EPEAT Signs On Companies To Qualify Electronics Products

The EPEAT electronic products environmental rating system plans to work with a network of environmental and technical certification, testing and standards groups around the globe to qualify products to the IEEE 1680 family of ‘green electronics’ standards and identify products as EPEAT Bronze, Silver or Gold. The organization says the collaborative initiative to expand the system’s product registration capacity is needed to meet expanding demand.

The EPEAT registry has more than 3,200  electronic products and 45 participating manufacturers, including leading brands like Apple, Sony, and Philips,  across 41 countries.

In September, EPEAT said that its registered products sold in 2009 will save more than 10 billion kWh of electricity, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 2 million metric tons and avoid 44 million metric tons of air emissions (including GHG emissions) and more than 93,000 metric tons of water pollutant emissions.

EPEAT has signed an MOU with a group of technical and environmental assessment organizations — listed with contact information below — to launch a global network of providers that will offer participating manufacturers choice while maintaining, even increasing, according to EPEAT, the high credibility and consistency of the registry. As the collaborative framework is finalized, EPEAT hopes additional groups will join the network.

Interesting observation from Heather Clancy over at ZDNet:

For me, the biggest hole in the EPEAT rating system is the fact that it doesn’t accommodate either server hardware OR imaging peripherals, which are obviously vitally important for corporate IT environments. Right now, the database is limited to desktops, displays, integrated desktop computers, notebooks, thin clients, workstation desktops and workstation notebooks. But maybe the creation of this worldwide network of green technology vetters will help change that, as well.

Participating Organizations:

Intertek (Global testing and certification organization) Contact: Joel Pekay, Global Marketing and Business Development Director, +1 630-481-3126

Environment and Development Foundation (Environmental Certification/Labeling Organization, Taiwan) Contact: Ning Yu, PhD., President (886)35916221

VDE Testing and Certification Institute (Int’l Testing and Certification body, Germany)
Contact: Mr. Bernd Franke    +49 69 8306 – 830

China Electronic Standardization Institute (Standards and Certification body, China)
Contact: Ms. Yutao YANG +86-10-84029461

China Environmental United Certification Center  (Certification and Ecolabeling body, China)
Contact: Ms.Ying LI +86-10-59205858

Industrial Technology Research Institute/Beautiful Life Education Foundation (Certification and testing
organization, environmental foundation partnership, Taiwan) Contact: Mr. Hsieh-Chen MA +886-3-5743870