zTCO'95 requirement Permits the inclusion of lead since no replacement has yet been developed.
Cad mi u m
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour generating layers of certain computer
displays. Cadmium d amages th e nervous system and is to xic in high dose s.
zTCO'9 5 r equir em ent s tat es t hat batte ri es ma y n ot co ntai n m ore tha n 25 ppm (par ts per milli on) of
cadmium. The colour-generating layers of display screens must not contain any cadmium.
Merc u ry
Merc ury is so meti me s foun d i n ba tte ries, rel ay s and swi tc hes. M er cury dam ages th e ne rvou s sys tem an d
is toxic in high doses.
zTCO'9 5 r equir em ent s tat es t hat batte ri es ma y n ot co ntai n m ore tha n 25 ppm (par ts per milli on) of
mercury. It also demands that no mercury is present in any of the electrical or electronics components
concerned with the display unit.
CFCs (freons)
CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed circuit boards and in the manufacturing of
expanded foam for packaging. 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).
zThe relevant TCO'95 requirement: Neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the manufacturing of
the product or its packaging.
TCO'99-Ecological requirements for pe rsonal computers (TCO'99 applied model onl y)
Congratulations!
You have just purchased a TCO'99 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 also to the further development of environmentally adapted electronics products.
This product meets the requirements for the TCO'99 scheme which provides for an international
environmental and quality labelling labelling of personal computers. The labelling scheme was developed
as a joint effort by the TCO(The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), Svenska
Naturskyddsforenin gen(The Swedish Society for Na ture Conserva tion), Statens Energimyndighet(Th e
Swedish National Energy Administration) and SEMKO AB.
The requirements cover a wide range of issuse: environment, ergonomics, usability, reduction of electric
and magnetic fields, energy consumption and electrical safety.
Why do we have environmentally labelled computers?
In many countries, environmental labelling has become an established method for encouraging the
adapt ati on o f go ods a nd s er vices to the envi ron men t. T he ma in p rob lem, as far as comp uter s an d ot her
electronics equipment are concerned, is that environmentally harmful substances are used both in the
products and du ring their ma nufacture. Since it is not so far possible t o satisfactorily r ecycle the ma jority of
electronics equipment, 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
electricity generation have a negative effect on the environment (e.g. acidic and climate-influencing
emissions, radioactive waste), it is vital to save energy. Electronics equipment in offices is often left running
continuously and thereby consumes a lot of energy.
What does labelling involve?
The environmental demands has been developed by Svenska Naturskyddsforeningen (The Swedish
Society for Nature Conservation). These demands impose 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 policy which must be adhered to in each country where the company implements its
opera tional polic y.
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.
Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product. The complete
environmental criteria document may be ordered from: