10. Appendix 2 – TCO’ 99
page 41
LaCie photon20visionII
User’s Manual
10. Appendix 2 – 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 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 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