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: Green IT, Green IT procurement, halogenated flame retardants, lead, mercury, Stockholm County Council, sustainable IT
Stockholm County Council has introduced new stringent environmental requirements for purchasing computers. The new stipulations include low energy consumption, the use of recycled plastic in new products and manufacturers gradually phasing out lead, mercury and halogenated flame retardants. They also insist that all computers should be Energy Star certified and all displays should be certified according to TCO Certified.
These environmental requirements will result in significant environmental benefits. By the end of 2014, the County Council expects to have lessened the climate impact of its personal computers by 40%, reduced the weight of hazardous substances by 8 tonnes and cut the County Council’s carbon dioxide emissions by 2,000 tonnes.
The County Council has about 40,000 PCs in total. It will be one of the first major Swedish enterprises to have mercury-free displays in both laptops and desktop computers. By following Stockholm County Council’s example and having the courage to impose strict environmental requirements for purchasing, all companies and organisations can do a lot to minimise their environmental impact. Read more about Stockholm County Council’s program for sustainable procurement (in Swedish).
Do you know any other inspiring ICT procurer or purhaser that really push the boundaries towards greener and more sustainable IT?
If so, please let me know!
Posted by Birgitta Halvarsson
Tags: environment, Green IT, sustainability
So we’re all reading about companies, communities and households becoming “greener” – which is a good thing of course, right ? But after attending last weeks State of Green Business Forum hosted by GreenBiz, it seems like more companies and governments are now taking a step further to incorporate “green” into every element of their core business and bottom line results. The idea of “green” or “environment” as a stand-alone entity is fading while each aspect of the business works to implement more sustainable practices in their everyday operations.
We heard from Nike’s Lorrie Vogel on how a design initiative based on PET bottles resulted in Nike’s best ever soccer jersey. Bob Langert of McDonalds discussed how minor reductions in materials use in napkins and straws led to huge savings on transport and distribution costs. City of Chicago’s Commissioner for Environment, Suzanne Malec-McKenna was also a passionate advocate for how “green” is now one aspect contributing to the overall success of every city-wide initiative: housing, office energy consumption and education for example. It seems like the concept of “Green Business” is evolving to where sustainable practices are determining bottom line results.
Tags: certifications, eco-desing, environmental polices, Green IT, green purchasing, It buyers, IT equipment, laptops, Notebooks, Swedbank, Volvo
Many times I’ve found myself frustrated by the fact that the majority of institutional IT Buyers dont show use more clout to influence the greening of the IT space. By representing large groups of users and volume contracts, IT buyers have an opportunity to lead the way by demand greener products – and industry is ready to listen. An increasing number of organizations and companies are striving to strengthen their green credentials and credibility as an environmentally resposible player. By demonstrating a demand for greener products, buyers have a unique role to play in drivig eco-design forward. With few exceptions, industry listens to the demands of buyers before investing in eco-friendly designs. Despite a brand’s good environmental intentions, it is the buyers demand for greener PCs, monitors and other electronics that can make it a priority.
From a user’s perspective, caring for the environment is a higher priority then ever before. A growing environmental awareness among consumers has brought about more responsible product choices both in consumer and business markets. On the business side, it’s particular progress to note that well known brands like Volvo and Swedbank are taking the lead from the purchasing side and demanding that all notebooks they purchase must be TCO Certified. This sends a direct message to industry that environmental factors are critical for users and that it can mean good business for the brands as well. When buyers ask, industry responds – but we do need to make some noise !
If you buy IT equipment, whether for your personal use or on behalf of a company or organization, take the lead, tell industry what you want. Including eco-requirements in your purchasing practices doesn’t need to be complicated.
Some tips to get you started:
- Ask your vendor to specify environmentally designed products.
- Talk with colleagues or other individuals with experience of green purchasing.
- Use established certifications (eg Energy Star, TCO Certified) as a tool in making an informed choice.
- Refer to your company’s environmental policies and goals as a guide.
Visit our website to find out more about TCO Certified
By Maria Sjölund
Tags: Green IT, TCO Certified, Third party certification
Over the past months we’ve seen several media reports of quality control problems with so-called “self certification” or “self-registration” environmental programs for electronics and appliances. In some cases products were assigned an energy rating or environmental registration without actually meeting the requirements of the programs in question. In other cases reported earlier this month, non-existent products were deliberately put through the system to test its quality control and product verification. The concerning outcome was - they passed !
As a third party certification program, we at TCO Certified have received many requests to comment on the current situation of false approvals in self-registration programs. Our opinion is that these quality assurance problems are to be expected in a system where approval relies solely on information submitted by the manufacturers themselves . For an eco-label to be a credible assurance to buyers, independent verification of product features and claims is vital. This is how the TCO certification system has worked for almost 20 years.
TCO Certified is a third party certification (Type 1), as defined by the International Standards Organization. This means that all products bearing the label have been rigorously tested by an independent lab, according to internationally accredited test methods. Savvy buyers around the world acknowledge that a Type 1 eco-label is the best possible assurance that an IT product actually meets the requirements set forth by the label and lives up to claims made by the manufacturer.
As our society focuses more on being “green”, so do product vendors and manufacturers. In almost every product or service sector, there are environmental messages and claims put forth to attract buyers. The result is confusion for buyers as they try and decide who to trust, which product claims to believe. This is another reason why third party, Type 1 eco-labels are more important than ever – providing an objective voice in making a green product choice easier.
Tags: desktop, energy saving, Green IT, IT products, TCO Certified
Today we launch the new TCO certification for desktop computers: TCO Certified Desktops 3.0. Dell’s OptiPlex 980 is the first desktop in the world to be awarded with the new TCO Certified designation for environmental and high performance design. TCO Certified Desktops 3.0 is the third and the latest TCO criteria document for desktop computers. The environmental requirements are much tougher in TCO Certified compared with the former TCO’05 Desktops. All TCO Certified products are rigorously tested by an independent laboratory for low levels of energy consumption, noise and electromagnetic emissions as well as minimal environmental impact. These high performance products are also intended to reduce the global E-waste problem as they are designed for longer life and for recycling at end of life. Dell’s achievement of TCO Certified is also a validation of their ongoing, active commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, a key aspect of the TCO Certification.
Go to the full announcement here.
Tags: Green IT, iPad, IT products, sustainable IT
A lot of talk the past weeks has been about the iPad – the latest in Apple’s series of highly anticipated devices designed to change the way we use and interact with technology. At the recent Display Search US Flat Panel Display conference, industry leaders and analysts were labeling the iPad a success, failure and game changer – opinion really depended on who you were talking to !
People have begun asking me – “is the iPad green?”. My answer – “Compared to what ?”
Here is a product that seems to create a middle category between smart phone and Notebook PC. So, the green question can be seen in a couple of ways:
- what green attributes does the device itself feature ? In itself, energy efficiency and recyclable materials can make for an environmentally preferable product.
- Will people buy the iPad in addition to a smart phone and Notebook PC? If we are adding more products to our already extensive electronics portfolios, how sustainable is that ?
Scheduled for an April 3 launch in the US, it will be interesting to see how the iPad takes off in the market – and whether it can be part of a green ICT solution. 
Tags: Green IT, IT products, LCD display, USA
The annual “meeting of the minds” in the display industry will meet next week to discuss industry trends, analyze market opportunities and forecast the future of the display and TV business around the world. The annual Display Search US Flat Panel Display Conference offers manufacturers, channel partners and industry analysts the chance to explore current and future markets for display products. TCO will be there and be assured, there will be plenty of talk about Green IT solutions. Look for my blog posts direct from the conference. For more information log onto www.displaysearch.com
Tags: Government, Green IT
I noticed this video from the Local Government Channel in the UK, with a good example of how local government is making smart choices in Green ICT and how working closely together with a vendor can streamline the process. Click here to view the video.
