Super Eco

Photo credit: Apple

It's green. It's sexy. But it's not sustainable.

At only half an inch thick and a feather-light 1.5 pounds, the newly debuted Apple iPad is poised to become the must-have device of the moment. You can play music, watch movies, read books and run thousands of convenient apps from the Apple applications store. This little green machine features environmentally thoughtful materials and construction. But unfortunately, the iPad neglects the one angle that makes it worth the $499 purchase price of its lowest-end model: sustainability, the quality that gives this tool real value and use.

Oh, the iPad's "green," all right. It's about as "green" as a gizmo gets. You'll find no nasty chemicals lurking inside your iPad: no arsenic, no mercury, no BFRs (brominated flame retardants), no PVC. When you're ready to trade up or move on, you'll find the entire device to be “highly recyclable.” A 10-hour battery life tempts you off the grid.

Yes, the iPad is green—but it's not sustainable. It offers nothing that actually replaces existing electronic tools. Reduce? Reuse or repurpose? The iPad just wants you to add more. There may be a few purchasers out there who buy an iPad because they don't have an e-reader yet. For most, though, the iPad won't be replacing a mobile phone or netbook or laptop. The iPad represents another device to own, an unnecessary supplement. From the metals used in its construction, to the energy gobbled by its manufacture and shipping, to the recycling and landfill burden of its disposal, the iPad is another toy in the endless parade of electronic consumerism. We'll take a pass until a truly greener apple worth picking comes along.