Congratulations! You have just purchased a TCO’99 approved and labeled product! Your choice has provided you with a product developed for professional use. Your purchase has also contributed to reducing the burden on the environment and also to the further development of environmentally adapted electronics products.
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. The main problem, as far as computers and other electronics equipment are concerned, is that environmentally harmful substances are used both in the products and during the manufacturing. Since it has not been possible for the majority of electronics equipment to be recycled in a satisfactory way, most of these potentially damaging substances sooner or later enter Nature.
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. Since all methods of conventional electricity generation have a negative effect on the environment (acidic and climate-influencing emissions, radioactive waste, etc.), it is vital to conserve energy. Electronics equipment in offices consume an enormous amount of energy since they are often left running continuously.
What does labelling involve?
This product meets the requirements for the TCO’99 scheme which provides for international and environmental labelling of personal computers. 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).
The requirements cover a wide range of issues: environment, ergonomics, usability, emission of electrical and magnetic fields, energy consumption and electrical and fire safety.
The environmental demands concern restrictions on the presence and use of heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, CFCs (freons) and chlorinated solvents, among other things. The product must be prepared for recycling and the manufacturer is obliged to have an environmental plan which must be adhered to in each country where the company implements its operational policy. The energy requirements include a demand that the computer 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 computer shall be reasonable for the user.
Labelled products must meet strict environmental demands, for example, in respect of the reduction of electric and magnetic fields, physical and visual ergonomics and good usability.
Environmental Requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. In turn, they delay the spread of fire. Up to thirty percent of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of flame retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain bromine or chloride and these are related to another group of environmental toxins, PCBs, which are suspected to give rise to severe health effects, including reproductive damage in fisheating birds and mammals, due to the bioaccumulative* processes. Flame retardants have been found in human blood and researchers fear that disturbances in foetus development may occur.
TCO’99 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams must not contain flame retardants with organically bound chlorine and bromine. Flame retardants are allowed in the printed circuit boards since no substitutes are available.
Lead**
Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and capacitors. Lead damages the nervous system and in higher doses, causes lead poisoning.
TCO’99 requirement permits the inclusion of lead since no replacement has yet been developed.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colourgenerating layers of certain computer displays. Cadmium damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. TCO’99 requirement states that batteries, the colourgenerating layers of display screens and the electrical or electronics components must not contain any cadmium.
Mercury**
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches, Mercury damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses.
TCO’99 requirement states that batteries may not contain any Mercury. It also demands that no mercury is present in any of the electrical or electronics components associated with the display unit.
CFCs (freons)
CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed circuit boards. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the ozone layer in the stratosphere, causing increased reception on Earth of ultraviolet light with consequent increased risks of skin cancer (malignant melanoma).
The relevant TCO’99 requirement; Neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the manufacturing and assembly of the product or its packaging.
*Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate within living organisms.
**Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-accumulative.
To obtain complete information on the environmental criteria document, order from:
TCO Development Unit
SE-114 94 Stockholm
SWEDEN
FAX Number: +46 8 782 92 07
E-mail (Internet): development@tco.se
You may also obtain current information on TCO’99 approved and labelled products by visiting their website at: http://www.tcodevelopment.com
