By Zahra Habib

GoodGuide has added a new ranking to their info database that grades cell phone companies according to their performance and other attributes and so far Nokia is on top, Apple on no. 3 and RIM at the bottom.

A TechCrunch50 alumni company, GoodGuide brought forward the ranking system based on the phone’s social and environmental performance as well as the company that manufactures it. They have covered over 550 sets and their cleaning net is very thorough; it assessing every little spec of particle that is used for assembling the device, the packaging material that is built for them to be sold in, the manual material, even the details about the supply stores that sell them. Did I mention they’re also covering charger?

The San Francisco based startup placed Research In Motion at the bottom because of their least support in environmental performance. Nokia topped their charts with their device C6 taking the trophy away. Apple stood at no. 3 and this is what Dara O’Rourke, founder of GoodGuide explained the reason as “Apple released a new supplier responsibility report this week, which won the company points. Until this year, though, Apple could not even tell you what metals or minerals were in their phones, or where they came from… Now, it’s 2011. The industry is playing catch up on all of this… still a lot of details that Apple hasn’t disclosed about their iPhones though.”

The aim of the company or the list is to help people determine which phone to purchase and which brand to prefer. GoodGuide won’t tell you which phone to seek and which brand to choose it only states the facts and consumers can look it up to see which brand rates higher in the aspects they prefer.

Here is the list of the most environmentally sensible phone manufacturers;

1. Nokia
2. Sony Ericsson
3. Apple
4. Pantech
5. Palm
6. Kyocera Sanyo
7. Motorola
8. HTC
9. Samsung
10. Curitel