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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: +46 8 782 92 07
Current information regarding TCO'99 approved and labeled products may also be
obtained via the Internet, using the address: http://www.tco-info.com/
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