Green Options

Steve Jobs’ absence hasn’t prevented exciting things from happening at this week’s MacWorld Expo in San Francisco. This morning, Apple unveiled the new 17 inch MacBook Pro, complete with a new energy efficient lithium-polymer battery.

Apple finally listens to Greenpeace. The iPhone maker is rumored to release their next-gen MacBook with eco-friendly aluminum.

AppleInsider claims that the next version of Apple’s MacBook is ready to start production stateside, and that the iPhone maker has upgraded the laptop eco wise. The notebook’s plastic parts have been replaced by more eco-friendly aluminum. This news comes on the heels of announcing a greener iPod Nano last month -  which also comes in [...]

If you’ve been holding back from buying an iPod nano for environmental reasons, it might be time to rethink your decision.

Last week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the fourth generation iPod nano, which he claims is the most environmentally-friendly iPod ever built. The new nano is made with arsenic-free glass, and unlike previous versions, does not contain Brominated Flame Retardant (BFR) or polyvinylchloride (PVR). The Apple website also claims that the device has a recyclable aluminum enclosure.

My Nano is ancient. It doesn’t even show video. Every time my husband has asked me if I wanted to get a new one, I’ve stoicly told him, “no.” It plays music just fine. There’s no need to buy something new. Plus, I don’t want to instill in my children the idea that perfectly useful things need to be replaced just because something newer and shinier with more bells and whistles is available.

Yesterday, when the news started flying around about Steve Jobs introducing iTunes 8 and the new 4th generation Nano at Apple’s September event, I kind of glossed over it. My husband mentioned a few things about it last night, though, and I got curious. Looks like Apple is further making good on the promises they made in 2007 to green their products and their processes.

What’s greener about this new Nano than my ancient one?

• It has arsenic-free glass
• It doesn’t contain any PVC, mercury or brominated flame retardants
• A metal casing that is very recyclable

Steve Jobs (the CEO of Apple) may be known as a marketing genius, but it certainly took him a little while to realize that green is the new black. Quite certainly in response to Greenpeace's Green My Apple campaign (which I discussed previously on Green Options), Jobs has come forward saying that a greener Apple is on the horizon.

Apple recently

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