TCO'99 - 1
TCO'99
Congratulations
You have just purchased a TCO'99 approved and labelled product!
Your choice has provided you with a product developed for
professional use. Your purchase has also contributed to reducing
the burden on the environment and also to the further development
of environmentally adapted electronics products.
Why do we have environmentally labelled computers?
In many countries, environmental labelling has become an established method for encouraging the
adaptation of goods and services to the environment. The main problem, as far as computers and
other electronics equipment are concerned, is that environmentally harmful substances are used
both in the products and during their manufacture. Since it is not so far possible to satisfactorily
recycle the majority of electronics equipment, most of these potentially damaging substances
sooner or later enter nature.
There are also other characteristics of a computer, such as energy consumption levels, that are
important from the viewpoints of both the work (internal) and natural (external) environments. Since
all methods of electricity generation have a negative effect on the environment (e.g. acidic and
climate-influencing emissions, 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 labelling involve?
This product meets the requirements for the TCO'99 scheme which provides for international and
environmental labelling of personal computers. The labelling 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.
Labelled 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.
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