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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.
TCO’95 is a co-operative project between TCO (The Swedish Confederation of
Professional Employees), Naturskyddsforeningen (The Swedish Society for
Nature Conservation) and NUTEK (The National Board for Industrial and
Technical Development in Sweden).
Environmental Requirements
Brominated flame retardant
Brominated flame retardant is present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires,
casings and housings. In turn, it delays the spread of fire. Up to thirty percent
of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of flame retardant substances.
These are related to another group of environmental toxins, PCBs, which are
suspected to give rise to similar harm, including reproductive damage in fish-
eating birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes. Flame
retardant has been found in human blood and researchers fear that
disturbances in fetus development may occur.
TCO’95 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than 25
grams must not contain organically bound chlorine and bromine.
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.
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 color generating
layers of certain computer displays. Cadmium damages the nervous system
and is toxic in high doses.
TCO’95 requirement states that batteries may not contain more than 25 ppm
(parts per million) of cadmium. The color generating layers of display screens
must not contain any cadmium.
