Greenpeace pans iPhone 3G "not green," like first

Greenpeace is again calling Apple out on its environmental practices, citing that the iPhone 3G uses the same toxic building materials that it found in its breakdown of the original device. Casey Harrell, International Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace, released a note on Wednesday saying he believes that, while the company has made large strides with reducing hazardous materials in its iMac and portable computers, the iPhone 3G remains largely unchanged.

"Based on information available on Apple's website, it appears the electronics company known for innovation has missed an opportunity to reinvent their new 3G iPhone, to be released July 11th, in green," said Harrell. While new product models such as the MacBook Air and the new iMac made progress compared to previous editions in reducing toxic chemicals such as PVC and Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs), Apple has not announced any new improvements in designing out the toxics (PVC, BFRs, antimony) that Greenpeace found present in the first generation iPhone."

The criticisms come as Apple previously announced it would make larger strides into environmental consciousness, after announcing it would use potato starch-based shipping products, and forgoing the use of plastics.