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For computer manufacturers, going green has been a big issue for a number of years.  Most computers include a number of dangerous compounds such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics.  Many manufacturers have committed themselves to phasing out the amount of these chemicals in their computers, even if they have yet to cut them out completely.

HP originally promised to phase out these compounds back in 2007, with full compliance due by 2009.  HP has since delayed those efforts, expecting full compliance by 2011.  Not happy with their commitment, Greenpeace has decided to respond to HP by climbing onto the roof of HP’s global headquarters and writing “Hazardous Products” in bold letters made of non-toxic children’s finger paint.  HP employees can also see Greanpeace’s displeasure through the automated phone calls from William Shatner today asking them to phase out dangerous chemicals.

Greenpeace is asking HP to be more like Apple, which has virtually eliminated BFRs and PVC from all of its computers.  Even other top manufacturers like Dell, Lenovo, and Acer has reduced the amount of dangerous chemicals in their computers, some of them even as green as Apple’s.  There’s really no excuse for HP to not follow through with its promises if all those other companies are doing so.  As HP should know with its recycling program, e-waste is very dangerous and accumulates tons of old computers yearly.  It would be nice to see the manufacturing giant, whose products most likely amount to a large percentage of e-waste take steps to help out through more means than just recycling programs.