Green Embedded Electronics
Green electronics is an ideal that refers to environmentally friendly digital devices. Before the idea was brought forward, a considerable percentage of components involved in the manufacturing process of most electronic and digital devices were very toxic. Chemicals such as lead and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were commonly used to manufacture items like LCD screens and laptop computers. The green electronics initiative is often seen as an extension of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) plan because of its environmental core ideas. The concept is currently being pushed by many environmentalist organizations, most notable of which is Greenpeace International. In August 2006, Greenpeace released a list of the top ten ranked corporations that were actively reducing toxic components from within their products and improving the recycling process for their merchandise. Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia and computer giant Dell share the top spot on the said list. Step One: Reduction of Chemicals The first step in the green electronics initiative is to cut down on manufacturing products’ toxic components. Not only do such chemicals pose a direct threat against the consumers; they also pose a threat to others should the device be disposed of improperly. For example, the toxic substances could leach into…