Apple bans two chemicals from product assembly after protests
Apple is banning the use of two toxic chemicals from final assembly processes for its products, after watchdog groups demanded the company replace the substances with safer alternatives.
Earlier this year, Green America and China Labor Watch had called on Apple to eliminate the use of benzene and n-hexane from its supply chain. Both substances are known to be poisonous, but are still in use at Chinese factories, including those that build Apple products, the groups claimed.
On Thursday, Apple said it investigated 22 of its final assembly facilities and found “no widespread use of benzene or n-hexane, and no evidence of worker health and safety being put at risk,” according to an online report. The investigation covered facilities that employ close to 500,000 workers.
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