Dell and Apple are having a PR battle regarding Apple’s claims of being the greenest notebooks.

Dell Says Apple is Greenwashing Its Gear

by Jaymi Heimbuch, Central Coast, California on 12.22.08

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (electronics)

BUZZ UP!

Screen capture from Apple's Green Ad

There's a hot debate out in the enviro-sphere on whether or not Apple is as green as it says it is, or green at all. Well, Dell tends to side with the nay sayers.

Unless you've been under a rock, or are utterly uninterested in computers, you haven't missed Apple's latest ads touting the greenness of its products. Dell, however, says that's a bunch of huff and puff.

Bob Pearson, Dell's VP of Communities and Conversations (you can have a VP for that??), says that Apple is being irresponsible to the earth by making false claims for how green it is and hoping consumers won't notice. Apple, along with Dell and HP, areperceived to be the greenest computer companies, so the two are direct competitors for the up-and-coming greener consumer base.

The greenwashing claim is

And now, the blogosphere is abuzz with the latest entry to Dell's blog knocking Apple for what it says are green fake-outs.

Our view is that companies who choose to lead have an obligation to be open and transparent. We have a responsibility to engage in dialogue about the environment, whether we agree or disagree with an individual person or group. It all contributes to the greater good.
What is not good is to skip steps, avoid dialogue and pray that people aren't smart enough to figure it out. That doesn't help any of us and it certainly doesn't further the environmental cause for those of us who care deeply about it.