A recent report features seven companies who have developed solutions that will eliminate the need to use brominated and chlorinated chemicals in their products. The report was part of a joint venture between ChemSec and Clean Production Action and hopes to illustrate that there are less harmful methods available which will still allow companies to become cost effective. Of the seven companies featured in the report, Apple and Sony were shown to be industry leaders in ridding the world of harmful chemicals which are either brominated or chlorinated.
Brominated and chlorinated chemicals gained notoriety when it was discovered that there was a link between these chemicals and the formation of very toxic dioxin compounds. Dioxin is a very strong carcinogen that is toxic in very low amounts. These types of chemicals are found in plastic resin applications as well as flame retardants that are often used in the manufacture of electronics. E-waste is one of the largest contributors to landfills and when these chemicals leak into the ground they can create extreme dangers for humans.
E-waste represents the largest growing stream of waste in the world, and it is increasingly becoming difficult for countries to handle the waste. This has led to many waste management scams where fake companies charge a fee to remove e-waste and then simply dump it where they please. There have also been several cases of businesses shipping illegal e-waste to third world countries, which are even less equipped to dispose of the waste properly.
The seven companies featured in the report, which were led by Apple and Sony represented those who have set industry standards and policies and have offered critical guidance for other companies.
|
|
