Apple face criticism over environmental concerns in China

Apple are facing criticism over environmental issues for the second time this year. A leading Chinese environment activist are targeting the American computer maker over ‘polluted water' and ‘hazardous gas' concerns.

According to a report on the Wall Street Journal, Ma Jun, a director of the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE) has said that polluted water and hazardous gas was found in areas surrounding plants believed to be key Apple suppliers.

The IPE have called Apple “stubbornly evasive” over the concerns and have said that Apple “can only be seen as a deliberate refusal of responsibility” for the environmental issues.

This isn't the first time the issues have been raised, and there was a similar report made in January, and according to the reports, Apple didn't respond to them for eight months.

Mr Ma said he isn't targeting Apple as other technology companies have been discussing similar concerns with other suppliers. Apple however aren't responding. He told the WSJ “We had no choice but to do further research.”

An Apple spokesperson replied to the concerns and said  that they “use environmentally responsible manufacturing processes wherever Apple products are made.”

The IPE have even went as far to release videos, showing a white substance in water leading to the Yangtze River near a factory in Wuhan, China. Samples from the water contained heavy metals, including nickel and a very high amount of copper.

Kitguru says: Apple will need to respond to this on some level, otherwise it could end up a PR nightmare.

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