According to a detailed report published by a coalition of environmental NGOs in China, Apple's Chinese supply chain has been identified as a serious threat to environmental health in China, with key suppliers such as Meiko Electronics being identified as having failed to address serious pollution issues caused by their manufacturing activities [1]. At the launch of the report in Beijing, the NGOs spearheading the campaign (including Friends of Nature and the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs led by prominent Chinese environmentalist Ma Jun) stated that they had "uncovered cases of severe environmental damage and serious complaints from local communities" owing to the huge amount of toxic waste that was being produced by certain Apple suppliers in China (ibid).
The Japanese firm Meiko Electronics established another factor in the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone in Hubei province in 2005. As a printed circuit board manufacturing company, it acts as the supplier of global electronic giants such as Apple, Motorola and Siemens. Upon learning that "the factory had a chlorine accident in 2008 that led to the poisoning and hospitalization of 18 workers", Friends of Nature and IPE sent staff to investigate the pollution status of the plant in April 2011 [2].
On-site investigations revealed a long ditch "running from the east side of the facility to Nantaizi Lake, filled with a milky-white liquid" [1]. NGO staff then witnessed severe pollution at Nantaizi Lake, which "was an ash grey color with white bubbles accompanying groups of black floating"objects" [2]. Tested samples from the drainage channel showed that "the water sample contained...heavy metals copper and nickel, [with the] concentration of nickel...[being] 11.15 times over the authorized limits" of...water designated to be a source of domestic drinking water or surface water (ibid). Further test results obtained on 2 June, 2011, revealed unusually high levels of copper ("4.8 times the Category V (40mg/L) 20 Environmental Surface Water Quality Standard") (ibid). The report concluded by noting that a "corporate environmental conduct letter" was sent to Meiko Electronics following the investigation, but that no response has been received from the company as of 30 August, 2011.
Soon thereafter, Apple commissioned a third party organization to confirm the investigation results, then pushed the suppliers to go through a third party audit, overseen by environmental NGOs, to provide proof to the public that corrective actions and improvements had been carried out" [3]. This has prompted Meiko Electronics in Wuhan to undergo major changes to its operations following a third-party auditing process which began on 26 April, 2012, following discussions between Apple, the Institute of Public Affairs and the Natural Resources Defense Council Office in Beijing, China, which commenced on 27 January, 2012 (ibid).
In light of the audit findings [3], Meiko Electronics in Wuhan now "monitors copper concentrations in the final combined treatment system pool, [and have] set up an online monitoring system to monitor total copper and total nickel discharge, [as well as] waste water discharge. [They have also] moved pipes that were originally underground to above ground, so as to avoid the mixing of storm-water and wastewater in the pipe network, [having] installed valves on the two storm water final discharge outlets to prevent direct discharge, [and] added a 400m3 storage tank before the two final storm-water discharge outlets to store initial rainwater. [The company has also] installed a new on-line monitoring system at the final storm-water discharge outlet to monitor copper and nickel concentrations to ensure there are no instances of discharge breaching the authorized standards. [Lastly, Meiko Electronics] has also commissioned a professional organization to formulate a remediation plan and carry out a comprehensive restoration project" to address the problem of contaminated sediment in Nantaizi Lake (ibid).
(See less)