PC Manufacturers Pressed To Study Environmental Impacts

Danielle Jackson

San Francisco -- Social investment firm Calvert Group filed shareholder resolutions last week against San Diego-based Gateway and Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, Calif., asking them to study the environmental impact of used personal computers (PCs).

Calvert and other shareholder groups are attempting to force PC makers to change their policies and be more responsible when dealing with their used products. According to USA Today, shareholders from each company will vote on the resolution during annual meetings.

To date, Apple Computer Corp., Cupertino, Calif., has agreed to conduct the study, while Gateway, IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y.; Hewlett-Packard; Compaq Computer Corp., Houston; and Dell Computer Corp., Round Rock, Texas, either have not yet voted or will not discuss the issue with activist groups.