Microsoft gets low grade from Greenpeace for toxics

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Greenpeace gave Microsoft and Nintendo abysmal rankings Tuesday on their efforts to phase out toxic chemicals from their game consoles.

Nintendo became the first company to score zero out of a possible 10 points in the Greenpeace ranking of 18 leading electronics companies. It provided no information to consumers on the substances it uses in manufacturing or on its plans to cut hazardous materials, the environmental organization said.

Microsoft, judged on its Zune MP3 player and Xbox game console, lost points for its pledge to eliminate toxic chemicals only in 2011 and for having no voluntary takeback program for electronic waste. At 2.7 points, it took 16th place among the 18 companies.

The most nature-friendly companies on Greenpeace's list were Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications and Samsung, which each scored 7.7 points.

Microsoft said in a statement that it is committed to environmental progress. "In our consumer electronics business, we comply with and exceed all environmental guidelines and regulations," while ensuring the durability, safety and performance of products, the company said.

A public-relations firm working for Nintendo said it was unaware of the Greenpeace report and was checking.

Greenpeace judges companies on their mechanisms for collecting used hardware and on their timelines for eliminating vinyl, or PVC, and fire retardants that can be dangerous when released into the environment. It does not weigh companies' overall environmental portrait, though it will look at energy efficiency next year, said Greenpeace spokeswoman Iza Kruszweska.

Greenpeace added television and game consoles to the sixth issue of its two-year-old ranking in recognition of their growing importance, especially as Americans cast off old TVs for digital receivers. Shipments of game consoles grew nearly 15 percent last year to 62.7 million units worldwide, Greenpeace said.

Greenpeace said TV producers Royal Philips Electronics and Sharp also have poor policies on taking back and recycling outdated products.