Source: GreenPeace

GreenPeace, the whale-loving, tree-hugging hippies of the world’s most famous environmentalist group have once again taken a swipe at big business. And this time it’s not oil companies or clothing manufacturers they are going after, it’s gaming console makers. The Greenpeace “Guide to Greener Electronics” has a listing for console manufacturers (Sony, Microsoft & Nintendo) and rates them on a scale of 1 to 10 based on several categories like chemical management and amounts recycled.

Disclaimer: Greenpeace’s ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’ aims to clean up the electronics sector and get manufacturers to take responsibility for the full life cycle of their products, including the electronic waste that their products generate.

Sony was the only member of the big three to achieve a passing grade, scoring a 7.3 out of a possible 10 points. The Japanese uber company was credited with good recycling and takeback programs, as well as releasing more products free of toxic PVC than they did in the previous year.

Find out how the rest did after the jump!

Microsoft did not stand up nearly so well against Greenpeace’s criteria. The 360 manufacturer scored an abysmal 2.7 out of 10. Bill Gates’ wonder company was hammered for its prolonged plan to eliminate toxic chemicals from its products as well as a poor takeback policy and practice.

But compared to Nintendo, Microsoft’s score is actually not THAT bad. Not only did Nintendo score 0 out of 10, making them the worst of the big three console makers, they are ranked as the worst of all the electronics companies listed in the guide. Making them the first global company to score a perfect 0 since the guide’s inception.

Now I’m no earth loving hippie, but I found the guide rather illuminating. Pollution and resource management are becoming more and more important these days. I myself am quickly approaching the age where having a child is no longer an impossibility (knock on wood). What kind of world are we leaving the next generation?

Oh, and who would have guessed Sony would be the one company to come out on top? At least the world’s most expensive paperweight has managed to come out way ahead of its peers in one regard. Good for you Sony.