyone can criticize Greenpeace for this kind of report because its pressure like this that makes companies implement cleaner and greener working practices.
Greenpeace have now responded to Nintendo and have backed up what I said. Nintendo are following guidelines and laws but they are not going the extra mile like the other companies are:
“The Greenpeace ranking criteria score companies on what they are doing beyond what is required by legislation. This is not a law enforcemen ranking Guide – we are looking for environmental excellence…Green procurement standards are a start. However other companies publish their chemical policy to allow independent assessment by customers. If Nintendo has this policy it should include all chemicals of concern and be public about it to their suppliers and customers alike. Many other electronics companies have published their chemicals policy…Well we have made two simple suggestions already:
Commit to phase out the worst toxic chemicals
Implement a global recycling policy
Nintendo has yet to do either of these, unlike many other electronics companies.”
http://kotaku.com/gaming/environment/nintendo-responds-to-greenpeace-greenpeace-not-satisfied-333128.php