The Apple iPad officially launches in the UK tomorrow but just before it comes out environmental group Greenpeace have published a report that attacks its sustainability.

Greenpeace’s latest report called making IT green was launched in the US the day before the iPad was released. Although Greenpeace did point out out that they were not criticising Apple directly its hard not to draw a comparison based on the report and the new iPad being launched at pretty much the same time.

The report from the environmental group links a growth in Internet computing with a huge increase in greenhouse gas emissions, through the way electricity is supplied to power the data centres where websites are maintained. It showed how the recent launch of cloud computing devices like the iPad can contribute to a much bugger carbon footprint in the IT sector than previously thought.

The report also worked out that at current growth rates data centres and telecommunication networks will use about 1,963 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in the year 2020. This is more than triple their previous consumption and more than some entire countries electricity usage combined.

Apple said that the iPad uses power-efficient components and software that intelligently manages power consumption. Also the new iPad 10W USB Power Adapter outperforms the stringent requirements of the ENERGY STAR specification for external power supplies.