In response to last week's report from Greenpeace analysis report on the iPhone in which the environmental firm cited Apple's use of bromine and other potentially dangerous chemicals, the Bromine Science and Environmental Forum, which functions as the bromine chemical industry's international group, pointed out that none of the substances Greenpeace criticized Apple for including in the iPhone is banned under existing environmental law.

"All the substances reported by Greenpeace are approved for use, and provide critical performance and safety functions in a wide range of electronic products," the organization countered.

According to Macworld UK, the trade body pointed out that the bromine flame retardant components used in the iPhone are commonly used in electronic products from all manufacturers and provide a high level of fire safety.

The group then went on the criticize Greenpeace for sensationalizing its findings and cited that the iPhone complies within all existing EU regulatory requirements:

"The Greenpeace report does not say which brominated flame retardants are present in the iPhone because it does not know," the organization says. "Therefore, the report speculates about what substances might be present, and raises an alarm without any basis for doing so."

Another segment of the report criticized the standards used by Greenpeace in asserting the environmental damage of the components:
"The brominated flame retardant most likely used in the iPhone is actually a reactive – it reacts with other substances to form a plastic and, once reacted, it is also no longer available to the environment. The Greenpeace report is incorrect in its assertions about the potential for releases to the environment."

Finally, the report criticized Greenpeace given the fact that its iPhone criticism ignored the recent EU law stating that manufacturers must take responsibility for the disposal of printed circuit boards. The report finds fault with the environmental firm for failing to suggest a constructive alternative to incorporating brominated flame retardants in electronic devices.

So, Greenpeace finds a fault with the iPhone and what is essentially the lobbying arm of the bromine industry finds fault with that report. The Bromine Science and Environmental Forum members currently include the Albemarle Corporation, ICL Industrial Products, Chemtura and the Tosoh Corporation.

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