Apple is already a leader in innovation and engineering, and we are applying these same talents to become an environmental leader.

See, that was exactly what GP wanted them to say in public. And now Greenpeace applauds this and gives thanks to all the people – Greenpeace isn’t taking the credit for this, they’re giving it to Apple and the Apple fans who used the campaign to tell Apple how much they’d like to see them as an environmental leader.

I sincerely hope that this will be a new beginning where Apple can set a good example and Greenpeace can cheer the other electronics companies to follow this example. We need everybody to follow troop:

• Using the precautionary principle to substitute everything that’s potentially dangerous
• Taking back all used products globally
• Designing products that last longer
• Making reuse and upgrade of products much more simple

We have limited natural resources and a very dirty business exporting toxic electronics waste to poor countries.

My answer to that: Yes, Apple isn’t the biggest issue, and yes, it’s a good target because of media attention. But that’s not the purpose of the campaign, and people saying that have completely misunderstood everything. Now, the big issue is: E-waste. Now THAT’S actually a big problem. And Greenpeace wants to help solve that problem, but that’s very difficult since the producers of E-waste are so numerous. We have to start somewhere.

One thing that could be done about this: Innovation. We need better products free from chemicals that make them dangerous when being disposed of. Secondly we need products with a long life cycle. That means iPods capable of upgrading.

But another part-solution to the problem is called producer responsibility. Since it’s not being legally enforced in more than a handful of European countries, it’s up to Greenpeace to push for more legislation and voluntary producer responsibility. We need manufacturers to implement full product take-back in order to have an economic incitement for making recyclable products.

Apple’s part in all this? They HAVE to push forward. E-waste is a giant problem. We need action, and since other companies are actually pushing forward, we want to stimulate Apple to join the competition. So far Greenpeace has come up with Guide To Clean Electronics. This creates some sort of economic incitement for becoming cleaner at least. But work will continue, and hopefully soon people will see the purpose of Green My Apple in more than just words of encouragement.