Environmental Issues on Apple Shareholder Agenda

Two enviromental proposals will be on the agenda at this year's annual Apple shareholder meeting. Envirometal group, Greenpeace, is rallying support for the proposals, while Apple's Board of Directors is recommending shareholders vote against the proposals.

Greenpeace said they have 70 other groups supporting them as they publically urge former Vice President and current Apple Board member Al Gore to use his influence with the Board. According to Greenpeace, Apple's Board of Directors is due to send out a statement recommending that stockholders vote against two proposals that would strengthen Apple's environmental policies.

"Vice President Gore, as a Board Member of Apple and owner of over US$5 million in stock options, has the power to persuade the company to adopt stronger environmental policies. It would be shocking if Gore opposes any proposals calling for stronger environmental policies," Said Rick Hind, Legislative Director of the Greenpeace USA Toxics campaign.

The proposals call on Apple to assess the phase-out of toxic chemicals, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and adopt a stronger e-waste "take-back" and recycling program.

Greenpeace said that Apple's communication with shareholders calls these initiatives too "costly, time intensive and duplicative of existing [Apple] policies, initiatives and efforts," and the Board of Directors "unanimously" recommends that shareholders not support the resolution.