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Reference Guide D–1
D
TCO‘99 Requirements
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.
Why do we have environmentally labelled computers?
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 their manufacture. Since it is not
so far possible to satisfactorily recycle the majority 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 (for example, 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?
This product meets the requirements for the TCO'99 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), Svenska
Naturskyddsforeningen (The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) and Statens
Energimyndighet (The Swedish National Energy Administration).
Approval requirements cover a wide range of issues: environment, ergonomics, usability,
emission of electric and magnetic fields, energy consumption and electrical and fire safety.
The environmental 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 obligated to
have an environmental policy which must be adhered to in each country where the company
implements its operational policy.