Non-Toxic Computers Coming Soon: The RoHS Deadline

We should be seeing some non-toxic computers coming soon, in reponse to the RoHS deadline which goes in effect on July 1. RoHS is a "Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive" from the Eueropean Union. The EU directive requires lead free electronics in personal computers, as well as banning mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE). So which computer manufacturers are the producing least toxic PCs so far?

Well, last year Tobisha made a strike at this title by releasing it's Terca PCs (pictured here) that were RoHS compliant (see more details in this previous post).

Apple has made an announcement, saying "most of the materials covered by the RoHS directive, including mercury, cadmium, chromium VI and brominated flame retardants, were voluntarily eliminated from all Apple products years ago." However, Apple recently had to pull a number of products from European selves recently, due to RoHS non-compliance. Apple's iSight, AirPort Base Station With Modem, AirPort Base Station Power Over Ethernet & Antenna, iPod shuffle External Battery Pack, and all versions of the company's eMac will be withdrawn, according to AppleInsider.

Other manufacturers that have made progress towards eliminating toxins are Dell, Fujitsu and NEC.