Tco'99 Eco-Document (For The Black Model - Sony SDM-X95 Series Operating Instructions Manual

TCO'99 Eco-document (for the black
model)
x 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.
x 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.
x 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.
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
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email (Internet): development@tco.se
Current information regarding TCO'99 approved and labelled
products may also be obtained via the Internet, using the
address: http://www.tco-info.com/
x Environmental requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires,
casings and housings. Their purpose is to prevent, or at least to delay
the spread of fire. Up to 30% of the plastic in a computer casing can
consist of flame retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain
bromine or chloride, and those flame retardants are chemically
related to another group of environmental toxins, PCBs. Both the
flame retardants containing bromine or chloride and the PCBs are
suspected of giving rise to severe health effects, including
reproductive damage in fish-eating birds and mammals, due to the
*
bio-accumulative processes. Flame retardants have been found in
human blood and researchers fear that disturbances in foetus
development may occur.
The relevant TCO'99 demand requires that plastic components
weighing more than 25 grams must not contain flame retardants with
organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants are
allowed in the printed circuit boards since no substitutes are
available.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-
generating layers of certain computer displays. Cadmium damages
the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant TCO'99
requirement states that batteries, the colour-generating layers of
display screens and the electrical or electronics components must
not contain any cadmium.
Mercury**
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. It
damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant
TCO'99 requirement states that batteries may not contain any
mercury. It also demands that mercury is not present in any of the
electrical or electronics components associated with the labelled
unit.
CFCs (freons)
The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor
HCFCs may be used during the manufacture and assembly of the
product. CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed
circuit boards. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the
ozone layer in the stratosphere, causing increased reception on earth
of ultraviolet light with e.g. increased risks of skin cancer (malignant
melanoma) as a consequence.
Lead**
Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and
capacitors. Lead damages the nervous system and in higher doses,
causes lead poisoning. The relevant TCO'99 requirement permits
the inclusion of lead since no replacement has yet been developed.
* Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate
within living organisms.
**Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-
accumulative.
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