Greenpeace Gives Nintendo Zero Score

Environmental watchdog group Greenpeace has released its latest Guide to Greener Electronics, detailing the environmental responsibility of global consumer electronics companies, and given Nintendo the first zero grade in the history of the report. Of the video game hardware-related companies ranked in the report, Sony scored second highest, at 7.3, while Microsoft received 2.7 points. The scale ranges from 0.0 to 10.0. The two major criteria the guide was formulated around are companies' reduction in use of hazardous substances and availability of programs to take back and recycle obsolete products. Greenpeace notes that Nintendo has "infinite room for future improvement" as it has zero public policies on these issues. Each company is rated in nine categories. Nintendo received a zero score in every single category, which include such criteria as its timelines for phasing out notoriously environmentally hazardous substances like PVC and its offering of information to consumers on how to recycle its products. An overview of the report is available at Greenpeace's site, which includes links to detailed documentation on how the results were achieved and Nintendo's (and other companies') compliance with its suggested standards. Greenpeace recently called attention to environmental deficiencies at Apple, particularly with its recently-introduced iPhone; Apple soon publicly detailed its policies for dealing with toxic chemicals.