Greenpeace hits back in Olympic sponsors row

Panasonic yesterday defended claims from the green group that it had failed to remove toxic chemicals from its products supplied for the Games on the grounds of safety (Media 30 July).

The Japanese electronics firm added that it had committed to removing the toxic substance PVC from the wiring of all new products within three years.

Greenpeace China's corporate social responsibility campaigner Jamie Choi, said that while Panasonic is on the right track, it could do more to be greener.

"As a first step, Panasonic can release a RVC and BFR phase-out timeline for all its products. Many of Panasonic's competitors have done this," she said.

"Greenpeace also urges Panasonic to make more PVC and BFR-free products available on the market, thereby giving consumers an option to buy more environmentally friendly products."

Choi also repeated her disappointment that Lenovo - the official PC supplier for the Olympics - had failed to supply toxic-free products for the Games.

"Having PVC- and BFR-free prototypes for the Olympics would have demonstrated that the company has been working hard to keep its promise of going toxic-free by 2009," she said.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has again defended its environmental commitments. It came under fire from Greenpeace over its plans to introduce 100,000 climate-friendly refrigerators worldwide over the next two years, out of a total of 11 million. Greenpeace said the company needs to do much more.

Kenth Kaerhoeg, group communications director of Coca-Cola Pacific Group, said the description of the initiative as a token effort in yesterday’s Media Bulletin was highly unfair, describing it as the biggest commitment ever made by any company in the area of climate-friendly refrigeration.