Apple turns green again

'We are environmentally responsible'.

Apple has rejoined a list of environmentally approved tech products folllowing a major customer backlash in response to its recent decision to opt out.

Apple last week removed 39 of its products from the government-issued Electronic Product Environment Assessment Tool, an organisation that sets standards for environmentally safe electronics, claiming its design direction was no longer consistent with EPEAT standards.

The products pulled ranged from monitors to Mac desktops to the MacBook Pro and Air notebook lines.

The move prompted the City of San Francisco to axe all spending on Apple desktop and notebook PCs.

Apple yesterday admitted via its website the move was a mistake.

“We’ve recently heard from many loyal Apple customers who were disappointed to learn that we had removed our products from the EPEAT rating system. Starting today, all eligible Apple products are back on EPEAT,” wrote Apple hardware engineering boss Bob Mansfield.

Mansfield did not outline why Apple removed its products in the first place, but played up the company’s green credentials.

“It’s important to know that our commitment to protecting the environment has never changed, and today it is as strong as ever. Apple makes the most environmentally responsible products in our industry,” he wrote.

“In fact, our engineering teams have worked incredibly hard over the years to make our products even more environmentally friendly, and much of our progress has come in areas not yet measured by EPEAT.”