Tags: computer display, computers, e-waste, Green IT, Recycled plastic, TCO Certified Edge
Imagine if all computer monitors contained 65% post consumer recycled plastic. Five years from now, the industry would have reduced carbon emissions by approximately 860 million kg and saved energy corresponding to that used to fuel 280 000 cars a year. Not to mention the prevention of toxic e-waste !
Judging by some of the products we’ve been certifying in recent weeks, we may be making some moves toward that goal.
Incorporating recycled plastic content into ICT products has been a tough challenge for manufacturers. Despite good intentions, a lack of reliable sources of high quality materials at required volumes has been one of the major hurdles to including recycled content in our PC products. But this week we’ve been able to present several displays from Phillips and All in One computers by Lenovo with our TCO Certified Edge award for featuring a high percentage of post consumer recycled content. Check the newsletter or searchable database for full details.
Tags: Green IT, tablet, TCO Certified
If you already use a tablet, you know how convenient, easy to use and totally portable it is. If you’re like me, you don’t go anywhere without it ! But how sustainable are they ? We’ve got a lot of users asking about the usability, design and environmental issues associated with tablets over the last months. So we’re excited about today’s launch of our draft TCO Certified Tablets criteria – the world’s first eco-label criteria exclusively for tablets.
Tablet PCs are currently among the fastest growing trends in electronics. Growth estimates put the tablet market from an estimated 10.3 million consumers in 2010 to 208 million users by 2014.
Consumers and business users are moving to tablets for their ease of use, portability and flexibility of use through a rapidly developing “app” environment. While tablets have been primarily marketed to consumers, professional users or “prosumers” are expected to adopt tablet technology in greater numbers in the next few years, particularly in retail, health care, finance and education settings. In 2011 an estimated 25% of tablets will be purchased for business use, double the amount seen in 2010. This number is expected to rise dramatically along with continued growth in the consumer segment.
We want to hear from you ! Our criteria draft is open for comment until October 17, so send us your comments as a manufacturer, user or sustainability professional. After the comment period we will go live with the final specifications and be open for testing and the first TCO Certified Tablets !
Tags: audiovisual, AV, Projectors, sustainability, TCO Certified Projectors 1.0
Sustainability is now making inroads in the Audio-Visual space – great news from an area where product performance has traditionally outweighed environmental issues. TCO Certified has now been recognized by InfoComm International’s new sustainability rating system for AV installations –STEP (Sustainability Technology Environments Program). As part of the program, TCO Certified projectors and monitors will be recommended for pro AV equipment purchases.
STEP will promote sustainable practices by the associations’ members and their customers. The rating system will be a tool for owners and technology providers to plan for and implement sustainable practices in their technology projects. By recommending TCO Certified products as part of STEP, buyers and installers can be assured they are choosing products designed for the environment, as well as high performance.
Soren Enholm, CEO of TCO Development, comments: “We are honored and excited to see TCO Certified as a recommendation in the STEP program. The TCO Certified eco-label offers the Pro AV community useful guidance in the selection of projection equipment designed for sustainability as well as optimal image quality. By choosing TCO Certified projectors and monitors, users can be assured of a product that delivers both high performance and sustainable design.”
Allen Weidman, sustainability officer, InfoComm International and executive director of the STEP Foundation comments: “InfoComm is delighted to include the TCO Certified designation as a tool for identifying sustainable technology products. The STEP program is dedicated to promoting existing sustainability designations that have been vetted and accepted by consumers.”
