Apple has issued a statement on why it withdrew its Mac line-up withdrew from the EPEAT certification process.

In a statement to "The Loop" (http://macte.ch/y5E4z) Apple spokesperson Kristin Huguet said: "Apple takes a comprehensive approach to measuring our environmental impact and all of our products meet the strictest energy efficiency standards backed by the US government, Energy Star 5.2. We also lead the industry by reporting each product’s greenhouse gas emissions on our website, and Apple products are superior in other important environmental areas not measured by EPEAT, such as removal of toxic materials."

Earlier this week, it was announced that Apple had asked EPEAT (http://www.epeat.net), a government-backed, environmental rating that helps identify greener computers and other electronic equipment, to remove 39 desktops, laptops and monitors from the body's list of environmentally friendly devices including legacy models that already hold the certification, according to "CIO Journal" (http://macte.ch/Sdych).

EPEAT CEO Robert Frisbee said an Apple representative requested that the company's already-cleared products be taken down from the registry which carries a list of electronic devices certified to be recyclable, energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

In order to meet the standards, recyclers need to be able to easily disassemble products, with common tools, to separate toxic components, like batteries, notes "CIO Journal." The standards were created jointly by manufacturers, including Apple, advocacy groups and government agencies. Frisbee says an Apple staff member told him at the end of June that the company no longer wanted Apple computers to be listed as EPEAT certified.

According to "engadget" (http://macte.ch/ehMCZ), Apple's decision means that many federal agencies might not be able to buy its products, since 95% of its electronics purchasing must conform to the EPEAT standard. What's more, many educational institutions that require the certification would also need to opt out of Mac purchases, as well as large corporations like HSBC and Ford, the article adds.