( CNN ) -- Is hip design more important than being green ? Technology giant Apple is catching heat on blogs this week for its decision to drop out of an environmental certification program for electronics , called EPEAT . `` In making this move , Apple is signaling that it wo n't let future design decisions be governed by those seeking to uphold environmental standards , '' Erica Ogg writes for the GigaOm blog network . The decision has some strong ramifications . By U.S. law , 95 % of electronics purchases from U.S. federal agencies must be EPEAT-compliant , said Sarah O'Brien , spokeswoman for the group . That probably means Apple desktop and laptop computers can make up a maximum of 5 % of federal agencies ' purchases , if they can buy them at all . EPEAT does n't certify tablets or phones , so iPads and iPhones would be OK for the agencies to buy , O'Brien said . San Francisco also has a rule on the books prohibiting the city from purchasing desktop and laptop computers that are not EPEAT-certified , said Christine Falvey , spokeswoman for the mayor . So the city will not be able to purchase Apple desktops and laptops unless Apple gets the green certification again . `` We hope they reconsider and get back on the EPEAT certification list , '' Falvey said , `` and we 'll be reaching out to them to see how we can help understand their decision . '' Apple has n't commented on why it removed itself from EPEAT , which is awarded to electronics that are recyclable and energy-efficient . But EPEAT 's CEO , Robert Frisbee , says Apple 's `` design direction '' may be to blame . `` They said their design direction was no longer consistent with the EPEAT requirements , '' Frisbee told the Wall Street Journal . `` They were important supporters and we are disappointed that they do n't want their products measured by this standard anymore . '' So what 's the design hangup ? There 's speculation that Apple 's new line of `` retina display '' laptops are n't easily recyclable because their batteries are glued to the aluminum case on the computer . `` At the heart of the controversy is the company 's newest MacBook Pro with Retina Display , which Apple designed in such a way that it 's difficult to disassemble for the sake of repairs , upgrades , and recycling , '' wrote InfoWorld . Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet issued a statement to CNN via e-mail : `` Apple takes a comprehensive approach to measuring our environmental impact and all of our products meet the strictest energy efficiency standards backed by the U.S. government , Energy Star 5.2 . We also lead the industry by reporting each product 's greenhouse gas emissions on our website , and Apple products are superior in other important environmental areas not measured by EPEAT , such as removal of toxic materials . '' She declined to comment further . On its website , Apple says the MacBook Pro is recyclable ( PDF ) : . `` Through ultra-efficient design and the use of highly recyclable materials , Apple has minimized material waste at the product 's end of life . In addition , Apple offers and participates in various product take-back and recycling programs in 95 % of the regions where Apple products are sold . '' In a statement posted on its website last month , EPEAT did not elaborate on Apple 's reasons for quitting the standard , which the company and other industry leaders helped create . `` We regret that Apple will no longer be registering its products in EPEAT . We hope that they will decide to do so again at some point in future , '' the group says . Greenpeace ranks Apple in the middle of the pack of tech companies -- behind HP and Dell but ahead of Samsung , Sony and others -- in terms of its sustainability and environmental friendliness . What do you think of the decision ? More important , will it affect whether you purchase Apple products ?
Apple drops green electronics certification called EPEAT . The group certifies gadgets as energy efficient and recyclable . EPEAT head says Apple 's `` design direction '' may be to blame . San Francisco 's government says it no longer will purchase Apple products .