Samsung MP manual Why do we have environmentally-labelled monitors?, What does labelling involve?

Information : Regulatory

TCO'95-Ecological requirements for personal computers (TCO applied model only)

AB general requirements

AB2 Written Eco-document acompanying the products

Congratulations! You have just purchased a TCO'95 approved and labelled 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 to the further development of environmentally-adapted electronic products.

Why do we have environmentally-labelled monitors?

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 monitors and other electronic equipment are concerned is that environmentally harmful substances are used both in the products and during their manufacture. Since it has not been possible so far for the majority of electronic 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 monitor, such as energy consumption levels, that are important from both the working and natural environment viewpoints. Since all types 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. Electronic equipment in offices consumes an enormous amount of energy, since it is often routinely left running continuously.

What does labelling involve?

This product meets the requirements for the TCO'95 scheme, which provides for international environmental labelling of monitors. The labelling scheme was developed as a joint effort by the TCO (The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), Naturskyddsforeningen (The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) and NUTEK (The National Board for Industrial and Technical Development in Sweden).

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 among other things restrictions on the presence and use of heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, CFCs (freons), and chlorinated solvents. 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 conducts its operations policy. The energy requirements include a demand that the monitor 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 monitor 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, along with physical and visual ergonomics and good usability.

TCO Development Unit 1996-11-29

On the page this folder you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product.

The complere environmental criteria document may be ordered from: TCO Development Unit

S-11494 Stockholm Sweden

Fax: +46 8 782 92 07

E-mail (Internet): development@tco.se

Current information regarding TCO'95-approved and labelled products may also be obtained via the Internet, using the address:

http://www.tco-info.com/

TCO'95 is a co-operative project between(3 logos)