iFixit Disputes EPEAT Gold Rating for Retina Display MacBook Pro

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Posted October 16, 2012 at 9:22pm by iClarified

Kyle Wiens of iFixit has called out EPEAT for watering down the standard to an alarming degree and giving the Retina Display MacBook Pro a 'Gold' rating.

Wiens notes that the new MacBook is 'the least repairable, least recyclable computer' he has encountered in more than a decade of disassembling electronics.

At best, the interpretation of the EPEAT Gold standard is laughably out of touch: it claims proprietary Pentalobe screwdrivers are ‘commonly available tools’ and a USB thumb drive is an ‘upgrade.’ At worst, it may mean that recyclers a decade from now will be faced with a mountain of electronic waste they cannot affordably recycle without custom disassembly fixtures and secret manufacturer information.

Technology undoubtedly makes our lives better. But the social and environmental price of manufacturing electronics is high. If we’re going to pay that price, it’s critical that products last as long as possible. We need strong green electronics standards that encourage long lasting products; the future of our planet depends on it.

It's believed that Apple knew that their new Retina Display MacBook Pro likely would not meet EPEAT standards and thus withdrew from the program; however, due to fierce backlash from institutions and government agencies they rejoined the program and apologized.

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iFixit Disputes EPEAT Gold Rating for Retina Display MacBook Pro

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max - October 17, 2012 at 6:54am

Apple probably see recycling as a task for Apple in order to ensure that others cannot modify their product. So is the standard to do with what is recyclable or about can anyone recycle it. Presumeably this allows Apple to make money even after the product is dead !!

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ewkinon - October 17, 2012 at 2:46am

ewkinon Well well Fu and Gatica - reactive little kidlinks you are. iFixit calls out apple and the Epeat gold standards - hardly support for apple - more like a huge criticism What is disturbing is how the EPEAT standards appear to have relaxed to a coma position with respect to apple - not great for anyone Well done iFixit Focussing on a pet hate or one detail misses the point Rethink your comments Fu and Gatica

Gatica - October 16, 2012 at 9:49pm

Just because you can't take something apart without destroying it doesn't mean it can't be recycled. Hey iFixit do you think that most of the people that use your guides to repair their screens are recycling of them properly? I bet most of them end up in the trash, why not start a recycling program post paid if you are so concerned about the environment.