Despite their continual efforts to be the greenest electronics maker, Apple has continually been snubbed by Greenpeace for its use of toxic chemicals in its products -- but that all changed this week.

Like a kid with the best school grades, Greenpeace gave Apple gold stars in all four categories in their latest electronics guide, according to AppleInsider. The categories include desktops, notebooks, cellphones and displays. Greenpeace claims that Apple’s products are now free of the worst hazardous substances found in modern-day electronics.

“It’s time for a little less conversation and a lot more action on removing toxic chemicals,” said Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International Electronics spokesperson. “Apple is leading and HP is playing catch up, but the lack of action from other companies is ensuring that customers and the environment are still losing out.”

Of course, Apple wasn’t always Greenpeace’s environmental pet. The advocacy group has pressured Cupertino for years to clean up their act, particularly after the semi-disposable iPod took off and the Mac itself made a long-awaited comeback.

Greenpeace issued a report in August, 2006 that gave Apple only a 2.7 out of 10 on the scale of environmental friendliness, mostly because of the company’s use of toxic chemicals, lack of recycling and the poor quality of its take-back programs.

Now, the environmental group can cut Apple a break and focus on the rest of the computer industry, who are scoring quite poorly indeed. “Companies need to support legislative bans to ensure a consistent phase out of PVC and BFRs across all electronic products,” Harrell adds. “Sony Ericsson and Apple are already calling on EU institutions to support such a ban. Other big players, such as HP and Dell -- who have so far been silent -- and Acer, need to ensure the ban is passed in the European Union parliament.”