Why Do We Have Environmentally Labelled Computers - Acer P211 User Manual

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 environ-
ment and also, to the further development of environmentally adapted electron-
ics 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 the manufacturing. Since it has not been possible for the majority of
electronics equipment to be recycled in a satisfactory way, most of these poten-
tially 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 conventional electricity
generation have a negative effect on the environment (acidic and climate-influ-
encing emissions, radioactive waste, etc.), it is vital to conserve energy. Elec-
tronics equipment in offices consume an enormous amount of energy since they
are often left running continuously.
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