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TCO’99 Eco-document
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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.
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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.
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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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Environmental requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables,
wires, casings and housings. Their purpose is to prevent, or at
least to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30% of the plastic in a
computer casing can consist of flame retardant substances. Most
flame retardants contain bromine or chloride, and those flame
retardants are chemically related to another group of
environmental toxins, PCBs. Both the flame retardants containing
bromine or chloride and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise to
severe health effects, including reproductive damage in fish-
eating birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative*
processes. Flame retardants have been found in human blood and
researchers fear that disturbances in foetus development may
occur.
The relevant TCO’99 demand requires that plastic components
weighing more than 25 grams must not contain flame retardants
with organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants are
allowed in the printed circuit boards since no substitutes are
available.
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. The
relevant TCO’99 requirement states that batteries, the colour-
generating layers of display screens and the electrical or
electronics components must not contain any cadmium.
Mercury**
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. It
damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The
relevant TCO’99 requirement states that batteries may not contain
any mercury. It also demands that mercury is not present in any of
the electrical or electronics components associated with the
labelled unit.
CFCs (freons)
The relevant TCO’99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor
HCFCs may be used during the manufacture and assembly of the
product. CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed
circuit boards. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the
ozone layer in the stratosphere, causing increased reception on
earth of ultraviolet light with e.g. increased risks of skin cancer
(malignant melanoma) as a consequence.
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. The relevant TCO’99 requirement permits
the inclusion of lead since no replacement has yet been developed.
* Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate
within living organisms.
** Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-
accumulative.
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