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Congratulations!
You have just purchased a TC0'99 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 labellmg involve?
This product meets the requirements for the TCO'99 scheme which provides for international and
environmental Iabelling of personal computers. The labelling scheme was developed as a joint effort by
the TCO (The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), Svenska Nahtrskyddsforeningen
(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 oftime
to reactivate the computer shall be reasonable for the user.
electric and magnetic fields, physical and visual ergonomics and good usability.
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