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EPEAT & BEYOND EPEAT
The Electronic Product Environment Assessment Tool
By using EPEAT and the additional criteria for going beyond EPEAT, purchasers can be assured that they are buying the most socially responsible electronic products that have significantly less negative impact on public health and the environment.
EPEAT
The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) is a new tool to help consumers evaluate and select laptops, desktop computers and monitors according to a list of preferred environmental attributes. Under EPEAT, manufacturers voluntarily grade their products against a set of criteria (somewhat like Energy StarŪ). EPEAT is managed by the Green Electronics Council and was developed through a stakeholder process including manufacturers, recyclers, government officials, nonprofits and purchasers.
Beyond EPEAT
While EPEAT is an important first step, three significant areas of concern are not sufficiently addressed:
plans for the elimination of certain hazardous materials, responsible end of life management and occupational health and safety. Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Health Care Without Harm, Center for Environmental Health and the Computer TakeBack Campaign have developed some additional questions that cover these areas.
Criteria covered in EPEAT
EPEAT has a three-tier system of bronze, silver and gold based upon whether products meet a set of environmental criteria. There are two types of criteria— mandatory criteria which each product must meet in order to be approved under the bronze standard and optional criteria which, if achieved, can yield silver or gold status for the product. These criteria are grouped into eight categories summarized below.
Environmentally Sensitive Materials
Electronics contain many environmentally sensitive materials. Products approved under EPEAT must comply with the European Union Restriction on use of certain Hazard Substances Directive (RoHS). RoHS places restrictions on the following toxic materials: lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, cadmium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and brominated diphenyl ethers.
Plastics and Bio-based Materials
By selecting products with appropriate materials (beyond the RoHS the list of environmentally sensitive materials), purchasers can achieve further environmental goals. EPEAT requires that manufactures disclose information about: recycled plastic content, renewable/bio-based material content and product weight.EPEAT also sets optional criteria for the actual percentage of material made from recycled plastics and renewable/bio-based material.
Design for End of Life
EPEAT sets requirements on design for end of life when we are ready to dispose of our electronics. The required criteria are design for recycling in systems that use product shredding, identification of products which require special handling and design for ease of disassembly.
Product Longevity
Products with a longer lifetime have lower environmental impacts, all other things being equal. EPEAT requires that products have available an additional three-year warranty plan and are upgradeable with common tools. Optional criteria are a modular design and easy availability of replacement parts.
Energy Use
Energy efficiency and conservation are addressed by EPEAT. Products are required to meet applicable existing ENERGY STARŪ standards. Optional criteria are early adoption of proposed standards and accessories that allow use of renewable energy.
End of Life Management
EPEAT requires the provision of a product take-back program and a recycling program for rechargeable batteries. Auditing of recyclers is optional.
Corporate Performance Metrics
In addition to evaluating specific products, procurement officials should also consider a manufacturer’s overall corporate performance and policies. EPEAT requires that corporate environmental policy is consistent with ISO 14001 and that a self-certified environmental management system is in place. Optional criteria include third-party certification.
Packaging
EPEAT requirements on packaging are that non-reusable plastics must be separable and that there is a declaration of recycled content. Optional criteria are achievement of certain levels of recycled content and offering of a product take-back program for packaging.
Additional Criteria Covered in Beyond EPEAT
Below are the additional topics covered by our Beyond EPEAT tool. See attached questionnaire for RFP language or questions to ask bidders to make sure they are addressing these additional topics.
Environmentally Sensitive Materials
For each of the environmentally sensitive materials identified in EPEAT as elimination preferred, producers must have a documented plan in place for achieving elimination, within the bounds of technical limitations. Furthermore, the requirements on flame retardants should be strengthened such that all (halogenated?) flame retardants are eliminated.
End of Life Management
Without requiring high recycling standards, purchasers may inadvertently be supporting the concentration of toxic waste in poor communities in the United States and in developing countries, or the use of incineration, which disperses toxics into the environment. Better environmental performance can be achieved by requiring:
- Use of High-Road Recyclers - ensure that all vendors/subcontractors have signed the Electronic Recyclers Pledge of True Stewardship and are not using incarcerated labor.
- Restrictions on Export or Improper Disposal of Hazardous Electronics Waste - ensure that all vendors and their subcontractors are not exporting hazardous electronics waste to developing countries or sending it to landfills or incinerators.
- Occupational Health and Safety
Recycling workers in particular are vulnerable to hazardous conditions in the electronics life cycle. Electronics products with the best available environmental performance must meet health and safety requirements for workers. Better healthy and safety standards can be achieved by requiring:
- Protection of Production and Recycling Workers - ensure that all production and recycling facilities and vendors meet international standards for protection of worker health.
Applicable standards are OSHAS 18001 and equivalent internationally sanctioned standards.
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Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition : 760 N. First Street San Jose, CA 95112 : Phone: +1 408-287-6707 : Fax: +1 408-287-6771 : svtc@svtc.org
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