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Vizio 2009 Report Card
Click here for a printable version.
| The Talk: | There is no talk. Vizio makes no mention of electronics recycling on its US website. In fact, they have no section addressing ANY environmental efforts or concerns. |  |
|---|---|---|
| The Walk: | Vizio has no takeback program. | |
| About Vizio: | Vizio is owned by AmTran Technology of Taiwan. An unknown brand just a few years ago, Vizio's TV market share has grown very quickly in the US, by selling mostly through Costo and Wal-mart. They were the #2 seller(behind Samsung) of flat panel TV sales in the 4th quarter of 2008. It's particularly troubling that a company with such a large TV market share has no takeback program nor any other visible environmental program. | |
| Category | Possible Points | Points Earned | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope of US takeback recycling program | 38 | 0 | |
| Offers free convenient national takeback recycling for their branded TVs for individual consumers | 25 | 0 | They have no recycling program in the US. |
| Offers free national takeback recycling for a larger scope of their branded products in addition to TVs | 8 | 0 | |
| Offers free national takeback recycling for other customers – not just individual consumers | 3 | 0 | |
| Offers to take products from other brands for free or a nominal charge | 2 | 0 | |
| Provides responsible recycling | 37 | 0 | |
| Signed Manufacturers Commitment to Responsible Electronics Recycling or other public commitment to not export to developing countries/use prison labor/landfill/incinerate toxic materials* | 15 | 0 | No statements of any kind. |
| Publishes full recycling standards on company website | 5 | 0 | |
| Use only E-Stewards as recyclers | 5 | 0 | |
| Discloses recycling and refurbishing vendors on company website | 5 | 0 | |
| Discloses countries where final disposal/recycling of toxic materials occurs | 7 | 0 | |
| Volumes and visibility | 15 | 0 | |
| Has ambitious collection and recycling goals expressed as a percent of sales or other measures | 2 | 0 | |
| Significant volume of e-waste collected and recycled nationally and publicly reported as a percent of sales or other measure | 10 | 0 | |
| Easy to find recycling information on company website | 3 | 0 | |
| Public policy | 10 | 0 | |
| Statement of support and active work in support of producer takeback recycling legislation with performance goals for manufacturers at the state level | 5 | 0 | |
| Statement of support and active work on federal legislation to ban the export of toxic electronic waste to developing nations | 5 | 0 | |
| Total Possible | Total Earned | ||
| TOTAL SCORE | 100 | 0 | F |
Press Coverage
A Program to Certify Electronic Waste Recycling Rivals an Industry-U.S. Plan
New York Times04-15-10 -- In addition to outlining safe domestic handling and disposal practices for old televisions, computers and other electronic devices, the system would effectively bar participating recyclers from exporting toxic, nonfunctional electronic waste to developing nations. The program will compete directly with a less stringent standard recently developed by industry and the federal government that companies and recyclers say makes more economic sense.
Electronics Recycling - Who’s Responsible?
Recycling Today12-29-09 -- As the lawsuit challenging New York City’s electronics take-back law prepares for opening arguments in mid-January, industry associations and electronics recycling advocates wonder what effect the court’s ruling will have on the future of producer responsibility.
A Green Way to Dump Low-Tech Electronics
The New York Times06-30-09 -- The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 99.1 million televisions sit unused in closets and basements across the country. Consumer response to recycling has been enormous in states where the laws have taken effect.
