Videos highlight toxic chemicals in game consoles
The continued use of highly toxic substances in game consoles has been highlighted in three satirical videos released on the popular Kotaku gaming site. (1)
The stop-motion videos, produced by Greenpeace, turn the parts of Playstation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 into fictional spokesmen defending decisions to continue using toxic substances, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), in their consoles.
“These videos contrast the weak excuses of console makers about toxics phase out with the very real impact of toxic chemicals when old electronics end up being dumped in the developing world,” said Greenpeace New Zealand communications manager Suzette Jackson.
Almost two years ago Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony were added to the Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics, (2) as they had not removed BFRs and PVC from their gaming products. (3) Sony has, in large part, removed these chemicals from products such as the Vaio laptop, acknowledging they are hazardous but has no plans to drop them from the Playstation at all. Microsoft has set a date to eliminate both PVC and BFRs but not until 2011.
Nintendo has just struggled past the 1 out of 10 mark and is last in the Greenpeace guide because of its refusal to drop toxic substances that other companies have already started eliminating. The console maker has a vague plan to remove PVC but still no commitment to a specific date. Phasing out BFRs, as already achieved by Apple, does not even figure in Nintendo's plans.
“It might be easy to dismiss consoles makers' low scores as not playing ball with Greenpeace, but in fact when users are getting toxic chemicals as unwanted and unneeded extras in their shiny new console box, it's the consumer who's getting short changed”, said Jackson.
Notes to Editor:
1. http://kotaku.com/5318542/
2. www.greenpeace.org/
3. http://www.greenpeace.org/