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On 5 June 2010, a coalition of Chinese NGOs, led by Friends of Nature, Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, Green Beagle, issued an update [PDF] detailing the responses of 29 IT companies to its April 2010 report, “The IT Industry Has a Critical Duty to Prevent Heavy Metal Pollution” [PDF]. The update stated that of the 29 companies, 3 had submitted "insubstantial responses" and 8 companies had not responded to its concerns that the brands' suppliers pollute China's water bodies with heavy metals.
Subsequently, on 18 June, the NGO coalition issued two announcements stating that it had received responses from two of the eight "non-responding" companies, IBM and Canon, and recommending the companies take further action. (See below for those announcements and Canon's statement.)
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre contacted the 6 other companies that did not respond to the report (Apple, BYD, Ericsson, LG Electronics, Philips, Vodafone) and the 3 companies whose responses the NGO coalition regarded as “insubstantial” (Foxconn, Motorola, SingTel) and invited them to provide responses. Subsequently, Ma Jun, Director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, submitted rejoinders to some of the companies. The company responses, rejoinders and subsequent company statements appear below. (Note: We will post here any further rejoinders and responses we receive.)
NGO coalition's announcements of IBM and Canon's responses:
- "The 2010 Green Choice Consumer Action First Announcement; IBM Made Responses", [DOC] Friends of Nature, Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, Green Beagle, South China Nature Society, 18 Jun 2010
- "2010 Green Choice Consumer Action 2nd Announcement,Canon’s Initial Response", [DOC] Friends of Nature, Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, Green Beagle, South China Nature Society, 18 Jun 2010.
In response, Canon sent us this statement on 13 July: "We will diligently work to carry out the measures described in the 'Canon’s Initial Response' document, making every effort to prevent the occurrence of environmental problems, including within the company’s supply chain."
Further information:
- "Cleaning up the IT industry’s supply chain in China, [Interview with] Ma Jun, water expert and environmental advocate", Asia Water Project, Jul 2010
- "Silence after suppliers of brand-name electronics companies found to pollute environment", Zhu Shanshan, Global Times, 27 Apr 2010
- “Global IT brands urged to be more accountable for pollution in China supply chain”, Jonathan Watts, Guardian (UK), 6 May 2010
- "Engaging IT's Elusive Giants", Ina Pozon, Asia Water Project Blog, June 2010
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