Editorials

SAN JOSE — Hoping to hit high-tech companies where it hurts, an environmental organization is encouraging consumers to buy from businesses that do the best job of warning the public about the toxic chemicals they use. 

A study released Tuesday by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition examined the Web sites of 44 Korean, U.S., Japanese and European companies and graded how much they tell consumers about their environmental practices. Most failed. 

“The good news is there’s some good stuff going on,” said Ted Smith, executive director of SVTC. “The bad news is there’s not enough.” 

SVTC is recommending that companies make information available on their Web sites about their manufacturing processes, chemicals, suppliers and subcontractors, and about where customers can take their older products for recycling, instead of just throwing them away. 

It also recommends that customers buy from companies with better environmental records. 

“There’s no hope on our horizon that we’re going to find a governmental solution,” Smith said.  

“We have to go back to old-fashioned organizing consumers and workers.” 

Lynn Fox, a spokeswoman for Apple Computer Inc., said no one was available to comment and deferred to the company’s Web site. 

On the Net: 

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition: http://www.svtc.org.