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TCO'95 Eco-document
x Conglatulations!
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 also, to the further development of environmentally
adapted electronics products.
x Why do we have environmentally labelled comput-
ers?
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.
x What does labelling involve?
This product meets the requirements for the TCO'95 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),
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 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.
ii
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 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.
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.
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