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.
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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 colour generating layers of certain
computer displays. Cadmium damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses.
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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.
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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).
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The relevant TCO'95 requirement: Neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the
manufacturing of the product or its packaging.
TCO'99-Ecological requirements for personal computers (TCO'99 applied model only)
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.
This product meets the requirements for the TCO'99 scheme which provides for an international
environmental and quality labelling 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), Statens
Energimyndighet(The Swedish National Energy Administration) and SEMKO AB.
The requirements cover a wide range of issuse: environment, ergonomics, usability, reduction
of electric and magnetic fields, energy consumption and electrical safety.
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
