‘Green’ IT? Energy efficiency is just the beginning - 03 March 2009

During the annual trade show for information and telecommunications technology, the CeBIT, 3 – 8 March in Hannover,  MakeITFair calls for ‘green’ IT products. Green products, according to makeITfair, are not only energy sufficient, but also take into account environmental problems and working conditions of those who manufacture consumer electronics.

The non-governmental organization Germanwatch, the German partner of the European makeITfair campaign, will present its work at the Green IT world at this year's CeBIT.

“Energy efficiency and innovative IT solutions for reduced CO₂ emissions are important, but clearly not enough to make the IT industry 'green'", stresses Cornelia Heydenreich of Germanwatch.

"MakeITfair wants to shed a light on the whole life cycle of IT products, from the sourcing of minerals, to the production of the mobile phones and the mp3 players, and finally the disposal of the no longer used products." Mostly developing countries are affected by the mining, production and disposal, impacting the lives of entire communities and cities.

Last year, makeITfair was calling for truly fair products to be presented at this year's CeBIT. "We regret that the industry has not made the effort to produce fair IT products so far", says Esther de Haan from SOMO, the Dutch MakeITFair coordinator. "A trade fair like CeBIT would be an excellent place for the industry to show that fair products are on the cutting edge and that the industry is putting in the effort required to make things happen."

On March 5^th, 2009, MakeITFair will publish an update at the CeBIT fair on how the biggest electronic brands have responded to the campaign's pressure to show more responsibility in their supply chain.