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:
TCO Development
SE-114 94 Stockholm, Sweden
Fax:+4687829207
Email (Internet): [email protected]
Current information regarding TCO’99 approved and labeled products may also be obtained via the Internet,
using the address: http://www.tco-info.com/
TCO’99
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