ASUS scores 2 out of 18 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

ASUS Info

Rank a Brand score:

2 out of 18
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Brand Owner: ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated
Head Office: Taipei, Taiwan
Sector: Electronics & ICT Hardware
Categories: Televisions, TV's, Computers, Notebooks, Audio, Video
Free Tags: Laptop, Desktop, PC, Netbook, Components, Audio Cards, Flat Screen, Plasma, LCD, HD

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Last Updated: 8 September 2011
Last Verified: 8 September 2011

ASUS Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

0 out of 5


1. Does the brand (company) clearly support global mandatory cuts of carbon emissions of at least 50% by 2050 or 30% by industrialized countries by 2020?	Asus does not state whether or not they support global mandatory emission cuts at these levels.	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and of the supply / production chain?	ASUS discloses a footprint of greenhouse gas emissions for 2010, but this is only applicable to the Taiwan operations (see p.21 of CSR report 2010).	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its ‘own operations’ carbon footprint by at least 20% within the next 5 years?	ASUSTek reports to commit to reduce only 15% of the GHG emissions associated with energy use by 2015 (based on 2008 level).	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already reduced or compensated its 'own operations' carbon footprint by at least 10% in the last 5 years?	This is not clear as ASUS publishes carbon emission data since 2008 that doesn't cover the whole company.	SOURCE
5. Do all new products of the brand meet the latest Energy Star requirements (where applicable)?	Two notebook series do comply with the Energy Star requirements (p. 17 of the 2010 CSR report), but the other products are not mentioned.	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 7


1. Has the brand (company) eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products? If not, does the brand give a timeline for achieving this by 2012?	Asus prohibited the use of PVC in packaging (p.16) and has included BFRs on its Technical Standard (p.15). Asus does not publish this list and it is unclear whether this is a 'restricted' or 'banned' list.	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) already eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products?	See remark environmental policy question 1.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates) in all of its new products? If not, does it give a timeline for achieving this by 2012?	In 2010 beryllium and antimony were added to the control list (p.15), but it is not clear whether these chemicals are already eliminated and no timeline is given.	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates)in all of its new products?	See remark environmental policy question 3.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand (company) support the principle of Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR), meaning that brands are responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their own products, including take back and recycling?	Asus explicitly supports the principle of the end of Life producer responsibility.	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) provide free and easy take back and recycling services for its discarded products in many of the countries where its products are sold?	Asus has a recycling programme for North America, Europe, Taiwan, China and India. For North America it is free, for Europe this is unclear.	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) source at least 5% of its plastics from recycled plastic streams and does it give a clear timeline to increase this percentage to at least 25% by 2025?	Asus mentions a display which is made from at least 10% post-consumer recycleed plastic, but does not provide any other data (see page 42).	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

1 out of 6


1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	Suppliers have to sign a “Consent of ASUSTeK Code of Conduct”. Asus describes they regularly check on these vendors to see how well they implement corporate social responsibility in areas such as labor/human rights. Human rights are included in another section of the website and elaborate on these topics. See the link for question 2.	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage?	1. Not mentioned; 2. No, working hours are not specified; 3. No mentioning of living wage.	SOURCE
3. Does this CoC include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining?	Asus does not mention anything on joining trade unions in their human rights section.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume?	Asus does not provide a significant list of direct suppliers on its website. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices.	SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labour conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labour conditions?	Asus mentions their Code of Moral Conduct is based on the EICC (page 12). However, it is not clear whether or not Asus holds a membership of a collective initiative.	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	In 2011, Asus started auditing their suppliers and published the results. However, it is not cear whether this audit is anually and information is not detailed enough.	SOURCE