As you probably know, Greenpeace has been analyzing the level of green in computers for a long time. And they were not happy with Apple, who apparently had the least amount of green in their computers.

They said, “Apple finally came around to a limited recycling program in the US, but they can do better. We want them to offer a comprehensive take-back and recycling program worldwide. Not just in the US or where Apple is legally compelled to. It’s time for Apple to use clean ingredients in all of its products, and to provide a free take-back program to reuse and recycle its products wherever they are sold.”

On their scale, the computer with the most green attached was Dell, although Dell had “lost points for withdrawing from its commitment to eliminate all PVC plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) by the end of 2009.”

The next greenest computer was HP, but they still need to improve on e-waste, according to Greenpeace. Then came Apple, who was “now reporting product carbon footprint and new iPods are free of both PVC and BFR’s.”

I was disappointed to see that Microsoft, who I have long looked up to, had one of the lowest scores as they “score poorly on recycling and energy.” As leaders in the industry, they need to do better. And apparently, they are now trying as they touted the green concept at their 2008 conference.

But the true moral of the story is this: with consumer activism, Apple finally paid attention and made changes. Greenpeace implemented the help of the buyers of the product and bloggers from all over picked up the story.

It is WE THE CONSUMERS who can have heavy influence on the manufacturers for the sake of our earth. I encourage you to think how YOU can make a green difference in 2009.

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