Greenpeace lays down the law to gaming giants

Greenpeace is urging PlayStation, Xbox and Wii gamers to take on Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo over the use of hazardous chemicals in their game consoles.

The environmental campaign group claims the world’s leading game console manufacturers have thus far failed to reduce the toxic contents of their products.

"Game consoles manufacturers are lagging way behind the makers of mobile phones and PCs who have been reducing the toxic load of their products over the past year," said Zeina Al Hajj, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner.

"Game consoles contain many of the same components as PCs so manufacturers can do a lot more."

The move is part of a wider campaign by Greenpeace to persuade the consumer electronics industry to take its environmental responsibilities more seriously.

Greenpeace has launched a 'Clash of the Consoles: Battle for the Future' video in support of its campaign. Aimed at gamers, the 90-second video stars Microsoft's 'Master Chief', Nintendo's 'Mario' and Sony's 'Kratos', who all compete for the prize of a 'greener' games console.

Topping the Greenpeace’s worry list are brominated fire retardants and PVC, the use of which can lead to hazardous chemicals building up in the environment and in human and animal tissue.

The campaign group also pointed to the dangers posed by scrap yard recycling in India and China, where children are often involved in dismantling electronic goods by hand.

"Surely gamers don't want people their own age in other countries to suffer for their pleasure," said Al Hajj.

"Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are currently undermining their own reputations among consumers."