Shareholder Push Results in Apple Inc.'s Aggressive Computer 'Take Back' Program

SAN FRANCISCO, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday Apple Inc., the third largest computer manufacturer, announced a series of aggressive goals to take back and recycle computers that will launch the company into a leadership position. The announcement comes after being criticized by environmental activists and socially conscious investors who were concerned that Apple was an industry laggard with regard to computer recycling.

While activists played a visible role in front of shareholder meetings, concerned investors maintained a dialogue with senior management for the past three years. After shareholder dialogues at Dell and HP proved successful, the socially conscious shareholders focused on Apple. Organized by the San Francisco-based As You Sow Foundation, the coalition included notable environmental foundations such as the Educational Foundation of America (EFA) that are using their portfolios to promote change.

"This demonstrates that investors can leverage their portfolios to make a difference," said Thomas Van Dyck at RBC Dain Rauscher's SRI Wealth Management Group. Van Dyck's client, EFA, used its Apple shares to file resolutions at the major computer corporations.

"We applaud Apple's willingness to lead. We're hopeful that Steve Jobs can bring Apple's eye for innovation to the computer recycling issue. This is indeed a significant policy change and will facilitate an open dialogue with the company regarding their computer take back efforts," explained As You Sow's Conrad Mackerron.

"What's good for the environment is good for business," said EFA's John Powers. "Shareholder engagement like Apple's is a strategy that all socially conscious foundations should be embracing."

The SRI Wealth Management Group at RBC Dain Rauscher provides comprehensive institutional investment consulting and wealth management advice with a specialization in socially responsible investing ("SRI"). Since 1983, members of the Group have developed social investment strategies for sophisticated investors committed to social change. Today, the team of seven investment professionals consults on approximately $1 billion in assets and is one of the leading investment consulting groups in the country exclusively focused on social and environmental investing.