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TCO'99
Congratulations!
You have just purchased a TCO'99 approved and labeled 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 labeled computers?
In many countries, environmental labeling 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 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