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Regulatory Information cont.
Why do we have environmentally labelled computers?
In many countries, environmental labelling has become an
established method for encouraging the adaptation of
goods and services to the environment. With the growing
manufacture and usage of electronic equipment
throughout the world, there is a recognized concern for the
materials and substances used by electronic products
with regards to their eventual recycling and disposal. By
proper selection of these materials and substances, the
impact on the environment can be minimized.
There are also other characteristics of a computer, such as
energy consumption levels, that are important from the
viewpoints of both the work (internal) and natural (external)
environments. Electronic equipment in offices is often left
running continuously, resulting in unnecessary
consumption of large amounts of energy and additional
power generation. From the standpoint of carbon dioxide
emissions alone, it is vital to save energy.
What does labelling involve?
The product meets the requirements for the TCO'99
scheme which provides for international and environmental
labelling of personal computers and/or displays.
The labelling scheme was developed as a joint effort by the
TCO (The Swedish Confederation of Professional
Employees), Svenska Naturskyddsforeningen
(The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) and
Statens Energimyndighet (The Swedish National
Energy Administration).
Approval requirements cover a wide range of issues:
ecology, ergonomics, emission of electrical and magnetical
fields, energy consumption and electrical safety.
Ecological criteria impose restrictions on the presence and
use of heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame
retardants, and other substances. The product must be
prepared for recycling and the manufacturing site(s) shall
be certified according to ISO14001 or EMAS registered.
Energy requirements include a demand that the system
unit and/or display, after a certain period of inactivity,
shall reduce its power consumption to a lower level in one
or more stages. The length of time to reactivate the system
unit shall be reasonable for the user.
Labelled products must meet strict environmental
demands, for example, in respect of the reduction of
electrical and magnetical fields as well as work load and
visual ergonomics.
Below you will find a brief summary of the ecological
requirements met by this product. The complete
ecological criteria document can be found at TCO
Development's website http://www.tcodevelopment.com
or may be ordered from:
TCO Development
SE-114 94 STOCKHOLM, Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email : [email protected]
Information regarding TCO'99 approved and labelled
products may also be obtained at
http://www.tcodevelopment.com
Ecological requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants may be present in printed wiring board
laminates, cables, and housings. Their purpose is to
prevent, or at least to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30%
by weight of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of
flame retardant substances. Many flame retardants
contain bromine or chlorine, and these flame retardants
are chemically related to PCBs (polychlorinated
biphenyls). Both the flame retardants containing bromine
or chlorine and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise to
health effects, including reproductive damage in fish-
eating birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative*
processes when not disposed of in accordance with strict
standards for disposal.
TCO'99 requires that plastic components weighing more
than 25 grams shall not contain flame retardants with
organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants
are allowed in the printed wiring board laminates due to
the lack of commercially available alternatives.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the
colour-generating layers of certain computer displays.
TCO'99 requires that batteries, the colour-generating
layers of display screens, and the electrical or electronics
components shall not contain any cadmium.
Mercury**
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and
switches. TCO'99 requires that batteries shall not contain
any mercury. It also demands that mercury is not present
in any of the electrical or electronics components
associated with the labelled unit. There is however one
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