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Learn about the ECMA Technical Committee 38's voluntary product self-declaration, ECMA.TR/70, which provides standardized information on environmental attributes of products. The report includes common attributes, accepted measurement methods, and sample declarations.
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Technical Committee 38 Product-Related Environmental Attributes Self-Declarations of Environmental Product Attributes according to ECMA TR/70 2nd edition Thomas Fischer Sony International (Europe) GmbH Reinhard Höhn IBM Deutschland GmbH Greg Batts Kodak Limited
Needs for “green” communication OEM Customer Corporate Customer Retailer Mail-order Houses Consumer Investors MANUFACTURER Consumer Organis. Test Magazines NGO’s Eco-labels Journalists
Eco-labels European Ecolabel + Non-European Ecolabel
What is needed? • international agreed (standardized) document • development under participation of IT-, telecommunication- and consumer industry • common attributes • accepted measurement methods Voluntary Product Self-Declaration like ECMA TR/70 compiled by ECMA TC38
Who is ECMA http://www.ecma-international.org “ECMA is an international, Europe-based industry association founded in 1961 and dedicated to the standardization of information and communication systems.”
ECMA TC38 • 1994 forming a group of experts to: • Collect environmental attributes for products • Link to relevant international standards • 1995 TC38 officially set up by ECMA Europe ECMA TC38 USA Japan Information Technology Telecommunication Technology Consumer Electronics
ECMA TC38 - Organization • Chairman • Dr. R. Höhn (IBM) • Vice Chairman • Dr. G. Batts (Eastman Kodak) • Secretary • Mr. G. Lauri (ECMA) Active Members (Status 04/2000) Alcatel (P. Dubots, F) BT (K. Mohan, UK) Compaq Comp (Dr. F. Hermann, D) Dell (G. Hartnett, Ir) Eastman Kodak (Dr. G. Batts, UK) Hewlett Packard (Th. Bazlen, D) IBM (Dr. R. Höhn, D; Dr. R. Granda, USA) ICL Comp (J.G-. Boyce, UK) Intel (T. Ellerton, D) NEC (A. Schwarz, D) Philips (Dr. H. Rijks, NL) Siemens (Dr. G. Niedermeier, D) Sony (Dr. Th. Fischer, D; A. Schneider, D) Xerox (Dr. M. Hemming,UK) + Task Group “Chemical Emissions”: IBM, HP, Sony, XEROX, Océ, Eastman Kodak
ECMA TC38 - Scope To identify and describe environmental attributes related to ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and CE (Consumer Electronics) products, during their entire life cycle, from conception to end-of-life treatment.
History of ECMA TR/70 • 1995 • First proposal “Declaration of product related Attributes” • First draft of technical report (TR) • 1996 • Work on draft report (attributes to be declared, sample declaration, seeking for comments outside ECMA) • 1997 • Final draft report • Approval by ECMA GA as TR/70, June 1997 • 1999 • Final second draft report • Approval of second edition by ECMA GA, June 1999
Structure of the Report 1. Scope 2. References contains standards, guidelines and directives, which are referred directly to in TR/70 3. Definitions 4. Acronyms 5. Information to customers and users defines all attributes that must or may be declared Annex A provides some sample declarations in order to assist the potential user Annex B lists standards, guidelines and directives that are linked to the subject which were considered during the compilation process of the report - no reference
Covered Products • Camcorder • Copier/Printer • Hi-fi systems • Mobile Phone • Monitor • Notebook • Personal Computer • Personal Digital Assistant • Server • Single Use Camera • TV-set (CRT) • VCR In Addition Even as a product category is not listed an Eco-declaration according to TR/70 can still be created for such a product. ECMA TC 38 always welcomes proposals for sample declarations!
Criteria of the second edition of ECMA TR/70 • Product information/description (product and manufacturer identification) • Extension of product lifetime (repair, warranty, upgradeability / extendibility) • Power consumption in several modes • Radio frequency emissions (EMC) • ELF/VLF emissions (only visual display units) • Acoustical noise emissions • Chemical emissions* • Materials (declaration of not used suspiciously materials) • Disassembly (declaration of design features supporting easy disassembly) • Batteries (types, weight, disposal) • Product packaging (types, weight, take-back) • Take-back information (for product and consumables) • Documentation (paper type and bleaching method) * An ECMA TC 38 subgroup just published a draft standard for comments in order to standardize the measurement of chemical emissions.
Use of ECMA TR/70 • The use of ECMA TR/70 is voluntary and not restricted. • The standardized document can be used for several purposes • e.g: • Answering customer questions • Attachment to tender • Publication on internet • Provided with the product • Add-on to manuals • Add-on to technical documentation
Advantages of ECMA TR/70 • voluntary use of ECMA TR/70 • common and comparable reporting format • no “Black & White” decision as for eco-labels (the product must not comply to fixed requirements but the declaration reports the product performance) • document is flexible adaptable for different product categories • the content of the document can be individually extended by additional environmental product information (e.g. additionally avoided substances) • only the product declaration form has to be compiled (no third party is involved). • no license fee • product declaration forms can be published in different ways (no limitation - via internet, with manual, with tenders etc.)
ECMA-TR 70 Public Attention Requirement of Ecolabels • European Union Eco label for PC, notebook • German Ecolabel “Eco Circle” • Reference by SITO/NITO (liaison with ECMA TC38, SITO declaration includes 100% ECMA TR/70) • Reference by SRL • Presentation on various conferences e.g. IEEE conference USA • Reference within the Enquete Commission of the German Parliament Requirement of self declarations Promotion Activities
SITO/NITO Eco Declaration based on ECMA TR/70 SITO/NITO - Swedish/Nordic IT Organisation - very successful declaration with more than 500 applications
SRL Eco Declaration based on ECMA TR/70 SRL - Swedish Electronics Supplier Association
Revisions The ECMA Technical Committee 38 welcomes comments on the current version of TR/70. The committee is always striving to adapt the report to the most up to date customer requirements for environmental information. However, a change of the text is only possible with agreement by the ECMA TC 38 and with the approval by the ECMA General Assembly.
Availability The ECMA TR/70 is available (free of charge) from http://www.ecma-international.org as downloads and as hardcopies.
Summary ECMA TR/70 is a useful tool to declare environmental product attributes without restrictions by limits in a world-wide harmonized way. The TR/70 document is voluntary, easy to use and has many potential applications (helps to cover many requests of customers especially major customers, marketing; could be delivered with product, internet, tenders, add-on to technical documentation). Manufacturer and suppliers should take the opportunity to support a standardized reporting of environmental attributes by using the ECMA TR/70 document. Procurement organizations should also request them as a part of their purchasing criteria.