A Computer Manufacturer “Goes Green” - What Does that Really Mean?

Posted on February 17th, 2007 in health and wellness, electronics, environment, computers and internet by Thomas

A “Computer Manufacturer” is merely a computer assembler, basically all “waste” at the manufacturer is packaging materials, and maybe some product that showed up from the manufacturer and doesn’t work and is not worth repairing.

The manufacturing of the electronics, enclosures, etc. usually happens in plants that are not regulated by . They manufacture components that fulfill regulations in the destination country, but the way how they are manufactured is not regulated.

So what does it mean?
Not Much.
Alright, the are gone. They use .

But what else?

If a manufacturer announces that they comply to (Restriction on Hazardous Substances) and (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive, or the newer , which is kind of a combination of the two, what does it mean?

None of those directives regulates any of the toxic and carcinogenic substances commonly used in electronics manufacturing. Also, they regulate waste treatment after the end of product life, not waste treatment of the manufacturing process.

Complying with is easy when most of the substances are not regulated. In most places in the world, manufacturing is “easy” … all the toxic stuff just blows out into the air, seeps into the ground, or ends up in surface .

To find out more about the toxins and cancer causing substances used in computers, and how you can avoid most of them, sign up for our Free E-Class “Secrets of Healthier Computing”

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Environmentally Friendly Products Harm the Environment?

Posted on February 17th, 2007 in environment by Thomas

A post on the NewScientist.com back in September 2006 suggest just that. “Buying green products might lower consumers’ overall environmental contribution”, says Matthew Kotchen, of the University of California in Santa Barbara. Because when people buy green product, which are more expensive so they donate less to green causes.

Well, how about we all buy just as green as possible, then there is barely any need to donate for green causes left anyway?


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Hormones in Your Computer May Make You Fat

Posted on February 17th, 2007 in health and wellness, environment, computers and internet by Thomas

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is currently having their conference in San Francisco. According to an article in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung today, they said that lab experiments with -A, a chemical that mimics , made the lab animals fat and its appearance in “nature” also coincides timing-wise with the increase of overweight and obese people.

is a plasticizer in practically all plastics that come in contact with our food and many more. It is used as can liner, plastic wrap, plastic containers, plastic bags, etc.

It is also part of the plastics in computers. Most computer motherboards contain about an ounce of (TBBPA) as a flame retardant. These flame retardants gas out slowly and then at the end of life there is a risk that they end up in the ground water, etc.

There are still many studies that claim that is “no danger” to the environment and humans, as it is “not bio-accumulative”. However, recently it has also been linked to prostate cancer.

In our Free E-Class “Secrets to Healthier Computing” you can find out how you can avoid 97% of the bisphenol that normally used in computers.


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