Jobs details plan for a 'greener' Apple

Responding to the criticisms of environmental organizations, Apple CEO, Steve Jobs said in a press release that contrary to accusations, the company is leading the industry in removing toxic chemicals from its products and promoting recycling.

The iPod manufacturer has been a target of environmentalists with recent incidents of picketing at its headquarters and conferences.

According to Jobs, in mid-2006, Apple became the first computer company to eliminate CRTs, which contain approximately 1.36 kilograms of lead. The first CRT-based iMac contained 484 grams of lead, while the current LCD-based iMac contains less than 1 gram.

Jobs stressed that all Apple products are RoHS-compliant and that the company's manufacturing policies have restricted most of the chemicals covered by RoHS even before the European deadline.

In addition, the company plans to completely eliminate the use of arsenic in all of its displays by the end of 2008. Apple will also reduce and gradually eliminate the use of mercury by transitioning to LED backlighting for all displays, when economically and technically feasible.

Apple has also recycled 5.8 million kilograms of e-waste in 2006, which is equal to 9.5 percent weight of all products the company sold seven years earlier. The company expects the percentage to grow 13 percent in 2007, 20 percent in 2008 and reach nearly 30 percent by 2010.

"Today is the first time we have openly discussed our plans to become a greener Apple. It will not the last," Jobs said. "We will be providing updates of our efforts and accomplishments at least annually, most likely around this time of the year."