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.
On this page, you will find a brief summary of the environmental
requirements met by this product. The complete environmental
criteria document may be ordered from:
TCO Development Unit
S-114 94 Stockholm
Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email (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 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).
x x x x Environmental Requirements
Brominated flame retardants
Brominated 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. These are related to another
group of environmental toxins, PCBs, which are suspected to give
rise to similar harm, including reproductive damage in fisheating
birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes.
Flame retardants have been found in human blood and researchers
fear that disturbances in foetus development may occur.
TCO'95 demand requires that plastic components weighing more
than 25 grams must not contain organically bound chlorine and
bromine.
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'95 requirement permits the inclusion of lead since no
replacement has yet been developed.
Sony Corporation
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'95 requirement states that batteries may not contain more
than 25 ppm (parts per million) of cadmium. The colour-
generating layers of display screens 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'95 requirement states that batteries may not contain more
than 25 ppm (parts per million) 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).
The relevant TCO'95 requirement: Neither CFCs nor HCFCs
may be used during the manufacturing 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.
Printed in Japan