It is unclear why Apple has removed itself from EPEAT, but it is rumoured that one of Apple's newest products the MacBook Pro with Retina Display would not be eligible for certification from the scheme, because the computer's battery is glued into its case -- which makes recycling the parts difficult. Apple is also rumoured to be expanding the MacBook Pro Retina Display line and that this may be the future direction of most Apple laptops.

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The glued-in battery in the MacBook Pro Retina Display is mooted to be behind Apple's decision to withdraw from EPEAT.

The move is considered to be largely symbolic, and only around 500-700 of San Francisco's city computers (about 1-2% of the total) are made by Apple. A report in 2010 showed the city spent just $45,579 on Apple computers, not a large amount considering Apple sold in total that year.

But San Francisco is Apple's home territory, which makes the situation awkward for the Cupertino-based company.