EPEAT
Turning the notion of environmental ambiguity squarely on its head, the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) has emerged as the “go-to” resource for institutional purchasers tasked with evaluating and comparing “green” attributes of notebooks, desktops and monitors.
Here’s how it works:
Manufacturers declare their products’ conformance to an extensive set of environmental criteria in eight environmental performance categories (reduction/elimination of environmentally sensitive materials, materials selection, design for end of life, product longevity/life cycle extension, energy conservation, end of life management, corporate performance and packaging).
Products are then listed as Bronze, Silver or Gold on the EPEAT database at http://www.EPEAT.net. The Green Electronics Council (GEC), an independent non-profit organization, reviews products to ensure they meet the stated criteria. The review process can range from a thorough examination of supporting documents to a more aggressive physical disassembly of products to determine compliance.
“We are thrilled to see federal purchasing power promoting significant environmental improvements in the electronics industry,” GEC Director Jeff Omelchuck said at a press conference earlier this year. “We are even more thrilled to see how aggressively manufacturers are working to meet and exceed strong environmental standards.”
I’m just very happy that finally some serious organizations are doing something about this issue. We need our planet and need to learn how to take care of this wonderful world we are living at.
by Vanessa / April 22, 2008