The Green IT Perspective
By Matthew Wheeland

Now that the economy is showing steady signs of recovery — widespread unemployment notwithstanding — companies are starting to refresh their computers and data centers on a much larger scale than last year. While this is good news from a green IT perspective (since on balance new machines are more efficient than older machines), it also increases the significant challenge for companies and countries alike of how to deal with discarded electronics.

A report just published by the United Nations’ Environment Programme finds that developing nations and growing economies are going to face a surge in e-waste in the next ten years, driven by castoffs from the U.S. and Europe as much as domestic purchases from new electronics buyers.

I spoke with Ken Beyer, the CEO of CloudBlue, about the problem and how to address it. CloudBlue has developed a global network of recyclers certified under the e-Stewards standard, and aims to help global enterprises easily and responsibly manage their e-waste after they overhaul their IT fleets. You can read more about CloudBlue here: CloudBlue Takes Responsible E-Waste Management Global.

We’ve also got two takes this week on the ongoing efforts to green Apple’s processes and reporting: “Despite Supplier Audits, Apple Investors Demand More,” looks at Apple’s third annual supplier responsibility report, while As You Sow’s Conrad MacKerron gives us the inside view from Apple’s annual shareholder meeting in “Green Surprises at Apple’s Shareholder Meeting.”

And don’t miss Claudia Girrbach’s useful look at how to address the mounds of excess packaging most IT vendors are still sending to their customers. Claudia’s got three easy steps to cut all that waste in “How to Work with Your Vendors to Go on a Packaging Diet.”

The Latest News
CloudBlue Takes Responsible E-Waste Management Global
By Matthew Wheeland

The company aims to bring transparency and environmental responsibility to end-of-life management, focused especially on global enterprises with complex infrastructures…. Read More

Developing Nations Will Get Buried Under Coming E-Waste Surge

Despite Supplier Audits, Apple Investors Demand More

IBM Achieves First Full Phase-Out of Toxic Compounds

Sprint Dials In New Green Design Scorecard and Recycling Program

Featured News
Green Surprises at Apple’s Shareholder Meeting
By Conrad MacKerron

Rather than the usual two-minute forum on green topics at Apple’s annual meeting, today’s gathering in Cupertino focused on environmental issues like never before — although the company still has a ways to go to prove its commitment to the planet…. Read More

GreenBiz Radio
Growing Money on Trees
By Marc Gunther

Senior Writer Marc Gunther sits down with Jeff Horowitz to discuss Avoided Deforestation Partners, a coalition that aims to make it more profitable to preserve forests than to chop them down…. Listen

Columns and Blogs
Claudia Girrbach
How to Work with Your Vendors to Go on a Packaging Diet

Todd Cort
Finding the Greenest Companies in Silicon Valley