Chinese Environmental Groups Say Apple Ignores Health, Pollution Issues

Thirty-six Chinese environmental groups have accused Apple of repeatedly failing to address concerns about pollution and the health of workers in factories that make components for the company’s computers and digital devices. The environmental groups ranked Apple last out of 29 international technology companies doing business in China, saying Apple consistently ignored questions about such issues as the poisoning of workers in factories that produce parts for Apple. In one case, the environmental groups said Apple was unresponsive to concerns that 49 workers at Lianjian Technology, which makes touchscreen modules for Apple’s mobile devices, were left with debilitating illnesses after being poisoned by a chemical cleaning agent. The environmental groups said that while other companies such as HP, Vodafone, Alcatel-Lucent, Samsung, Sharp, and Toshiba have addressed health and pollution problems at Chinese factories, Apple has been uncooperative. “Apple behaved differently from the other big brands and seemed totally complacent and unresponsive,” said Ma Jun, a leading Chinese environmentalist.