Hyperbolically large consumer electronics company Apple's decision not to seek EPEAT certification for it's computer products precludes the City of San Francisco from ordering new Apple products for city employees.

Wait, what?

EPEAT or the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool is a standards group funded by the EPA. Basically, they score consumer electronic devices on their impact on the environment. Municipalities all over the country have instituted rules that say that city agencies must purchase devices that are certified by EPEAT. This is easier than tasking each individual employee to research and purchase an environmentally safe product.

Apple currently has 39 EPEAT certified computers, monitors and devices. As they focus more and more on designing thinner, lighter, better, faster devices, it is less likely that the materials they need to use will fall under EPEAT's standards. As such, they've asked EPEAT to stop listing Apple products all together.

This lead to city officials with the San Francisco Department of Environment to announce that they will be sending letters to all 50 city agencies informing them that “Apple products no longer qualify for purchase with city funds.” It's not impossible for a city employee to get a non EPEAT product, it's just incredibly difficult. If someone decides they really need a Mac, they can apply for a waiver.

Now, with that said, this is sort of a non-issue because, according to a recent report, only 2% of city computers are from Apple and only affects future purchases.