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Congratulations!
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 (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 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 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.
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.
Below 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
SE-114 94 Stockholm, Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email (Internet): [email protected]
Current information regarding TCO’99 approved and labelled products may also be
obtained via the Internet, using the address: http://www.tco-info.com/
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