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TCO’99
Congratulations!
You have just purchased a TCO’99 approved and labeled 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 labeled computers?
In many countries, environmental labeling has become an established method for encouraging the
adaptation of goods and services to 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 (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 labeling involve?
This product meets the requirements for the TCO’99 scheme which provides for international and
environmental labeling of personal computers. The labeling 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 obliged to have an
environmental policy 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.
Labeled 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.
Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product. The
complete environmental criteria document may be ordered from:
Summary of Contents for M Series
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