Introduction to the Final Draft CCD 158 Notebooks and Desktop Computers

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1 Introduction to the Final Draft CCD 158 Notebooks and Desktop Computers August 4, 2005 Certification Criteria Document 158 is proposed for use of the EcoLogo M in association with notebooks and desktop computers including monitors. The proposed criteria revolved around five main issues reduction of hazardous components, design for reuse and recycling, energy efficiency, ergonomics and packaging. The criteria are now a final draft. A total of 105 written comments were received over the period of March 30 to May 27 from 10 different stakeholder groups representing interests from industry, purchasers, environmental group and consumers. A report detailing all of the comments and the initial response from the Environmental Choice Program is available upon request. The final draft CCD 158 builds on insights and comments from the first public review and incorporates research and discussion with the CCD 158 stakeholder group. TerraChoice considers these criteria final and ready for use in certifying computers with the EcoLogo. All comments are welcome. We encourage any commenters that are requesting changes to these final draft criteria to first review the comment report, and please feel free contact TerraChoice with any questions. Please return all comments directly to: Stewart Fast, Research Associate, TerraChoice Environmental Marketing 1280 Old Innes Road, Ottawa, K1B 5M7 sfast@terrachoice.com Telephone: x 227 Fax: The deadline for public comment on this final draft is September 6. At that time any necessary changes will be made in consultation with commenters and the CCD 158 will be published. The target date for CCD 158 completion is early fall August 4, 2005 CCD 158 Notebook and Desktop Computers Draft 3.0 Final Draft Page 1

2 Environmental Choice M Program CERTIFICATION CRITERIA DOCUMENT CCD-158 Draft 3.0 Final Draft Product: Notebook and Desktop Computers Introduction Environment Canada s Environmental Choice M Program is pleased to publish the following national certification criteria document on Notebook and Desktop Computers. The Environmental Choice Program is designed to support a continuing effort to improve and maintain environmental quality by reducing energy and materials consumption and by minimizing pollution generated by the production, use and disposal of goods and services available to Canadians. More than two-thirds of Canadian households own computers and Canadian discard an estimated 2.6 million computers from homes and business each year. Much of the material is plastic, steel and glass but significant portions of lead and mercury are found in computer components as well as lesser amounts of numerous other toxic metals and persistent pollutants. Extending product life, reclaiming waste materials and diverting computers away from landfill are key environmental and human health issues. Constructing computers with reduced amounts of hazardous materials and making it easier for eventual disassembly to reusable and recyclable components are key to reducing waste and pollution. Improving the energy efficiency of computers and monitors is another important opportunity for market leadership. Other areas for environmental leadership include noise levels and other ergonomic considerations. Certification under the Environmental Choice Program will be awarded to Notebook and Desktop Computers that demonstrate environmental leadership throughout their life-cycle and meet requirements for reduced use of hazardous substances, design for re-use and recycling, energy efficiency, reduced packaging and ergonomic considerations. As information and technology change, the product category requirements will be reviewed and possibly amended to ensure environmental leadership. It is anticipated that Notebook and Desktop Computers that meet these criteria will apply to the Environmental Choice Program for verification and subsequent authorization to use the Environmental Choice EcoLogoM in product marketing and promotion. Scope Products that fall under these criteria include both desktop and portable notebook or laptop computers. All closely associated peripheral equipment including monitors (cathode ray tube (CRT) and liquid crystal display (LCD)), keyboards, and mouse are also covered. Printers, scanners and speakers are not included. Any of the following can apply for EcoLogo certification under CCD 158: 1) notebook (with or without monitor), 2) desktop (with or without monitor) and 3) monitor. Mouses and keyboards cannot be certified separately under CCD 158 but only if sold together with a desktop or notebook. August 4, 2005 CCD 158 Notebook and Desktop Computers Draft 3.0 Final Draft Page 2

3 Information on the product group Just under 70% of Canadian households have computers. Furthermore, our workplaces account for approximately two thirds of all computer sales. Computers have become commonplace and the pace which these machines become obsolete and are replaced is very rapid, currently averaging about 2 to 4 years. There are three general end of life options for Notebook and Desktop Computers; Reuse, Recycling and Disposal. Reuse may include donation/ selling of working computer and surveys have shown that 60% of Canadian residents give away first use computers. A second reuse option is the reuse of parts/ components (e.g., monitors, DVD drives, hard drives, RAM, processors) for repair or refurbishment. Recycling involves destruction of the computer and recover and processing of the materials for use in new products. The recycling process typically involves disassembling and segregating hazardous materials (batteries, CRT monitors, mercury containing relays) and parts that can be re-sold, shredding, grinding and separating the remainder of materials into ferrous metals (e.g., steel), non-ferrous metals (e.g., tin, aluminum) and plastics for sale to users of these base materials such as steel mills or aluminum smelters. A typical computer including desktop processing unit, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and associated cords contains a variety of materials; silica (glass, wiring boards), plastics (housing, cords), steel (structure) and aluminum (structure, housing) together make up about 80% of the product. Copper (wiring boards, connectors), lead (monitor, solders, radiation shield), zinc (wiring boards), tin (wiring board) and nickel (wiring board) make up most of the rest. Numerous other chemicals are also found in computers including hazardous compounds such as mercury (LCD screens), chromium (steel hardener), and halogenated flameretardants. Reducing the use of hazardous components in computers, and diverting end-of-life computer waste away from landfill are recognised environmental priorities. Regulatory and market tools have tackled the problem in jurisdictions in Canada and all over the world. Regulation largely has focussed on diverting waste from landfill and providing computer users with a recycling option. To a lesser degree efforts have focussed on designing computers and peripheral equipment for reduced impact on environment (e.g., less hazardous materials, recycled content, ease of reuse). Ecolabelling organizations across the world have developed criteria for Notebook and Desktop Computers and these current EcoLogo criteria are compatible with the core criteria developed by the Global Ecolabelling Network. Notice Throughout this document, any reference to a standard or guideline means to its latest edition. The Environmental Choice Program (ECP) reserves the right to accept equivalent test data for the test methods specified in this document. Notice of Intent It is the intent of the Environmental Choice Program to re-evaluate from time to time the relevance of requirements in light of emerging scientific evidence of environmental impacts, manufacturing advances, and changes in the marketplace. Future revisions of this Certification Criteria Document may require the following: 1. packaging shall be 90% recyclable (e.g, cardboard and molded pulp, and not expanded polystyrene packaging given current recycling infrastructure) 2. plastic parts shall contain a minimum of 5% minimum recycled content 3. notebook and desktop computers with prominent discrete tones shall exhibit lower maximum sound power levels August 4, 2005 CCD 158 Notebook and Desktop Computers Draft 3.0 Final Draft Page 3

4 Interpretation 1. In this set of requirements, please note the following definitions: "chassis" means the rigid framework onto which the assembly-worker mounts the motherboard, memory, disk drives and other equipment. It also supports the shell-like case: the housing that protects all of the vital internal equipment from dust, moisture, and tampering "chloroparaffins" means a class of substances produced by chlorination of normal paraffin fractions (straight-chain hydrocarbons, at least 98% linear), and have the general formula CxH(2xy+2)Cly. The length of the carbon chains is usually between 10 and 30 carbon atoms, and the chlorine content is between 20 and 70% by weight. "competent" means having appropriate education, training or experience to perform a task "ENERGY STAR" means an energy efficiency labelling program developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The current Energy Star product specifications at the time of publishing of these EcoLogo criteria are for monitors, Version 4.0, and for computers, Computer Memorandum of Understanding Version 3.0. "Environmentally Sound Management" means taking all practicable steps to ensure hazardous wastes and other wastes are managed in a manner which will protect human health and the environment against adverse effects which may result from such wastes "ISO 1043" means a standard reference document produced by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) titled Plastics. Symbols and abbreviated terms. ISO 1043 provides uniform symbols for flame-retardants added to plastic symbols "ISO 9296" means a standard reference document produced by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) titled Acoustics -- Declared noise emission values of computer and business equipment. ISO 9296 provides a standard method for determining acoustic values; "ISO 11469" means a standard reference document produced by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) titled Generic identification and marking of plastics products. ISO provides uniform symbols for types of plastics; "halogenated flame retardants" means substances containing chlorine, bromine or other halogens that are added to plastics to inhibit the spread of fire. This includes TetraBromoBisPhenol-A (TBBPA) and HexaBromoCycloDodecane (HBCD); "housing" means the outer case of Notebook and Desktop Computers; "industrial scrap" means by-products of an industrial process that can be, and regularly are, used in either the same process, or in a different process. Such materials are excluded from the standard definition of recycled material. In this product group, industrial scrap includes for example, any housing material found to be defective during the plastic moulding process which is immediately broken up and returned into the moulding process as regrind ; "module" means a part that can be separated from the product and treated as a single unit for the purpose of recycling. This includes, but is not limited to, memory, video cards, CD/DVD drives and hard drives; August 4, 2005 CCD 158 Notebook and Desktop Computers Draft 3.0 Final Draft Page 4

5 "Notebook and Desktop Computers" means notebook/laptop or desktop computers, together with a monitor, keyboard, mouse and the associated power cords and connecting cables. It does not include a printer or scanner. Any of the following can apply for EcoLogo certification under CCD 158: 1) notebook (with or without monitor), 2) desktop (with or without monitor) and 3) monitor. Mouses and keyboards cannot be certified separately under CCD 158 but only if sold together with a desktop or notebook. Note that separate EcoLogo criteria mouses and keyboards under CCD 38 "polybrominated biphenyls" means a class of substances that have the molecular formula C12H(10-n)Brn in which "n" is greater than 2; "polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PDBEs)" means a class of substances which contain an identical base structure, C 12H xbr yo but differ in the number of attached bromine atoms (n=1 to 10); "post-consumer" means material that has served its end-use at the consumer level, has been discarded by the consumer, and unless diverted, would enter the waste stream; "pre-consumer material" means materials generated by an industrial process that would, unless diverted, enter the waste stream. This includes, but is not limited to, damaged or defective materials, overstock or obsolete inventories from manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers. It does not include industrial scrap; "recycled material" means post-consumer material and pre-consumer material. It does not include industrial scrap, except that proportion of the scrap which originated as post-consumer material and pre-consumer material; "technically recyclable" means facilities capable of recycling the material in question exist but are not necessarily widespread; "user" means the individual (household consumer or worker) or the organization that has purchased the EcoLogo certified Notebook and Desktop Computers; General Requirements 2. To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo M, the Notebook and Desktop Computer product must (b) meet or exceed all applicable governmental and industrial safety and performance standards; and be manufactured in such a manner that all steps of the process, including the disposal of waste products arising therefrom, will meet the requirements of all applicable governmental acts, by laws and regulations including, for facilities located in Canada, the Fisheries Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). Product Specific Requirements Restrictions on Hazardous Substances 3. To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo M, the Notebook and Desktop Computer product must any plastic parts are manufactured without lead or cadmium (e.g., lead or cadmium is not purposefully added during plastic manufacture, as inter alia, stabilizers, pigments, or dyes). August 4, 2005 CCD 158 Notebook and Desktop Computers Draft 3.0 Final Draft Page 5

6 (b) any plastic parts are manufactured without the following flame retardants i. poly-brominated biphenyls (PBBs) ii. polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) iii. chloroparaffin flame retardents with chain length 10 to 17 carbon atoms and chlorine content greater than 50% by weight (c) (d) (e) (f) any plastic parts of the housing or chassis over 25 g are formulated or manufactured without halogenated flame retardants any batteries must not be purposefully manufactured with mercury, lead or cadmium, except where such substances are present as naturally occurring trace contaminant associated with other battery components. (e.g., if these elements are tested for and appear in batteries then they should only appear at trace quantities of 1 ppm mercury, 10 ppm cadmium, and 100 ppm lead as calculated by weight) any metal parts are manufactured without hexavalent chromium background lighting of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor shall be manufactured with not more than an average of 3 mg of mercury per lamp for monitor with a display size of 19 inches (48 cm) or less and not more than an average of 5 mg of mercury per lamp if the display size of the monitor exceeds 19 inches (48 cm) Design for Re-use and Recycling 4. To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo M, the Notebook and Desktop Computer product must (b) (c) have a modular structure with readily accessible memory, graphic cards, hard drive and if applicable, either CD drive or DVD drive that can be changed with basic tools (e.g. pliers and screwdriver) include instructions on how the user can easily (e.g., with basic tools such as pliers and screwdriver) upgrade / exchange modules be manufactured so that is possible for one competent person alone to be able to dismantle the product Note: evidence for this criterion may include a test report demonstrating disassembly by one person, or diagrams / disassembly instructions (d) (e) (f) shall contain no metal inlays that cannot be separated by one person with commonly available tools all materials with special handling needs are identified, at minimum this includes materials requiring selective treatment under Annex 2 of Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Union and any connectors made with beryllium alloys any plastic parts bear an identity to indicate the composition code and any added flame retardants to facilitate future recycling efforts (see ISO and ISO 1043) (exception for parts <25 g or <200mm 2 in flat area) August 4, 2005 CCD 158 Notebook and Desktop Computers Draft 3.0 Final Draft Page 6

7 (g) (h) (i) any plastic parts weighing more than 25 g in the housing/ chassis are composed of one type of polymer (homopolymer or copolymer) or recyclable plastic blend housing and chassis is 100% (by weight) of technically recyclable plastic and metal parts manufacturers shall include an offer to the user at the point-of-sale for a take-back program Note:: Corporate take-back programs are not required in jurisdictions where diversion of computers from landfill is a legal requirement and end of life computers are already included in an existing collection, reuse and recycling infrastructure (j) (k) manufacturers shall ensure computers collected in a corporate take-back program are offered or sold to organizations re-using computer equipment, manufacturers shall ensure computers collected in a corporate take-back program and not accepted by organizations re-using computer equipment are sent to recyclers practising environmentally sound management of end-of-life computer equipment. At minimum recyclers must demonstrate the following; Energy Efficiency i. compliance with all applicable environmental and labour regulations (international, federal, provincial/state and municipal) ii. posses all applicable provincial provincial/state waste and air emission permits iii. an active inventory of all hazardous materials onsite that includes guidance on how the materials are controlled iv. ensure that no electronic materials are landfilled v. all required permits for trans-boundary shipments vi. an inventory of any sub-contractors used and assurances that subcontractors are meeting i. through v. 5. To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo M, the Notebook and Desktop Computer product must (b) meet energy efficiency requirements of the current ENERGY STAR program at the time of application for EcoLogo certification include instructions that provide information on the minimum and maximum energy consumption of the unit in typical operation, information on sleep, deep-sleep and offmode; and a statement that the Notebook and Desktop Computers product consumers zero utility power only when it is not physically connected to any power outlet Ergonomics 6. To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo M, each Notebook and Desktop Computer must have a declared A-weighted sound power level, LWAd not exceeding levels in the following table Computer Type Declared A-weighted sound power level, LWAd according to ISO 9262, bels, (decibels) Idle mode Operating Mode Notebook 4.0 (equivalent to 40 decibels) 4.3 (equivalent to 43 decibels) Desktop 4.5 (equivalent to 45 decibels) 4.8 (equivalent to 48 decibels) August 4, 2005 CCD 158 Notebook and Desktop Computers Draft 3.0 Final Draft Page 7

8 Packaging Note:: LWAd values are determined according to ISO 9296 based on measurements according to ISO Idle mode is defined in ISO 7779 and includes fan noise and may include a hard disk drive that is spinning but not accessing. Operating mode is defined in ISO 7779 and applies to accessing of the hard disk drive, not an optical disk drive, and includes fan noise. 7. To be authorized to carry the EcoLogo M, the Notebook and Desktop Computer product must (b) (c) (d) packaging materials are manufactured without lead, cadmium, mercury or hexavalent chromium packaging materials are separable (e.g., not glued together) any cardboard packaging contains 20% post-consumer recycled content a 20% reduction in the overall packaging weight of products intended for institutional and commercial consumers compared to products intended for household consumers Verification 8. To verify a claim that a product meets the criteria listed in this document, the ECP will require access, as is its normal practice, to relevant purchasing records, quality control and production records and the right of access to production facilities on an announced basis. 9. Compliance with requirement 2(b) shall be attested to by a signed statement of the Chief Executive Officer or the equivalent officer of the licensee. The ECP shall be advised in writing immediately by the licensee of any non-compliance which may occur during the term of the license. On the occurrence of any non-compliance, the license may be suspended or terminated as stipulated in the license agreement. Conditions for EcoLogo Use 10. The EcoLogo may appear on wholesale or retail packaging, or on the product itself, provided that the product meets the requirements in this document. 11. All licensees and authorized users must comply with the ECP's Guide to Proper Use of the EcoLogo M regarding the format and usage of the EcoLogo. 12. Any accompanying advertising must conform with the relevant requirements stipulated in this guideline, the license agreement and the ECP's Guide to Proper Use of the EcoLogo M. 13. A criteria statement appears with the EcoLogo whenever the EcoLogo is used in association with the Notebook and Desktop Computers The intent of this statement is to provide clarification as to why the product was certified and to indicate constraints to which the certification is limited. This is to ensure no ambiguity over, or misrepresentation of, the reason(s) for certification. Regardless of the applicable sub-category, the ECP suggested criteria statement wording for this product type is Notebook and Desktop Computers. The licensee may propose other wording August 4, 2005 CCD 158 Notebook and Desktop Computers Draft 3.0 Final Draft Page 8

9 for the criteria statement, but any such proposed wording must be approved by the Environmental Choice Program. For additional copies of this guideline or for more information about the Environmental Choice Program, please contact: TerraChoice Environmental Services Inc., 1280 Old Innes Road, Suite 801, Ottawa, Ontario, K1B 5M7 Telephone: (613) , Facsimile: (613) , August 4, 2005 CCD 158 Notebook and Desktop Computers Draft 3.0 Final Draft Page 9