The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is nearing completion of its ambitious multi-year initiative to update EPEAT criteria to align with priority sustainability impacts of electronic products and their supply chains, and to ensure the criteria: meet purchaser demands with an increased focus on climate change and supply chains, address sustainability impacts consistently across product categories and respond to rapid changes in both technology and market trends.

The priority sustainability impact areas include Climate Change, Circularity, Chemicals of Concern, and Responsible Supply Chains. When complete, the updated criteria will be applied across all EPEAT ICT product categories, starting with Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones, Servers, and Televisions.

In January of 2023, GEC released the implementation plan and timeline for the transition to the updated criteria. Since that time, we have continued to receive feedback on the timeline and have engaged with key stakeholders to consider modifications to the timeline.

GEC is pleased to announce release of the November 14, 2024 revision to the implementation plan and timeline.

This document identifies revised dates for implementation and provides additional details on other key activities that will support an efficient and successful transition, including the EPEAT Climate+™ designation.

We deeply appreciate the ongoing engagement and feedback we’ve received, and believe we’ve reached the right balance for a fair and credible path to implement these ambitious updated EPEAT Criteria in the coming years. We remain committed to supporting all stakeholders during this transition process.

Please direct any questions on implementation timeline or plan to EPEAT@gec.org.

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is nearing completion of its ambitious multi-year initiative to update EPEAT criteria to align with priority sustainability impacts of electronic products and their supply chains, and to ensure the criteria: meet purchaser demands with an increased focus on climate change and supply chains, address sustainability impacts consistently across product categories and respond to rapid changes in both technology and market trends.

The priority sustainability impact areas include Climate Change, Circularity, Chemicals of Concern, and Responsible Supply Chains. When complete, the updated criteria will be applied across all EPEAT ICT product categories, starting with Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones, Servers, and Televisions.

In January of 2023, GEC released the implementation plan and timeline for the transition to the updated criteria. Since that time, we have continued to receive feedback on the timeline and have engaged with key stakeholders to consider modifications to the timeline.

Based on the above, GEC is pleased to announce a revision to the implementation timeline and invites stakeholders to participate in a webinar to learn further details.

To accommodate worldwide locations, two times have been scheduled and the same information will be provided in both sessions. Registration is required – please use the registration links below to sign up.

 We deeply appreciate the ongoing engagement and feedback we’ve received, and believe we’ve reached the right balance for a fair and credible path to implement these ambitious updated EPEAT Criteria in the coming years. We remain committed to supporting all stakeholders during this transition process.

Please direct any questions on the webinar or implementation timeline to EPEAT@gec.org.

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) today released the updated Imaging Equipment Consumables Criteria for its EPEAT ecolabel. These criteria will be applied to the EPEAT Imaging Equipment product category only and establish requirements for the design of imaging equipment to: minimize the use of consumables, allow for the use of recycled content paper and remanufactured cartridges and meet internationally recognized indoor air quality standards. The criteria also address consumables take-back programs to enable circularity.

GEC thanks members of the Technical Committee and other stakeholders for bringing their time and expertise to the revision process!

GEC is undertaking a multi-year initiative to update EPEAT Criteria to address priority sustainability impact areas – Climate, Circularity (Sustainable Use of Resources), Chemicals of Concern, and Responsible Supply Chains. The Climate Criteria were published in May 2023, and development for the other impact areas is nearing completion.

The updated criteria from all impact areas, including the Imaging Equipment Consumables Criteria, will be activated on November 1, 2025, when products meeting the updated criteria will begin to appear on the Registry. The accompanying Conformity Requirements and Guidance Documents will be available for these criteria on November 22, 2024. Imaging equipment manufacturers and CABs will be able to access these under the Resources section using their EPEAT Registry accounts. However, manufacturers can begin working towards the Consumables Criteria immediately.

Please contact epeat@gec.org with any questions or to learn more about the Imaging Equipment Consumables Criteria and how they fit among the full set of updated EPEAT Criteria by priority sustainability impact area.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds CD-2024-01 and IE-2024-01 are now available on the EPEAT Registry. These Rounds focused on the computers and displays and imaging equipment product categories, respectively, and involved Level 2 investigations. Level 2 investigations require laboratory testing of products to determine conformance with select EPEAT Criteria.  

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

The EPEAT Program makes policy and procedural updates on an annual basis and is proposing revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65) and EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66). GEC Criteria Development Process (P74) and GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75) were reviewed, and GEC determined that no changes will be made to these documents in this revision cycle.

The EPEAT Policy Manual identifies the underlying policies that govern and support EPEAT programmatic activities, while the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual defines the specific requirements and expectations of brands participating in EPEAT and of GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs).

Stakeholder feedback and insights are an essential part of GEC’s management of the EPEAT Program. As such, GEC is holding a comment period and welcomes stakeholder feedback on proposed revisions to these key documents.

Stakeholders interested in providing comments should contact Katherine Larocque for copies of the proposed revisions, which are identified using tracked changes in each of the respective documents. Please note that stakeholder feedback unrelated to the proposed changes will not be considered in this round of revisions, but will instead be examined for consideration during the next revision cycle.

The comment period is open from October 23 through December 31, 2024. Comments must be documented using the EPEAT Public Comment Form and submitted electronically to EPEAT@gec.org. GEC reserves the right to not consider comments received after 11:59 pm North America Pacific Time on December 31, 2024.

All comments received that pertain to the proposed revisions will be made publicly available in a stakeholder comment report, summarizing comments received and attributing the comments directly to the submitter. All comments pertaining to the proposed revisions will be considered before the documents are finalized and published.

GEC proposes to publish the revised documents on February 15, 2025 and new policy changes are proposed to become effective as of July 1, 2025. Participating Manufacturers and GEC-approved CABs will be responsible for conforming with the new requirements as of this date.

Please direct any questions about this public comment period to EPEAT@gec.org.

The 2025 EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Round Schedule is now available on the EPEAT Registry.

The EPEAT Program ensures the veracity of EPEAT-registered products through an ongoing surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes (called Continuous Monitoring Rounds). Participating Manufacturers are responsible for participating in these Rounds, cooperating with their CABs, and providing the necessary documentation to show conformance with EPEAT Criteria.

GEC is committed to transparency, and to this end, the 2025 EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Schedule and the subsequent results of each Round are made publicly available.

Please direct any questions about the 2025 Continuous Monitoring Schedule to EPEAT@gec.org

GEC is launching a criteria revision process for its EPEAT® Photovoltaic Module and Inverter (PVMI) product category.  The first step in the criteria revision process is to prepare State of Sustainability Research that identifies the most significant life cycle sustainability impacts, best practices to mitigate the impacts, and provide recommendations for criteria revisions that will maintain the relevance and leadership of the EPEAT ecolabel. The draft State of Sustainability Research will be available for public consultation in Fall 2024. Following release of the final State of Sustainability Research report, GEC will convene a Technical Committee in early 2025 to consider proposed revisions. A schedule for implementing revised criteria will be developed in consultation with stakeholders.

GEC invites interested stakeholders to submit data to assist GEC in the preparation of the State of Sustainability Research, including, but not limited to:

·         New or updated data on the life cycle impacts of photovoltaic module (PV) and inverters in 4 sustainability topics: climate/greenhouse gas emissions, material use and circularity, chemicals, and responsible supply chains. We welcome submissions of data, reports and/or citations to recently published papers and reports.

·         Evolution of or new best practices and opportunities to reduce identified impacts through the application of controls, standards, programs and material choices.  Where available, please include data or documentation that the best practice has a proven record of impact reduction.

·         Improvements in PV life expectancy, trends in performance warranties and PV re-use potential.

·         Advancements in end-of-life management, recycling technologies and material recovery for PV modules.

·         New international standards and requirements for PV modules and inverters that represent leadership.

·         Proposals to strengthen existing NSF 457 criteria, modify Ultra-low Carbon Solar criteria or remove criteria, and recommendations for new performance criteria, along with the rationale for the changes or additions. We encourage submission of proposed text for new criteria.

·         Identification of new PV technologies or form factors to consider when updating EPEAT criteria.

Stakeholders should submit information to criteria@gec.org no later than November 5, 2024 for consideration in the State of Sustainability Research. Please include the source of the information; GEC prefers to cite publicly available information. The GEC criteria development team is also happy to schedule one-on-one calls with interested stakeholders, just send an email to criteria@gec.org for scheduling.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Rounds IE-2024-02 and SV-2024-02 are now available on the EPEAT Registry. These Rounds involved Level 0 investigations of products in the Imaging Equipment and Servers categories, respectively. Level 0 Investigations require CABs to review publicly available information to determine conformance with specific EPEAT Criteria.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

Stakeholder feedback and insights are an integral component of the continued development of the EPEAT Registry. These engagement sessions provide important preliminary stakeholder-centric requirements that guide how programmatic changes, as well as the overall digital experience, are reflected on the Registry.

On September 19, 2024, EPEAT will host a webinar for Purchasers to solicit feedback on proposed feature and functionality changes to the Registry as a part of the Updated Criteria launch in 2025.

Webinar attendees will be shown conceptual mockups of the proposed changes to the Registry as they pertain to the Updated Criteria. Beginning September 19 through October 18, 2024, stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes.

The proposed changes will address the following aspects of the Updated Criteria launch:

1. Product Finder: Displaying Active and Archived Products
2. Product Finder: Updated and Current Criteria Search
3. Product Finder: Expanded Search Capability
4. Product Information: Climate+ Designation
5. Product Information: How Countries are Displayed

The webinar will focus on proposed changes that primarily impact Purchasers, however Participating Manufacturers and CABs are welcome to attend this webinar as well.

Please note that participation in the webinars and providing feedback are entirely optional. For any stakeholders not able to attend, webinar recordings will be made available, and feedback is still welcome and encouraged.

To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for the session. Registration is required—please use the registration links below to sign up.

More Information or Questions

Please reach out to Kim Hair (khair@gec.org) with any questions or for more information on the webinar series or the Registry. Please reach out to Susan Herbert (sherbert@gec.org) with any questions or for more information on the Updated Criteria launch.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Rounds CD-2024-02, MP-2024-02, and PV-2024-01 are now available on the EPEAT Registry. These Rounds involved Level 0 investigations of products in the Computers and Displays, Mobile Phones, and Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters categories, respectively. Level 0 Investigations require CABs to review publicly available information to determine conformance with specific EPEAT Criteria.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

GEC is adding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on August 29, 2024, to address additional questions raised before the scheduled September meeting.

 During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topics:

• Climate Change Mitigation 4.6.1: Product listing on ENERGY STAR Website at Time of Criterion Selection
• Definition of Initial Service Provider in Imaging Equipment and Televisions
• Severs 11.1.2: Take-back service for deinstalled servers when new servers are leased as opposed to sold

If you’re interested in attending, please register below. As this is an additional meeting to our regularly scheduled monthly CGG meetings, stakeholders must register for this meeting specifically if they wish to attend. Additional timeslots will be added upon request.

August 29, 2024: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on August 8, 2024. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

·        Acceptability of ISO 14083 to Demonstrate Conformance to Computers and Displays Criterion 4.8.2.2 and Climate Change Mitigation Criterion 4.1.3

This topic will be discussed in addition to the previously announced topic: Scope of Priority Component Manufacturing.

If you’re interested in attending, please register below. Additional timeslots will be added upon request.

August 8, 2024: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Round MP-2024-01 is now available on the EPEAT Registry. This Round focused on products in the mobile phones product category and involved Level 2 investigations, which require laboratory testing of products to determine conformance with select EPEAT Criteria.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on August 8, 2024. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

·        Scope of Priority Component Manufacturing

If you’re interested in attending, please register below. Additional timeslots will be added upon request.

August 8, 2024: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is dedicated to continuous improvement of the EPEAT Program. To this end, GEC monitors industry trends, regulatory changes, and market drivers which may impact EPEAT, and responds accordingly. Although GEC has mechanisms in place to monitor these broader external factors, we believe stakeholder input is of paramount importance to ensuring that EPEAT continues to be the leading global Type 1 ecolabel for electronics.   

Stakeholder feedback and insights are an integral component of GEC’s management of the EPEAT Program and are particularly important during the annual policy revision process where stakeholder feedback is sought not only during the formal public stakeholder comment period every October, but also earlier in the year through stakeholder engagement sessions on specific policy and programmatic topics. These stakeholder engagement sessions provide important preliminary input to GEC and help inform GEC’s thinking before developing proposed policy or programmatic revisions.  

This year, GEC is soliciting preliminary stakeholder feedback on the following topics: 

• EPEAT Registry: How information is displayed in the Registry
• Updated Documentation Review process
   

GEC hosted an information session on June 12, 2024 to identify specific issues and discussion questions regarding each of these topics for stakeholder consideration.  

GEC is currently accepting preliminary stakeholder feedback until July 5 on the topics, specific issues, and discussion questions identified in the June 12 webinar. Please contact epeat@gec.org for a copy of the presentation materials or to submit feedback.  

GEC will be hosting a second stakeholder engagement session in late July or early August to present proposed approaches for addressing each of the key issues. 

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is dedicated to continuous improvement of the EPEAT Program. To this end, GEC monitors industry trends, regulatory changes, and market drivers which may impact EPEAT, and responds accordingly. Although GEC has mechanisms in place to monitor these broader external factors, we believe stakeholder input is of paramount importance to ensuring that EPEAT continues to be the leading global Type 1 ecolabel for electronics. 

 Stakeholder feedback and insights are an integral component of GEC’s management of the EPEAT Program and are particularly important during the annual policy revision process where stakeholder feedback is sought not only during the formal public stakeholder comment period every October, but also earlier in the year through stakeholder engagement sessions on specific policy and programmatic topics. These stakeholder engagement sessions provide important preliminary input to GEC and help inform GEC’s thinking before developing proposed policy or programmatic revisions.

 This year, GEC is soliciting preliminary stakeholder feedback on the following topics:

1)      EPEAT Registry: How information is displayed in the Registry

2)      Updated Documentation Review process

 To engage stakeholders and obtain feedback on the topics above, GEC is hosting two stakeholder engagement sessions. Participation is entirely optional, and all stakeholders are welcome to attend.

 The first stakeholder engagement session is taking place on June 12, 2024. In this session, GEC will describe the topics GEC is seeking feedback on and identify specific issues and discussion questions for stakeholder consideration. The purpose of the first session is simply to introduce key concepts to stakeholders; GEC will not be presenting any proposed changes at this time.

 To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for each session. Registration is required—please use the registration links below to sign up.

Please direct any questions to EPEAT@gec.org

In September 2023, GEC launched the EPEAT Climate+ designation to catalyze and accelerate change in the electronics industry by connecting forward-thinking electronics brands with carbon-conscious purchasers. To obtain the EPEAT Climate+ designation, Participating Manufacturers must work with GEC-approved conformity assurance bodies to prove conformance with the requirements for EPEAT Climate+.

GEC is undertaking a multi-year initiative to update EPEAT Criteria to address priority sustainability impact areas – climate, circularity (sustainable use of resources), reduction of chemicals of concern, and responsible supply chains. The Climate Criteria were published in May 2023, and development for the other impact areas is still underway. The updated criteria from all impact areas will be activated on November 1, 2025, when products meeting the updated criteria will begin to appear on the Registry.Given the strong demand for EPEAT Climate+ designated products and significant manufacturer interest in EPEAT Climate+ to date, GEC is committed to making the designation available beyond November 1, 2025. However, to continue to raise the bar and catalyze climate action in the electronics industry, the requirements for obtaining the Climate+ designation beyond November 2025 need to evolve.

To this end, GEC hosted a stakeholder webinar to propose options and obtain feedback regarding updated requirements for the Climate+ designation that would take effect November 1, 2025. For a copy of the presentation materials, please email EPEAT@gec.org. 

GEC is currently accepting stakeholder feedback until June 14, 2024 and plans to release its final plan regarding Climate+ requirements that will take effect on November 1, 2025 soon thereafter. Please submit feedback to EPEAT@gec.org.

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on May 9, 2024. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

·        Equivalency of 2019 IPCC Tier 2c to Other IPCC Tiers Identified in Computers and Displays Criteria 4.1.10.1 and 4.1.10.2

If you’re interested in attending, please register below. Additional timeslots will be added upon request.

May 9, 2024: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

EPEAT® establishes criteria that address priority sustainability impacts throughout the life cycle of electronics products, based on an evaluation of scientific evidence and international best practices. While EPEAT Criteria are reviewed on a regular cadence to ensure they remain relevant, continue to be impactful and incentivize leadership performance, GEC may also add new impactful criteria that are time sensitive and address an emerging critical issue or tackle a complex topic.

In this regard, in March 2023, GEC published Criteria for Assessment of Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Modules to supplement the existing EPEAT Criteria for the solar modules and inverters category as specified in Sustainability Leadership Standard for Photovoltaic Modules and Photovoltaic Inverters (NSF/ANSI 457). These additional criteria were developed based on the principle that the manufacture and procurement of low-embodied carbon photovoltaic modules are critical for achieving net-zero emissions.

When criteria are revised or new impactful criteria added to an existing product category, EPEAT publishes a plan for implementation and the deadline for when Participating Manufacturers must come into conformance with the revisions or new criteria.

The EPEAT Implementation Plan for ULCS Criteria is now available. It applies to all Participating Manufacturers with solar modules currently appearing in the EPEAT Registry, potential applicant Participating Manufacturers, and all GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies. It may also be of interest to purchasers, policy makers, investors and other stakeholders interested in the implementation of the Criteria for Assessment of Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Modules.

For questions about this implementation plan, please contact us at EPEAT@GEC.org.

The 2nd public consultation on the Draft Imaging Equipment Consumables Criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel is now open to all interested stakeholders. The draft criteria address design of imaging equipment to allow for use of remanufactured cartridges, to minimize use of paper and to meet internationally recognized indoor air quality standards, as well as consumable take-back programs to enable circularity.

The 2nd public consultation period opens April19, 2024 and closes May 20, 2024,11:59 ET. For public commenters, the 2nd consultation is limited in scope to those revisions proposed by the Technical Committee since the initial public consultation.  

These criteria will be applied to the EPEAT Imaging Equipment product category only, along with criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources, Reducing Chemicals of Concern and Responsible Supply Chains.

The public consultation process is managed by NSF International, on behalf of GEC. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on May 20, 2024 through the NSF Online Workspace (NOW). Instructions on submitting comments are provided on the NOW. To support openness and transparency, the NSF website displays all public comments and their resolution.  

Please contact Cassandra Leone at NSF (cleone@nsf.org) for assistance with comment submittal, if needed.  

General questions regarding EPEAT criteria should be directed to Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

In September 2023, GEC launched the EPEAT Climate+TM designation to catalyze and accelerate change in the electronics industry by connecting forward-thinking electronics brands with carbon-conscious purchasers. To obtain the EPEAT Climate+ designation, Participating Manufacturers must work with GEC-approved conformity assurance bodies to prove conformance with the requirements for EPEAT Climate+.

GEC is undertaking a multi-year initiative to update EPEAT Criteria to address priority sustainability impact areas – climate, circularity (sustainable use of resources), reduction of chemicals of concern, and responsible supply chains. The Climate Criteria were published in May 2023, and development for the other impact areas is still underway. The updated criteria from all impact areas will be activated on November 1, 2025, when products meeting the updated criteria will begin to appear on the Registry.Given the strong demand for EPEAT Climate+ designated products and significant manufacturer interest in EPEAT Climate+ to date, GEC is committed to making the designation available beyond November 1, 2025. However, to continue to raise the bar and catalyze climate action in the electronics industry, the requirements for obtaining the Climate+ designation beyond November 2025 need to evolve.

To this end, GEC is hosting a stakeholder webinar to propose options and obtain feedback regarding updated requirements for the Climate+ designation that would take effect November 1, 2025. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback during the webinar, and/or submit written feedback after the webinar. In June 2024, GEC plans to release its final plan regarding Climate+ requirements that will take effect on November 1, 2025.

To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for the webinar – note that the same topics will be discussed in each call.
Registration is required for the webinar —please use the registration links below to sign up.
 

Please direct any questions to epeat@gec.org

The 2nd public consultation on the Draft Criteria on Chemicals of Concern for the EPEAT ecolabel is now open to all interested stakeholders. These criteria address manufacturer programs to reduce sustainability impacts resulting from chemical substances used in products, manufacturing processes and packaging. Criteria also require inventory and transparency about chemicals substances found in products, including PFAS, and the identification of safer chemicals.

The 2nd public consultation period opens March 29, 2024 and closes April 28, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET.  For public commenters, the 2nd consultation is limited in scope to those revisions proposed by the Technical Committee since the initial public consultation.

The public consultation process is managed by NSF International, on behalf of GEC. All public comments must be submitted through the NSF comment platform, which provides detailed instructions on comment submittal.

Please contact Cassandra Leone at NSF (cleone@nsf.org) for assistance with comment submittal, if needed.

General questions regarding EPEAT criteria should be directed to Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org

GEC has posted an update of the GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview. This update provides hyperlinks to the latest Criteria Documents for Responsible Supply Chain and Sustainable Use of Resources Criteria. The schedule is also updated to reflect timelines for the second public consultations for criteria. If you have any questions about EPEAT® criteria development, the sustainability impact criteria, or how to engage in the process, please contact criteria@gec.org.

On February 15, the Global Electronics Council (GEC) published revised versions of key EPEAT Program documents including the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), GEC Criteria Development Process (P74), and GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75). These documents are either available directly on the EPEAT Registry, or under the “resources” section of the Registry for those with a Registry account—all documents are also available upon request.

GEC released proposed revisions to these documents for a public stakeholder comment period from October 16 through December 15, 2023. Stakeholder consultation is a crucial element of Type 1 ecolabels, and an important component of the EPEAT Program. To this end, stakeholders were invited to submit written feedback on these documents. GEC also held a series of virtual information sessions for stakeholders to highlight and provide clarity on key proposed revisions.

GEC thanks all stakeholders for the constructive feedback provided during the public comment period and appreciates the time and effort stakeholders took to review the documents. Stakeholder comment reports are available upon request.  

New requirements take effect on July 1, 2024. Participating Manufacturers and GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies must operate in accordance with both EPEAT Policy Manual (P65) and EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66) as of this effective date to fulfill EPEAT Program requirements. The EPEAT Program will develop training resources to identify new requirements for CABs and Participating Manufacturers.

Please direct any questions about these documents to EPEAT@GEC.org.

This special announcement is to alert stakeholders to a document revision and deadline extension for the 2nd public consultation on the Draft Criteria on Sustainable Use of Resources for the EPEAT ecolabel.   

Minor errors were identified in the clean and redline draft criteria documents posted last week. The errors, outlined below, have been corrected and updated versions of the clean and redline draft criteria documents have been posted HERE. Note that if using the original link to the public consultation webpage, you will be redirected to the updated webpage.

Since the documents were modified, the second public consultation will be extended a week, closing March 10, 2024 at 11:59pm.

For public commenters, the 2nd consultation is limited in scope to those revisions proposed by the Technical Committee since the initial public consultation. The public consultation process is managed by NSF International, on behalf of GEC. All public comments must be submitted through the NSF comment platform, which provides detailed instructions on comment submittal.

The following errors were corrected in the redline draft criteria document. Item 1 was also corrected in the clean draft criteria document, provided HERE for reference.

1)     Criterion 5.1.3 and 5.1.4. The following sentences preceding Tables 5.1.3 & 5.1.4, respectively, were removed as the Technical Committee chose to include thresholds in the Table.

Product > 500 kg shall contain at a minimum 250 grams post-consumer recycled plastic content (by weight).

Product > 500 kg shall contain a minimum recycled and biobased plastic content (by weight) of 500 grams for 1 point and 1000 grams for 2 points.

2)     Criterion 5.1.4, the following sentence is now shown in redline as the Technical Committee removed the text. It was redundant.

Point value: 1, 2 or 3 points (maximum of 3 points)     

3)     Criterion 5.6.2 is now shown in full strikeout as it was not approved by the Technical Committee. An explanation is provided in the comment box.

4)     The Optional Points in Annex A, Criterion 5.1.4, were changed from 1-2 to 1-3 points to reflect modifications in the criterion.

Please contact Cassandra Leone at NSF (cleone@nsf.org) for assistance with comment submittal, if needed.

General questions regarding EPEAT criteria should be directed to  Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The 2nd public consultation on the Draft Criteria on Sustainable Use of Resources for the EPEAT ecolabel is now open to all interested stakeholders. These criteria address circularity best practices, inclusive of material selection, product durability, access to firmware, design for repair, reuse and recycling, availability of repair services, responsible end-of-life management, sustainable packaging and water stewardship.

The 2nd public consultation period opens January 30, 2024 and closes March 3, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET. For public commenters, the 2nd consultation is limited in scope to those revisions proposed by the Technical Committee since the initial public consultation.

The public consultation process is managed by NSF International, on behalf of GEC. All public comments must be submitted through the NSF comment platform, which provides detailed instructions on comment submittal.

Please contact Cassandra Leone at NSF (cleone@nsf.org) for assistance with comment submittal, if needed.

General questions regarding EPEAT criteria should be directed to Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on February 8, 2024. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

• Applicability of Computers and Displays Criterion 4.5.1.5 to Signage Displays

If you’re interested in attending, please register below. Additional timeslots will be added upon request.

February 8, 2024: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

The January Conformity Guidance Group meeting has been cancelled. EPEAT anticipates topics for the February meeting.

Today GEC, in conjunction with NSF, launched the 2nd public consultation for the Draft Criteria on Responsible Supply Chains (formerly Corporate ESG Performance) for the EPEAT ecolabel. These criteria address the responsible sourcing of materials, fair labor practices and worker health and safety in the electronics supply chain.

The 2nd public consultation period is open from December 1, 2023 and closes on January 16, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET3.  For public commenters, the 2nd consultation is limited in scope to those revisions proposed by the Technical Committee since the initial public consultation.

Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with questions.

The EPEAT Program makes policy and procedural updates on an annual basis and is proposing revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), GEC Criteria Development Process (P74), and GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75).

The EPEAT Policy Manual identifies the underlying policies that govern and support EPEAT programmatic activities. The EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual defines the specific requirements and expectations of brands participating in EPEAT and of GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs). GEC Criteria Development Process identifies the process followed by the Global Electronics Council (GEC) to develop, revise, and evaluate criteria for use in the EPEAT Program. GEC Selection of Product Categories describes the process GEC follows to identify new product categories for which criteria may be developed.

Stakeholder feedback and insights are an essential part of GEC’s management of the EPEAT Program. As such, GEC is holding a 60-day comment period and welcomes stakeholder feedback on proposed revisions to these key documents. Parties interested in providing comments should contact Katherine Larocque for copies of the proposed revisions, which are identified using tracked changes in each of the respective documents. Please note that stakeholder feedback unrelated to the proposed changes will not be considered in this round of revisions, but will instead be examined for consideration during the next revision cycle.

The comment period is open from October 16 through December 15, 2023. Comments must be documented using the EPEAT Public Comment Form and submitted electronically to EPEAT@gec.org. All comments received that pertain to the proposed revisions will be made publicly available in a stakeholder comment report, summarizing comments received and attributing the comments directly to the submitter. All comments pertaining to the proposed revisions will be considered before the documents are finalized and published.

GEC reserves the right to not consider comments received after 11:59 pm North America Pacific Time on December 15, 2023.

GEC proposes to publish the revised documents on February 15, 2024 and new policy changes are proposed to become effective as of July 1, 2024. Participating Manufacturers and EPEAT-approved CABs will be responsible for conforming with the new requirements as of this date.

Please direct any questions about this public comment period to EPEAT@gec.org.

GEC has updated the development schedule for EPEAT criteria by sustainability impact areas. This update of the GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview provides revised timeframes for the 2nd public consultation periods for Sustainable Use of Resources, Chemicals of Concern, Corporate ESG Performance (now titled Responsible Supply Chains) and Imaging Equipment Consumables.

If you have any questions about EPEAT criteria development, the sustainability impact criteria, or how to engage in the process, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

 

GEC has revised and extended the timeframe for the 2nd public consultation for the Draft Criteria on Corporate ESG Performance (now titled Responsible Supply Chains) for the EPEAT ecolabel, based on stakeholder feedback. The 2nd public consultation period will now open on December 1, 2023 and close on January 16, 2024.  For public commenters, the 2nd consultation is limited in scope to those revisions proposed by the Technical Committee since the initial public consultation.

GEC will notify stakeholders when the 2nd public consultation opens via a special edition of this newsletter. The announcement will also be posted on the EPEAT Announcements page.  

Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with questions.

GEC is scheduling monthly Conformity Guidance Group meetings for 2024. These meetings will be used to address any technical issues that come up for both the current and updated criteria from the sustainability impact modules. The first meeting is scheduled for January and monthly thereafter on the second Thursday of every month. GEC will share topics for each meeting as they are established. Meetings may be cancelled if no topics are raised.

Participants may register for all 2024 meetings using the link below. Currently, each meeting is scheduled in one timeslot to bring together all attendees, however, additional timeslots may be added to a monthly meeting depending on the topic(s) to be discussed.

·    Zoom registration link (7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China)

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds IE-2023-01 and CD-2023-01 are now available on the EPEAT Registry. Both Rounds involved Level 2 investigations, which require laboratory testing of products to determine conformance with select EPEAT Criteria.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on October 12, 2023. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

·        Mobile Phones 9.2.3, Table 9.1 – products without plastics, and/or mobile phones without wire, cables, and external power supply accessories  

·        Computers and Displays 4.10.1.1 and 4.10.1.2 – Use of Distributors and Supplier Facilities in Scope

If you’re interested in attending, please register below. Additional timeslots will be added upon request.

December 14, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

Participating Manufacturers are reminded to archive products on the EPEAT Registry that are no longer offered for sale. As per the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), Participating Manufacturers are only able to achieve and maintain EPEAT registration for products that are available on the market. To this end, Participating Manufacturers are required to archive products when they are no longer offered for sale.

Purchasers rely on the EPEAT Registry to identify EPEAT-registered products that are available for purchase, and for this reason, it is important for manufacturers to ensure that products identified in the EPEAT Registry are still available in the market.

The EPEAT Program appreciates your attention and cooperation on this matter. Please email EPEAT@gec.org if you have any questions.

The 2024 Schedule of EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Rounds is now available on the EPEAT Registry.

The EPEAT Program ensures the veracity of EPEAT-registered products through an ongoing surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes (called Continuous Monitoring Rounds). Participating Manufacturers are responsible for participating in these Rounds, cooperating with their CABs, and providing the necessary documentation to show conformance with EPEAT Criteria.

GEC is committed to transparency, and to this end, the 2024 EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Schedule and the subsequent results of each Round are made publicly available.

Please direct any questions about the 2024 Continuous Monitoring Schedule to EPEAT@gec.org.

The EPEAT Program makes policy and procedural updates on an annual basis and is proposing revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), GEC Criteria Development Process (P74), and GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75).

The EPEAT Policy Manual identifies the underlying policies that govern and support EPEAT programmatic activities. The EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual defines the specific requirements and expectations of brands participating in EPEAT and of GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs). GEC Criteria Development Process identifies the process followed by the Global Electronics Council (GEC) to develop, revise, and evaluate criteria for use in the EPEAT Program. GEC Selection of Product Categories describes the process GEC follows to identify new product categories for which criteria may be developed.

Stakeholder feedback and insights are an essential part of GEC’s management of the EPEAT Program. As such, GEC is holding a 60-day comment period and welcomes stakeholder feedback on proposed revisions to these key documents. Parties interested in providing comments should contact Katherine Larocque for copies of the proposed revisions, which are identified using tracked changes in each of the respective documents. Please note that stakeholder feedback unrelated to the proposed changes will not be considered in this round of revisions, but will instead be examined for consideration during the next revision cycle.

The comment period is open from October 16 through December 15, 2023. Comments must be documented using the EPEAT Public Comment Form and submitted electronically to EPEAT@gec.org. All comments received that pertain to the proposed revisions will be made publicly available in a stakeholder comment report, summarizing comments received and attributing the comments directly to the submitter. All comments pertaining to the proposed revisions will be considered before the documents are finalized and published.

GEC reserves the right to not consider comments received after 11:59 pm North America Pacific Time on December 15, 2023.

To facilitate the review of these documents, GEC is holding three informational sessions for stakeholders to highlight key changes and answer any questions. To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for this call – note that the same topics will be discussed in each call.

GEC will not be accepting feedback from participants during these sessions; all feedback must be submitted electronically using the EPEAT Public Comment Form provided. If you or your colleagues are interested in participating in one of these calls, please use the registration links below.

GEC proposes to publish the revised documents on February 15, 2024 and new policy changes are proposed to become effective as of July 1, 2024. Participating Manufacturers and EPEAT-approved CABs will be responsible for conforming with the new requirements as of this date.

Please direct any questions about this public comment period to EPEAT@gec.org.

In addition to Large Network Equipment – Criterion 6.4.1 for Energy Star, EPEAT will also discuss Climate Change Mitigation 4.4.1, 4.4.2 and 4.4.3: Acceptable Renewable Electricity Standards.

If you’re interested in attending, please register below. Additional timeslots will be added upon request.

October 12, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

Initial EPEAT Climate+ Designated Products Leading the Race for Electronics with Lower Climate Impacts

GEC is thrilled to announce the listing of the first EPEAT® Climate+ designated products. Climate+ is a new product designation meant to connect forward-thinking electronics brands with carbon-conscious purchasers. Climate+ designated products will empower organizations to drive change through a progressive set of criteria focused on increased transparency, goal setting and concrete corporate actions to decarbonize the supply chain. In addition, public and third-party verified product GHG disclosures will ease the challenge of procurement related Scope-3 emissions tracking and decision making.

As the world seeks new and innovative ways to address the urgent climate crisis, those on both the supply and demand side of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector can leverage this new offering immediately. Climate+ designated products are now available as a proactive means to combat this urgent issue, taking the EPEAT system to the next solution level.  GEC expects the number of products with this designation to grow substantially in the coming months from the already impressive initial offerings.

Climate+ designated products meet evolved new requirements developed in a multi-stakeholder process meant to reduce their lifecycle carbon, potentially years ahead of the rest of the market. The products set themselves apart on the EPEAT Registry because of these climate change mitigation measures. Purchasers can easily identify these products with this new designation on the public-facing registry.

Bob Mitchell, CEO of GEC, emphasizes, “EPEAT Climate+ isn’t just a product distinction; it’s a catalyst for change in the electronics industry. Our goal is to amplify the market for electronics that are purposefully designed and built with greenhouse gas reduction in mind by companies that prioritize climate action. By equipping individuals and organizations with valuable insights into what constitutes a climate-conscious product, EPEAT Climate+ provides a simple way to collectively recognize and mitigate carbon emissions in the lifecycle of electronics.”

In addition to verified product GHG disclosures, manufacturers seeking Climate+ designation must also demonstrate their commitment to several other critical requirements. These include energy-efficient upstream manufacturing, GHG reduction targets, renewable energy sourcing, and product energy efficiency standards. These comprehensive criteria are specifically designed to track and, where possible, reduce GHG emissions throughout the entire product lifecycle – from material mining and assembly to use and disposal.

Climate+ offers a unique opportunity for both electronics brands and purchasers to take immediate action years ahead of the criteria becoming a requirement for all EPEAT registered products. Climate+ gives electronics brands a new opportunity to stand out as an EPEAT Climate+ Champion. Purchasers and other stakeholders can commit to furthering impacts by signing the GEC Climate+ Pledge as either a Climate+ Purchasing Leader or a Climate+ Purchasing Advocate.

To learn more about Climate+, the GEC Climate+ Pledge, requirements for product manufacturing and more, visit globalelectronicscouncil.org/climateplus/ or contact epeat@gec.org.

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on October 12, 2023. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

·        Large Network Equipment – Criterion 6.4.1 for Energy Star

If you’re interested in attending, please register below. Additional timeslots will be added upon request.

October 12, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

GEC has updated the development schedule for EPEAT criteria by sustainability impact areas. This update of the GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview provides revised estimates on the publication dates for the remaining criteria, reflecting our experience with the Climate Criteria and the reality that the Technical Committees need additional time to work through criteria and reach consensus.

If you have any questions about EPEAT criteria development, the sustainability impact criteria, or how to engage in the process, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds IE-2023-02 and MP-2023-01 are now available on the EPEAT Registry. IE-2023-02 involved Level 0 investigations in the imaging equipment product category, which require CABs to review publicly available information to determine conformance with EPEAT Criteria. MP-2023-01 focused on products in the mobile phones product category and involved Level 2 investigations, which require laboratory testing of products to determine conformance with select EPEAT Criteria.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

GEC is undertaking a multi-year initiative to update EPEAT criteria to align with priority sustainability impacts of electronic products and their supply chains, and to ensure the criteria: meet purchaser demands with an increased focus on climate change and supply chains, address sustainability impacts consistently across product categories, and respond to rapid changes in both technology and market trends.

The priority sustainability impact areas include Climate Change, Circularity and Sustainable Use of Resources, Chemicals of Concern, and Corporate ESG Performance. When complete, the updated criteria will be applied across all EPEAT product categories, starting with Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones, Servers, and Televisions.

In January of 2023, GEC released the implementation plan and timeline for the transition to the updated criteria. Since that time, we’ve continued to receive feedback on the plan and timeline. In addition, implementation topics were addressed during monthly CAB Calibration meetings and monthly Conformity Guidance Group meetings. From June through August 2023, we also engaged with key stakeholders specifically on the implementation timeline, taking into consideration modifications to the criteria development schedule.

Based on the above, GEC is pleased to announce a revision to the implementation plan and timeline.

This document identifies revised dates for implementation and provides additional details on other key activities that will support an efficient and successful transition, including the EPEAT Climate+ designation for manufacturers who adopt the required Climate Criteria early.

We deeply appreciate the ongoing engagement and feedback we’ve received, and believe we’ve reached the right balance for a fair and credible path to implement the updated EPEAT criteria in the coming years. We remain committed to supporting all stakeholders during this transition process.

Please let us know if you have any questions about the revised implementation plan and timeline by emailing us at EPEAT@gec.org.

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on September 14, 2023. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

• Climate Change Mitigation – 4.6.3 Required – Battery charger system energy efficiency - Multiple Configurations for Battery Charger Systems
• More topics may be added upon request.

If you’re interested in attending, please register below. Additional timeslots will be added upon request.

September 14, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

A New Way to Gain Recognition in the Fight Against Climate Change

7:00 PST  •  10:00 EST  •  16:00 CEST  •  20:00 CST

Manufacturer Signup

Promote your commitment to addressing climate change as an early adopter of the new EPEAT Climate Criteria under EPEAT Climate+. EPEAT is launching this new opportunity to help companies become industry champions in reducing the climate impact of electronics products.

Join us for a special manufacturer-only virtual event on August 10 to learn more about Climate+. During this special event, we’ll cover a broad range of topics including:

• What is Climate+
• How products can attain the Climate+ designation
• What you need to do to attain Climate+
• How Climate+ will be reflected in the EPEAT Registry
• Why should brands pursue Climate+
• How Climate+ will be communicated & promoted in the marketplace

We will also give registrants an opportunity to ask any questions that they may have. Members of EPEAT Participating Manufacturers or prospective manufacturers may register at this link or at the signup link above. Participants will also receive a recording at the conclusion of the meeting by signing up at either link.

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on August 17, 2023. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

·        Mobile Phones 8.1.3 – products without accessories

·        More topics may be added upon request.

If you’re interested in attending, please register below. Additional timeslots will be added upon request.

August 17, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

July 26, 2023

GEC has updated the development schedule for EPEAT criteria by sustainability impact modules. This update of the GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview provides revised estimates on the publication dates for the remaining criteria, reflecting our experience with the Climate Criteria and the reality that the Technical Committees need additional time to work through criteria and reach consensus.

If you have any questions about EPEAT criteria development, the sustainability impact criteria, or how to engage in the process, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

In January, GEC released an Implementation Schedule for the updated EPEAT Criteria. GEC is considering revisions to the implementation schedule due to delays in the completion of criteria. In a Stakeholder Engagement webinar that took place on July 10, GEC presented proposed revisions to the implementation schedule along with the rationale for the adjustments.

GEC is currently accepting stakeholder feedback on the proposed revisions until August 7, 2023, and will publish a revised Implementation Schedule for Updated EPEAT Criteria by August 21, 2023.

Please contact epeat@gec.org for a copy of the meeting materials that were presented on July 10. Feedback should also be directed to epeat@gec.org.

Stakeholder feedback and insights are already an integral component of GEC’s management of the EPEAT Program and are particularly important during the annual policy revision process. Typically, feedback on the annual revisions is received during the public stakeholder comment period every October. However, GEC seeks to have stakeholder feedback also inform the development of annual revisions and has launched a new stakeholder engagement opportunity to solicit feedback on a series of key EPEAT Program topics to do so.

This year, GEC is soliciting feedback from stakeholders on the following topics:

• Refinement/improvement of current CAB-related processes
• EPEAT Program technical guidance and requirements
• GEC Criteria revision process

GEC hosted a stakeholder engagement session on July 10 to present proposed approaches for addressing each of the key issues above and is currently accepting stakeholder feedback until August 21.

Please contact epeat@gec.org for a copy of the meeting materials that were presented on July 10. Feedback should also be directed to epeat@gec.org.

GEC is releasing its Draft Imaging Equipment Consumables Criteria for public comment today. The public comment period -- open for 60 days -- is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide technical comments on the draft criteria. The draft criteria address design of imaging equipment to allow for use of remanufactured cartridges, to minimize use of paper, ink and toner and to meet internationally recognized indoor air quality standards, as well as consumable take-back programs to enable circularity. The State of Sustainability Research for Imaging Equipment Consumables provides the scientific basis for these criteria.

These criteria will be applied to the EPEAT Imaging Equipment product category only, along with criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources, Reducing Chemicals of Concern and Corporate Environment, Social and Governance Performance.

NSF International manages the public comment process on behalf of GEC. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on September 11, 2023 using the NSF Online Workspace, available here. Instructions on submitting comments are provided on the NSF Online Workspace. To support openness and transparency, the NSF website displays all public comments and their resolution.   

For more information on the criteria development process, see GEC’s Updated EPEAT Criteria website. Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with questions.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Round MP-2023-02 is now available on the EPEAT Registry. This Round involved Level 0 investigations of products in the Mobile Phones category. Level 0 Investigations require CABs to review publicly available information to determine conformance with specific EPEAT Criteria.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

Feedback Solicited on Revision to Implementation Schedule for Updated Criteria

In January, GEC released an implementation schedule for the updated EPEAT Criteria.  GEC is considering revisions to the implementation schedule due to delays in the completion of criteria. In the Stakeholder Engagement webinar on July 10, GEC will present proposed revisions to the implementation schedule along with the rationale for adjustments to the schedule. Stakeholders can provide feedback in the webinar or provide feedback following the webinar. Feedback is due no later than July 28.  GEC will release its final plan for implementation of the Updated Criteria no later than August 15.

Registration is required for the webinar —please use the registration links at the bottom of this article to sign up.

Currently Accepting Feedback on EPEAT Policy Revisions

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is dedicated to the continuous improvement of the EPEAT Program and is constantly looking for opportunities to strengthen the rigor and credibility of the program. To this end, GEC monitors industry trends, regulatory changes, and market drivers which may impact the EPEAT Program, and responds accordingly. Although GEC has mechanisms in place to monitor these broader external factors, we believe stakeholder input is of paramount importance to ensuring that EPEAT continues to be the leading global Type 1 ecolabel for electronics.

Stakeholder feedback and insights are already an integral component of GEC’s management of the EPEAT Program and are particularly important during the annual policy revision process. Typically, feedback on the annual revisions is received during the public stakeholder comment period every October. However, GEC seeks to have stakeholder feedback also inform the development of annual revisions and is hosting a new stakeholder engagement opportunity over the coming months on a series of key EPEAT Program topics to do so.

This year, GEC will solicit feedback from stakeholders on the following topics:

• Refinement/improvement of current CAB-related processes
• EPEAT Program technical guidance and requirements
• GEC Criteria revision process

GEC hosted an information session on June 14, 2023, to identify specific issues and discussion questions for stakeholder consideration. The presentation materials are now available, and a recording of the webinar will be made available soon.

GEC is currently accepting stakeholder feedback until July 5 on the topics, specific issues, and discussion questions identified in the June 14 webinar. Feedback can be submitted via email to EPEAT@gec.org

GEC is hosting a second Stakeholder Engagement session on July 10, 2023. In this session, GEC will present proposed approaches for addressing each of the key issues. To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for each session. Registration is required—please use the registration links below to sign up.

Please direct any questions to EPEAT@gec.org

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Round CD-2023-02 is now available on the EPEAT Registry. This Round involved Level 0 investigations of products in the Computers and Displays category. Level 0 Investigations require CABs to review publicly available information to determine conformance with specific EPEAT Criteria.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

The EPEAT Program has cancelled the June 15/July 16 2023, Conformity Guidance Group meeting and will discuss the planned topic of Climate Change Mitigation 4.4.1 and Accepted Renewable Electricity Standards during the July 13/July 14 2023, meeting.

A second timeslot has been added to the July meeting. Stakeholders can register for the July meeting using the following registration links:

Timeslot 1: July 10, 2023: 6pm Pacific/9pm Eastern/ July 11, 2023: 9am China/10am Japan

Timeslot 2: July 13, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

The same information will be discussed in both meetings, even though they are on different days.

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is dedicated to continuous improvement of the EPEAT Program, and is constantly looking for opportunities to strengthen the rigor and credibility of the program. To this end, GEC monitors industry trends, regulatory changes, and market drivers which may impact the EPEAT Program, and responds accordingly. Although GEC has mechanisms in place to monitor these broader external factors, we believe stakeholder input is of paramount importance to ensuring that EPEAT continues to be the leading global Type 1 ecolabel for electronics. 

 Stakeholder feedback and insights are already an integral component of GEC’s management of the EPEAT Program and are particularly important during the annual policy revision process. Typically, feedback on the annual revisions is received during the public stakeholder comment period every October. However GEC seeks to have stakeholder feedback also inform the development of annual revisions and is hosting a new stakeholder engagement opportunity over the coming months on a series of key EPEAT Program topics to do so.

 This year, GEC will solicit feedback from stakeholders on the following topic:

1)      Refinement / improvement of current CAB-related processes

2)      EPEAT Program technical guidance and requirements

3)      GEC Criteria revision process

 An information session took place on May 17, 2023 and provided an overview of the new stakeholder engagement opportunity, explained why GEC is undertaking it, outlined how feedback will be gathered, and described the topics for which GEC is seeking feedback.  A recording of the information session, as well as the presentation materials, are now available.

 GEC is currently accepting preliminary stakeholder feedback on the topics and proposed process until June 5. Feedback can be submitted via email to EPEAT@gec.org

 To engage stakeholders and obtain feedback on the topics above, GEC is hosting two Stakeholder Engagement sessions. Participation is entirely optional, and all stakeholders are welcome to attend.

 The first Stakeholder Engagement session is taking place on June 14, 2023. In this session, GEC will identify specific issues and discussion questions for stakeholder consideration. To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for each session. Registration is required—please use the registration links below to sign up.

The second Stakeholder Engagement Session will take place on July 10, 2023. In the second session, GEC will present proposed approaches for addressing each of the key issues. Again, to accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for each session. Registration is required—please use the registration links below to sign up.

 Please direct any questions to EPEAT@gec.org

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds IE-2022-01 and IE-2022-03 are now available on the EPEAT Registry. IE-2022-01 involved laboratory evaluation of EPEAT-registered products in the Imaging Equipment product category against specific EPEAT Criteria, while IE-2022-03 involved documentation review.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is dedicated to continuous improvement of the EPEAT Program, and constantly is looking for opportunities to strengthen the rigor and credibility of the program. To this end, GEC monitors industry trends, regulatory changes, and market drivers which may impact the EPEAT Program, and responds accordingly. Although GEC has mechanisms in place to monitor these broader external factors, we believe stakeholder input is of paramount importance to ensuring that EPEAT continues to be the leading global Type 1 ecolabel for electronics. 

Stakeholder feedback and insights are already an integral component of GEC’s management of the EPEAT Program and are particularly important during the annual policy revision process. Typically, feedback on the annual revisions is received during the public stakeholder comment period every October. GEC seeks to have stakeholder feedback also inform the annual revisions and is facilitating a new stakeholder engagement opportunity over the coming months on a series of key EPEAT Program topics.

GEC will solicit feedback on the following topics this year:

1)      Refinement / improvement of current CAB-related processes

2)      EPEAT Program technical guidance and requirements

3)      GEC Criteria revision process

GEC is hosting a series of meetings to facilitate stakeholder feedback and perspectives on the topics identified above. An information session took place on May 17, 2023 and provided an overview of the new stakeholder engagement opportunity, explained why GEC is undertaking it, outlined how feedback will be gathered, and described the topics for which GEC is seeking feedback.

Three sessions were held throughout the day to accommodate worldwide locations, and each session covered the same topics. A recording of the webinar, as well as the presentation materials, are now available.

GEC is accepting preliminary stakeholder feedback on the topics for discussion until June 5. Feedback can be submitted via email to EPEAT@gec.org

Details regarding the stakeholder engagement session to be hosted in June are forthcoming. Please direct any questions to EPEAT@gec.org

In January 2023, GEC released an Implementation Plan to guide the transition to the updated EPEAT Criteria. On May 16, 2023 GEC issued a slightly revised Implementation Plan to reflect the fact that publication of the Climate Change Criteria were delayed. 

Changes were only made to some of the dates pertaining to the Climate Change Early Adopter schedule on page 5 of the document. All changes are identified in red font. No changes were made to any other sections of the document. 

Should you have any questions about the Implementation Schedule, please email us EPEAT@gec.org 

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) today released updated Criteria for its EPEAT ecolabel that will help organizations identify electronics with lower climate impacts. These Climate Criteria establish requirements that reduce greenhouse gas emissions of common office technology, including contributing to the complex issue of supply chain decarbonization and Scope 3 emission reductions.

The EPEAT Climate Criteria will be integrated across EPEAT product categories, providing new and more stringent requirements in line with the sustainability goals of leading organizations.

“We must acknowledge that the lifecycle of technology products is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” explained Bob Mitchell, CEO of GEC. “In order to sit squarely in the solution space of the climate crisis, technology companies, purchasers and other stakeholders must be able to make fact-based decisions on building and purchasing low-carbon products. This is where the EPEAT Climate Criteria come in.”

The Climate Criteria consist of updated requirements for GHG public disclosure, science-based GHG targets, use of renewable energy, and energy use reduction within the supply chain and during a product’s use. They will make it easier to find electronics with lower climate impacts throughout the entire product lifecycle, from material mining through manufacture, use, and disposal.

“We welcome the increased focus on reducing greenhouse gases in the electronics supply chain by the EPEAT ecolabel, which is used across the California Department of General Services (DGS) for office electronics,” explained Ana M. Lasso, DGS Director. “EPEAT’s focus on decarbonizing the supply chain and promoting the use of renewable energy aligns with recent internal initiatives and contributes to our sustainability goals.”

EPEAT-registered products will be required to meet these Climate Criteria by the end of 2025. However, manufacturers can begin working towards these criteria immediately and will have the opportunity to demonstrate early adoption through the EPEAT Registry before the end of this year. Please visit globalelectronicscouncil.org/climate-criteria/ or contact epeat@gec.org to learn more about the Climate Criteria and how they fit among the full set of Updated EPEAT Criteria.

The EPEAT Program has cancelled the May 11, 2023 Conformity Guidance Group meeting as there are no topics scheduled. The EPEAT Program anticipates topics to be discussed related to the Climate Change Mitigation Criteria in both the June 1 and 15th meetings and encourages stakeholders to register for these meetings.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds CD-2022-01, and IE-2022-04 are now available on the EPEAT Registry. CD-2022-01 involved laboratory evaluation of EPEAT-registered products in the Computers and Displays product category against specific EPEAT Criteria. IE-2022-04 involved the review of documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance with the EPEAT Criteria in the Imaging Equipment product category.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

GEC is undertaking a multi-year initiative to revise its EPEAT Criteria to align with priority sustainability impacts of electronic products and their supply chains. The priority sustainability impact areas include Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources (or Circularity), Reduction of Chemicals of Concern, and Corporate ESG Performance.

In January 2023, GEC released an Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria to guide the transition process. The plan identifies March 30, 2023, as the estimated publication date for the Climate Change Mitigation Criteria. This announcement is to inform stakeholders that the publication of the criteria is slightly delayed. GEC develops criteria using a voluntary consensus process, which requires the Technical Committee to consider all views and reach general agreement, which we believe is fundamentally important to ensuring the development of credible criteria. For the Climate Change Mitigation Criteria, the process was extended in order to reach the highest possible level of agreement among our diverse stakeholders.

GEC intends to publish the Climate Change Mitigation Criteria in May 2023 and will update the Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria accordingly.

Please note that the Implementation Plan identifies several firm deadlines that will not change, regardless of any delays in the publication of criteria—these firm deadlines will not be revised. However, some key dates pertaining to the Climate Change Early Adopter Concept (such as the release of training and resource materials), will be updated.

GEC will publish another newsletter announcement when a revised Implementation Plan for Updated Criteria is available.

Please direct any questions to EPEAT@gec.org

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is dedicated to continuous improvement of the EPEAT Program, and constantly is looking for opportunities to strengthen the rigor and credibility of the program. To this end, GEC monitors industry trends, regulatory changes, and market drivers which may impact the EPEAT Program, and responds accordingly. Although GEC has mechanisms in place to monitor these broader external factors, we believe stakeholder input is of paramount importance to ensuring that EPEAT continues to be the leading global Type 1 ecolabel for electronics.

Stakeholder feedback and insights are already an integral component of GEC’s management of the EPEAT Program and are particularly important during the annual policy revision process. Typically, feedback on the annual revisions is received during the public stakeholder comment period every October. GEC seeks to have stakeholder feedback also inform the annual revisions and is initiating a new engagement process over the coming months on a series of key EPEAT Program topics.

GEC will solicit feedback on the following topics this year:

• Refinement/improvement of current CAB-related processes
• EPEAT Program technical guidance and requirements
• GEC Criteria revision process

GEC will host a series of meetings to facilitate stakeholder feedback and perspectives on the topics identified above. The first session is taking place on May 17, 2023, and will provide an overview of the new stakeholder engagement process, explain why GEC is undertaking it, outline how feedback will be gathered, and describe the topics for which GEC is seeking feedback.

To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for this first session – note that the same topics will be discussed in each call. If you or your colleagues are interested in participating in one of these calls, please use the registration links below.

Please direct any questions to EPEAT@gec.org

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances and the actions taken to restore accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds TV-2022-01, and CD-2022-04 are now available on the EPEAT Registry. TV-2022-01 involved laboratory evaluation of EPEAT-registered products in the Televisions product category with specific EPEAT Criteria. CD-2022-04 involved review of documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance with the EPEAT Criteria selected for investigation in the Computers and Displays product category.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on June 1st, 2023. The meeting will be held in two timeslots and the content will be the same.

• We scheduled this meeting because we foresee additional topics to discuss after the publication of Climate Change Mitigation Criteria

More topics may be added upon request.

 If you’re interested in attending, please register below for the timeslot that works best for you:

• Timeslot 1: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Central European Summer Time/10pm China Standard Time/11pm Japan Standard Time [June 1st, 2023]
• Timeslot 2: 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern [June 1, 2023] /2am Central European Summer Time/8am China Standard Time/9am Japan Standard Time [June 2nd, 2023]

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds CD-2022-03, MP-2022-03, MP-2022-04, SV-2022-04, TV-2022-03, and TV-2022-04 are now available on the EPEAT Registry.

All of the Rounds involved Level 1 Investigations. Level 1 Investigations require CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

GEC is undertaking a multi-year initiative to revise its EPEAT Criteria to align with priority sustainability impacts of electronic products and their supply chains, and to ensure the criteria:

• Meet purchaser demands with an increased focus on climate change and supply chains,
• Address sustainability impacts consistently across product categories, and
• Respond to rapid changes in both technology and market trends.

The priority sustainability impact areas include Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources (or Circularity), Reduction of Chemicals of Concern, and Corporate ESG Performance. When complete, the updated criteria will be applied across all EPEAT product categories, starting with Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones, Servers, and Televisions.

After extensive stakeholder consultation throughout 2022, GEC recently finalized the implementation plan that will guide the transition to the updated EPEAT Criteria. The Final Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria identifies key dates in the transition process and provides additional details on other key activities that will support an efficient and successful transition, including recognition for manufacturers who adopt the Climate Change Mitigation Criteria early (called ‘Early Adopter Status’).

GEC held three information sessions for stakeholders on February 22, 2023, to highlight key aspects of the implementation plan and answer any questions. Three sessions were held throughout the day to accommodate worldwide locations, and each session covered the same topics. A recording of the webinar, as well as the presentation materials, are now available.

Please direct any questions about the implementation plan to EPEAT@gec.org.

Upon request, a second timeslot has been added to both the March and April Conformity Guidance Group Meetings. Please find the times and registration links below:

March 16, 2023: 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern / March 17, 2023: 8am China, 9am Japan/Korea (Timeslot 2)

April 13, 2023: 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern / April 14, 2023: 8am China, 9am Japan/Korea (Timeslot 2)

The same information will be reviewed in each timeslot, so attendees only need to attend the timeslot that is most convenient to them. Registration links for the original timeslots are in the announcement below. 

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on March 16, 2023. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

• EPEAT Terms – Definition of Product

If you’re interested in attending, please register below:

• March 16, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

 GEC will also be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on April 13, 2023. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

• Follow up discussion on testing for Imaging Equipment Criterion 4.10.1.1 for Thermal Printers. More topics may be added upon request.

 If you’re interested in attending, please register below:

• April 13, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China - additional timeslots may be added upon request.

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

GEC provides a quarterly update on the development schedule for the updated EPEAT Criteria by sustainability impact area. These criteria will be applied across all EPEAT ICT product categories, starting with Computers & Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones, Televisions and Servers. Of note this quarter, we’ve made some updates to the development schedule and added information on the implementation plan for the updated EPEAT criteria, which was released in January 2023. The Final Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria identifies key dates in the transition process and provides additional details on other key activities that will support an efficient and successful transition, including recognition for manufacturers who adopt the Climate Change Mitigation Criteria early (called ‘Early Adopter Status’). For convenience, this quarterly update also provides links to the most recent public drafts of criteria and supporting State of Sustainability Research.

If you have any questions about EPEAT criteria development, the updated EPEAT Criteria by sustainability impact or how to engage in the process, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

Today, the Global Electronics Council (GEC) published revised versions of the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and GEC Criteria Development Process (P74), in addition to the first issue of GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75). These documents are available through either the EPEAT Registry, an EPEAT Registry account under “Resources”, or upon request.

 GEC released GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75), as well as proposed revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and GEC Criteria Development Process (P74) for a public stakeholder comment period from October 17 through December 31, 2022. Stakeholder consultation is a crucial element of Type 1 ecolabels, and an important component of the EPEAT Program. Stakeholders were invited to submit written feedback on these documents using the GEC provided stakeholder comment form. GEC also held a series of virtual information sessions for stakeholders to highlight and provide clarity on key proposed revisions.

 GEC thanks all stakeholders for the constructive and thoughtful feedback provided during the public comment period and appreciates the time and effort stakeholders took to review the documents. GEC received over 175 written comments from different stakeholder groups which have been compiled into two stakeholder comment reports. The first report summarizes comments received on both the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65) and EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), while the second report summarizes comments pertaining to GEC Criteria Development Process (P74) and GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75).

 New requirements take effect on July 1, 2023, unless otherwise stated. Participating Manufacturers and GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies must operate in accordance with both EPEAT Policy Manual (P65) and EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66) as of this effective date to fulfill EPEAT Program requirements. The EPEAT Program will develop training resources to identify new requirements for CABs and Manufacturers.

 Please direct any questions about these documents to EPEAT@GEC.org.

GEC is undertaking a multi-year initiative to revise its EPEAT Criteria to align with priority sustainability impacts of electronic products and their supply chains, and to ensure the criteria:

• Meet purchaser demands with an increased focus on climate change and supply chains,
• Address sustainability impacts consistently across product categories, and
• Respond to rapid changes in both technology and market trends.

The priority sustainability impact areas include Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources (or Circularity), Reduction of Chemicals of Concern, and Corporate ESG Performance. When complete, the updated criteria will be applied across all EPEAT product categories, starting with Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones, Servers, and Televisions.

After extensive stakeholder consultation throughout 2022, GEC is pleased to announce that it has finalized the implementation plan that will guide the transition to the updated EPEAT Criteria. The Final Implementation Plan for Updated EPEAT Criteria identifies key dates in the transition process and provides additional details on other key activities that will support an efficient and successful transition, including recognition for manufacturers who adopt the Climate Change Mitigation Criteria early (called ‘Early Adopter Status’).  

Some of the key transition dates are outlined below, however Participating Manufacturers and GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies are strongly encouraged to read the entire document.

 GEC thanks all stakeholders who engaged in the development of the plan. Stakeholder feedback was a crucial element in developing a balanced implementation plan, especially considering the diverse range of views expressed on key transition issues.

GEC believes the implementation plan outlines a fair, credible, and transparent path to guide the successful transition to updated EPEAT Criteria in the coming years, and remains committed to supporting Participating Manufacturers, GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies, and EPEAT Purchasers during the process.

GEC is holding three informational sessions for stakeholders to highlight key aspects of the implementation plan and answer any questions. Since the implementation plan is considered final, no further feedback will be accepted during these sessions.

To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for this call – note that the same topics will be discussed in each call. If you are interested in participating, please use the registration links below.

 Please direct any questions about the implementation plan to EPEAT@gec.org

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is developing criteria to address design of imaging equipment to allow for use of remanufactured cartridges, to minimize use of paper, ink and toner and to meet internationally recognized indoor air quality standards, as well as consumable take-back programs to enable circularity.

This Call for Participation is to notify stakeholders of the opportunity to participate on the multi-stakeholder Technical Committee that will evaluate and reach consensus on these sustainability leadership criteria. GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee. See the Call for Participation for additional information on Technical Committee membership.

 If you are interested in applying to participate on the Technical Committee, please complete the Technical Committee Application Form, and return it by midnight U.S. Eastern Time on February 24, 2023 to Greta Baragar, Sustainability Standards Lead, NSF International (gbaragar@nsf.org). If you’re interested in participating as an Observer, please complete the Technical Committee Observer Application Form.

These criteria will be applied to the EPEAT Imaging Equipment product category only, along with criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources, Reducing Chemicals of Concern and Corporate Environment, Social and Governance Performance. See the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact for more information on these criteria modules, GEC’s criteria development process, participation options, and anticipated schedule.

Questions about Technical Committee applications should be directed to Greta Baragar at NSF (GBaragar@NSF.org). If you have questions about the imaging equipment consumables criteria or the criteria development process, please contact GEC at: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

GEC will be holding a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on February 16, 2023. During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topic:

• EPEAT Terms

More topics may be added upon request.

If you’re interested in attending, please register below:

• February 16, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/11pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

As part of the transition to the new Criteria, GEC is scheduling monthly Conformity Guidance Group meetings. These meetings will be used to address any technical issues that come up during the transition to the new Criteria from the sustainability impact modules as well as additional topics raised throughout the year. The first meeting is scheduled for February, and monthly thereafter. GEC will share topics for each meeting as they are established. Meetings may be cancelled if no topics are raised.

Participants may register for each meeting using the links below. Currently, each meeting is scheduled in one timeslot to bring together all attendees, however, additional timeslots may be added to a monthly meeting depending on the topic(s) to be discussed.

·        February 16, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/11pm China

·        March 16, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

·        April 13, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

·        May 11, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

·        June 15, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

·        July 13, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

·        August 17, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

·        September 14, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

·        October 12, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/10pm China

·        November 16, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/11pm China

·        December 14, 2023: 7am Pacific/10am Eastern/4pm Germany/11pm China

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds MP-2022-02 and PV-2022-02 are now available on the EPEAT Registry.

Continuous Monitoring Round PV-2022-02 involved Level 1 Investigations in the Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters category, while MP-2022-02 involved Level 1 Investigations in the Mobile Phone category. Level 1 Investigations require CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022, and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report for November 2022 is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from November 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in January 2023.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org

The EPEAT Program makes policy and procedural updates on an annual basis and is proposing revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and GEC Criteria Development Process (P74). GEC also released a new document, GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75) for public comment as well.

 Stakeholder feedback and insights are an essential part of the Global Electronics Council’s (GEC) management of the EPEAT Program. GEC is currently holding a comment period on key policy documents and welcomes stakeholder feedback on the October 2022 proposed revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual, the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual, and GEC Criteria Development Process, as well as the first edition of GEC Selection of Product Categories.

 To facilitate the review of these documents, GEC held informational sessions for stakeholders on November 14, 2022 to highlight key changes and answer any questions. Three sessions were held throughout the day to accommodate worldwide locations, and each session covered the same topics. A recording of the webinar, as well as the presentation materials, are now available.

 The comment period was originally scheduled to be open from October 17 through December 16, 2022, however GEC has decided to extend the deadline to December 31, 2022. Comments must be documented using the EPEAT Public Comment Form and submitted electronically to EPEAT@gec.org. All comments received will be made publicly available in a stakeholder comment report, summarizing comments received and attributing the comments directly to the submitter.

 GEC reserves the right to not consider comments received after 11:59 pm North America Pacific Time on December 31, 2022.

 Please direct any questions about this public comment period to EPEAT@gec.org.

GEC is pleased to release its final State of Sustainability Research for Imaging Equipment Consumables, which reflects stakeholder comments and data-supported recommendations submitted during the public consultation process. A summary of comments and how the report was modified in response is available upon request, by contacting CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

 This State of Sustainability Research serves as the science-based foundation for EPEAT criteria development. The research identifies priority contributors of consumables, specifically ink and toner cartridges and paper, to the life cycle impacts of imaging equipment in three areas: climate change, resource use and chemicals of concern. The research then examines how the overall sustainability footprint of imaging equipment devices can be improved by implementing design and circularity strategies focused on these consumables. Finally, this research recommends criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel, based on the science and evidence presented in this State of Sustainability Research.

 GEC is now convening Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review and draft criteria for imaging equipment use of consumables. Stakeholders interested in participating in criteria development are encouraged to contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org if they haven’t already done so.  

Please contact Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org) with any questions. 

The EPEAT Program makes policy and procedural updates on an annual basis and is proposing revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and GEC Criteria Development Process (P74). GEC is also released a new document, GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75) for public comment as well.

 Stakeholder feedback and insights are an essential part of the Global Electronics Council’s (GEC) management of the EPEAT Program. GEC is currently holding a comment period on key policy documents and welcomes stakeholder feedback on the October 2022 proposed revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual, the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual, and GEC Criteria Development Process, as well as the first edition of GEC Selection of Product Categories.

 To facilitate the review of these documents, GEC held informational sessions for stakeholders on November 14, 2022 to highlight key changes and answer any questions. Three sessions were held throughout the day to accommodate worldwide locations, and each session covered the same topics. A recording of the webinar, as well as the presentation materials, are now available.

 As a reminder, the comment period was originally scheduled to be open from October 17 through December 16, 2022, however GEC has decided to extend the deadline to December 31, 2022. Comments must be documented using the EPEAT Public Comment Form and submitted electronically to EPEAT@gec.org. All comments received will be made publicly available in a stakeholder comment report, summarizing comments received and attributing the comments directly to the submitter.

 GEC reserves the right to not consider comments received after 11:59 pm North America Pacific Time on December 31, 2022.

 Please direct any questions about this public comment period to EPEAT@gec.org.

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022, and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report for October 2022 is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from October 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in January 2023.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org 

GEC provides a quarterly update on the schedule for criteria development and implementation for EPEAT’s new criteria by sustainability impact modules. Of note this quarter, we’ve made some updates to the development schedule, including notification that at this time we do not plan to develop additional product-specific energy efficiency criteria beyond the criteria in the Climate Change Mitigation module. We’ve also added a new section that provides links to all the current drafts of criteria and supporting State of Sustainability Research. In addition, we note that release of the implementation plan is delayed until early 2023 as we continue to solicit stakeholder feedback. For more information, please see the updated GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview.

If you have any questions about EPEAT criteria development, the sustainability impact modules, or how to engage in the process, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

Today GEC releases its draft Corporate ESG Performance criteria for public comment. The public comment period -- open for 60 days -- is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide technical comments on the draft criteria. These criteria are intended to address the life cycle sustainability impacts identified in the State of Sustainability Research for Corporate ESG Performance and represent leadership and international best practices in reducing the identified impacts. These criteria are one of 4 sustainability impact modules that will be applied across EPEAT product categories in 2024.

NSF International manages the public comment process on behalf of GEC. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on January 9th, 2023 using the NSF Online Workspace, available here. Instructions on submitting comments are provided on the NSF Online Workspace. To support openness and transparency, the NSF website displays all public comments and their resolution.    

Coming Soon: Public Comment on Draft Corporate ESG Performance Criteria

GEC’s draft Corporate ESG Performance criteria will be released for public comment on November 10th. The public comment period, open for 60 days, is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft criteria.  These criteria are one of 4 sustainability impact modules that will be applied across EPEAT product categories, starting in 2023. A notice will appear in these EPEAT Announcements and in a GEC Newsletter when the public comment period opens.

Upcoming Webinar: Draft Criteria on Corporate ESG Performance

Join our webinar on November 21, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm U.S. Eastern for an overview of the draft criteria for the Corporate ESG Performance, including the rationale for the criteria and the requirements. The webinar also will review the process for submitting public comments on the criteria. Please click this link to register for the webinar.

Corporate ESG Performance Technical Committee

NSF International, the partner GEC selected to manage the voluntary consensus process for its sustainability impact modules, released the roster for the Technical Committee for the Corporate ESG Performance. The Technical Committee serves as the voluntary consensus body in the GEC Dynamic Criteria Development Process. GEC’s process requires balanced stakeholder representation including manufacturers, purchasers, government policy and sustainability advocates, and other industry in the electronics supply chain, as well as geographic and product representation. One open seat remains on the Technical Committee for a purchaser and ecolabel criteria user. If you are purchaser who is interested in actively supporting the development of this new criteria, please reach out to Greta Baragar (gbaragar@nsf.org).  

For more information on the Corporate ESG Performance criteria, see the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact. Please contact Rachel Simon (rsimon@gec.org) with questions.

The 2023 Schedule of EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Rounds is now available on the EPEAT Registry.

The EPEAT Program ensures the veracity of EPEAT-registered products through an ongoing surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes (called Continuous Monitoring Rounds). Participating Manufacturers are responsible for participating in these Rounds, cooperating with their CABs, and providing the necessary documentation to show conformance with EPEAT Criteria.

GEC is committed to transparency, and to this end, the 2023 EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Schedule and the subsequent results of each Round are made publicly available.

Please direct any questions about the 2023 Schedule of EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Rounds to EPEAT@gec.org.

The EPEAT Program makes policy and procedural updates on an annual basis and is proposing revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and GEC Criteria Development Process (P74). GEC has also released a new document, GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75) for public comment as well.

The EPEAT Policy Manual identifies the underlying policies that govern and support EPEAT programmatic activities. The EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual defines the specific requirements and expectations of EPEAT-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs), and of manufacturers or brands that have active EPEAT-registered products or are in the process of confirming that their products conform with EPEAT Criteria. GEC Criteria Development Process identifies the process followed by the Global Electronics Council to develop, revise, and evaluate criteria for use in the EPEAT Program. GEC Selection of Product Categories describes the process GEC follows to identify new product categories for which criteria may be developed.

Stakeholder feedback and insights are an essential part of the Global Electronics Council’s (GEC) management of the EPEAT Program. GEC is currently holding a comment period on key policy documents and welcomes stakeholder feedback on the October 2022 proposed revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual, the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual, and GEC Criteria Development Process, as well as the first edition of GEC Selection of Product Categories.

The comment period was originally scheduled to be open from October 17 through December 16, 2022, however, GEC has decided to extend the deadline to December 31, 2022. Comments must be documented using the EPEAT Public Comment Form and submitted electronically to EPEAT@gec.org. All comments received will be made publicly available in a stakeholder comment report, summarizing comments received and attributing the comments directly to the submitter.

GEC reserves the right to not consider comments received after 11:59 pm North America Pacific Time on December 31, 2022.

To facilitate the review of these documents, GEC is holding three informational sessions for stakeholders to highlight key changes and answer any questions. To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for this call – note that the same topics will be discussed in each call.

GEC will not be accepting feedback from participants during these sessions; all feedback must be submitted electronically using the EPEAT Public Comment Form provided. If you or your colleagues are interested in participating in one of these calls, please use the registration links below.

GEC proposes to publish the revised documents on February 15, 2023. Unless otherwise identified in the documents, new policy changes are proposed to become effective as of July 1, 2023. Participating Manufacturers and EPEAT-approved CABs will be responsible for conforming with the new requirements as of this date.

Please direct any questions about this public comment period to EPEAT@gec.org.

GEC would like to thank attendees for their participation in the ongoing Conformity Guidance Group meetings to discuss technical requirements in EPEAT Criteria and the Transition to Sustainability Impact Module Criteria.

GEC will be holding Conformity Guidance Group meetings on December 8/December 9, 2022. The meeting will be held in three timeslots and the content will be the same.

During this meeting, we will discuss the following meeting topics:

• 4.10.1.1 Indoor air quality emission requirements for thermal printers
• Updates to the transition to the Sustainability Impact Module Criteria.

If you’re interested in attending, please register below for the timeslot that works best for you.

• Timeslot 1: 6am Pacific/9am Eastern/3pm Central Europe/10pm China Standard Time/11pm Japan Standard Time [December 8, 2022]
• Timeslot 2: 12:30pm Pacific/3:30pm Eastern/9:30pm Central Europe [December 8, 2022]/4:30am China Standard Time/5:30am Japan Standard Time [December 9, 2022]
• Timeslot 3: 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern/2am Central Europe [December 9, 2022]/9am China Standard Time [December 9, 2022]/10am Japan Standard Time [December 9, 2022].

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022, and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report for September 2022 is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from September 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in November 2022.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org 

The EPEAT Program makes policy and procedural updates on an annual basis and is proposing revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and GEC Criteria Development Process (P74). GEC is also releasing a new document, GEC Selection of Product Categories (P75) for public comment as well.

 The EPEAT Policy Manual identifies the underlying policies that govern and support EPEAT programmatic activities. The EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual defines the specific requirements and expectations of EPEAT-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs), and of manufacturers or brands that have active EPEAT-registered products or are in the process of confirming that their products conform with EPEAT Criteria. GEC Criteria Development Process identifies the process followed by the Global Electronics Council to develop, revise, and evaluate criteria for use in the EPEAT Program. GEC Selection of Product Categories describes the process GEC follows to identify new product categories for which criteria may be developed.  

 Stakeholder feedback and insights are an essential part of the Global Electronics Council’s (GEC) management of the EPEAT Program. As such, GEC is holding a 60-day comment period and welcomes stakeholder feedback on the October 2022 proposed revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual, the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual, and GEC Criteria Development Process, as well as the first edition of GEC Selection of Product Categories.

 The comment period is open from October 17 through December 16, 2022. Comments must be documented using the EPEAT Public Comment Form and submitted electronically to EPEAT@gec.org. All comments received will be made publicly available in a stakeholder comment report, summarizing comments received and attributing the comments directly to the submitter.

 GEC reserves the right to not consider comments received after 11:59 pm North America Pacific Time on December 16, 2022.

 To facilitate the review of these documents, GEC is holding three informational sessions for stakeholders to highlight key changes and answer any questions. To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for this call – note that the same topics will be discussed in each call.

 GEC will not be accepting feedback from participants during these sessions; all feedback must be submitted electronically using the EPEAT Public Comment Form provided. If you or your colleagues are interested in participating in one of these calls, please use the registration links below.

 GEC proposes to publish the revised documents on February 15, 2023. Unless otherwise identified in the documents, new policy changes are proposed to become effective as of July 1, 2023. Participating Manufacturers and EPEAT-approved CABs will be responsible for conforming with the new requirements as of this date.

 Please direct any questions about this public comment period to EPEAT@gec.org.

GEC’s draft Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel are available for public comment for 30 days, starting September 7, 2022 and closing on October 7, 2022. This 2nd public consultation period is limited in scope to those revisions proposed by the Technical Committee since the initial public consultation.

NSF International manages the public comment process on behalf of GEC. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on October 7, 2022, using the NSF Online Workspace, available here. Instructions on submitting comments are provided on the NSF Online Workspace. To support openness and transparency, the NSF website displays all public comments and their resolution.

Please contact Criteria@gec.org with questions.

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022 and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report for August 2022  is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from August 1, 2022 to August 31, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in October 2022.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org 

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received Major Nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds PV-2022-03 and SV-2022-01 are now available on the EPEAT Registry.

Continuous Monitoring Round PV-2022-03 involved Level 1 Investigations in the Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters category. Level 1 Investigations require CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance.

Continuous Monitoring Round SV-2022-01 involved Level 2 Investigations of EPEAT-registered products in the Servers category. Level 2 Investigations require laboratory evaluation of products to determine their conformance with specific EPEAT Criteria.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

GEC invites stakeholders to participate in the review and drafting of proposed criteria for product specific energy efficiency criteria. These criteria would be supplemental to the existing product energy efficiency criteria in the Draft Climate Change Mitigation criteria document.  GEC’s State of Sustainability Research for Climate Change Mitigation serves as the science-based foundation for this work.

GEC will convene an Expert Ad Hoc Group to review criteria proposed for computers & displays, servers and TVs. Based on available data, GEC is not proposing additional product specific energy efficiency criteria for mobile phones and imaging equipment but welcomes stakeholder technical input for these product categories as well.

Expert Ad Hoc Group(s) will review, provide feedback, and make recommendations on draft criteria and definitions. The work of the Expert Ad Hoc Group(s) will start in September 2022 and is expected to continue for 6-8 weeks. The Group(s) will meet by teleconference and provide offline review and comment on drafts. Stakeholders with relevant expertise are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, non-governmental organizations, academics, and component and material suppliers.

If you are interested in participating in this Expert Ad Hoc Group, please send an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by September 16, 2022. Please also provide a brief summary of your background and experience with the topic.

Please contact the project lead, Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org) with any questions.

GEC’s draft Climate Change Mitigation criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel are now available for public comment. This 2nd public consultation period will be open for 30 days and limited in scope to those revisions proposed by the Technical Committee since the initial public consultation.

NSF International manages the public comment process on behalf of GEC. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on September 30, 2022 using the NSF Online Workspace, available here. Instructions on submitting comments are provided on the NSF Online Workspace. To support openness and transparency, the NSF website displays all public comments and their resolution.    

These Climate Change Mitigation criteria are one of 4 sustainability impact modules that will be applied across EPEAT product categories. For more information on the revision of EPEAT criteria, see the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact.

 Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with questions.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. Participating Manufacturers are responsible for participating in these Rounds, cooperating with their CABs, and providing the necessary documentation to demonstrate conformance with EPEAT Criteria.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received Major Nonconformances and the actions taken to restore accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Round CD-2022-02 (which focused on Computers and Displays), is now available on the EPEAT Registry. This was a Level 1 Round, which requires CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

GEC has updated the development schedule for EPEAT criteria by sustainability impact modules. This update of the GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview also includes information on the second public consultation and schedules for the development of product-specific criteria for imaging equipment consumables and additional product energy efficiency criteria.  

If you have any questions about EPEAT criteria development, the sustainability impact modules, or how to engage in the process, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

Today GEC releases its draft State of Sustainability Research on Imaging Equipment Consumables for a 60-day public comment period. This research analyzes the life cycle sustainability impacts of ink and toner cartridges/containers, and paper consumables relative to the footprint of the imaging equipment device. It then identifies strategies for mitigating the most significant environmental impacts. These strategies focus on business practices and design of the imaging equipment device to enable circularity.

The purpose of GEC’s State of Sustainability Research is to identify priority impacts and best practices for mitigating these impacts and serve as the science and evidence-based foundation for developing criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel.  GEC welcomes stakeholder review of this State of Sustainability Research and submission of comments, including:

·         Identification of additional life cycle analyses and pertinent data on the sustainable use of resources;

·         Mitigation strategies and best practices leading to demonstrable impact reductions;

·         Errors and omissions in the analyses and criteria recommendations; and

·         Affirmative feedback (e.g., if priority sustainability impacts are identified and adequately addressed). 

Please submit comments, by completing the SOSR Public Comment Form and submitting it via e-mail to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org no later than 11:59 PST on October 18, 2022.

Questions regarding this notice may be directed to the project lead, Erica Logan, Director, Sustainability Criteria Development; elogan@gec.org.

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022 and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report for July 2022  is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from July 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in September 2022.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org 

GEC would like to thank attendees for their participation in the ongoing Conformity Guidance Group meetings to discuss the Transition to Sustainability Impact Module Criteria.

GEC will be holding a follow up meeting on August 25, 2022. During this meeting, we’ll provide updates to feedback received and based on feedback received, provide options on the overall transition schedule that we will continue to actively seek feedback on. There will be time after the August 25, 2022 meeting for stakeholders to submit feedback.

We will be holding this meeting in three timeslots:

•        Timeslot 1: 5am Pacific/8am Eastern/2pm Central Europe/8pm China Standard Time

•        Timeslot 2: 11am Pacific/2pm Eastern/8pm Central Europe/2am China Standard Time

•        Timeslot 3: 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern/2am Central Europe [August 26th, 2022]/8am China Standard Time [August 26th, 2022].

As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022 and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report for June 2022  is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from June 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in August 2022.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org 

Today GEC releases its draft Reduction of Chemicals of Concern criteria for public comment. The public comment period -- open for 60 days -- is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide technical comments on the draft criteria. These criteria are intended to address the life cycle sustainability impacts identified in the State of Sustainability Research for Reduction of Chemicals of Concern and represent leadership and international best practices in reducing the identified impacts. These criteria are one of 4 sustainability impact modules that will be applied across EPEAT product categories, starting in 2023.

NSF International manages the public comment process on behalf of GEC. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on September 12th, 2022 using the NSF Online Workspace, available here. Instructions on submitting comments are provided on the NSF Online Workspace. To support openness and transparency, the NSF website displays all public comments and their resolution.    

GEC, along with NSF, will host a webinar on July 21, 11 am - 12:00 pm ET to provide an overview of the draft criteria, provide instructions on how to submit comments, and answer stakeholder questions. To sign up for the webinar, go to this REGISTRATION LINK.

For more information on the Reduction of Chemicals of Concern criteria, see the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact. Please contact Rachel Simon (rsimon@gec.org) with questions.

Technical Committee launching for Corporate ESG criteria for EPEAT ecolabel – now is your opportunity to get involved!

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is developing criteria to address corporate ESG performance, throughout the life cycle of electronic products. These criteria will be leveraged across all EPEAT ICT product categories, initially including computers and displays, mobile phones, imaging equipment, servers, and televisions. This Call for Participation is to notify stakeholders of the opportunity to participate on the multi-stakeholder Technical Committee that will evaluate and reach consensus on sustainability leadership criteria to promote responsible social and environmental performance, particularly in the upstream electronics supply chain. GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee.

The criteria will address best practices for mitigating social and environmental risks, inclusive of criteria addressing labor and occupational health and safety, social supplier audits and transparency, responsible mineral sourcing, and corporate environmental management systems.

Applications for Technical Committee membership are due by midnight U.S. Eastern Time on August 31, 2022.  See the Call for Participation for additional information on Technical Committee membership and the application form.

Corporate ESG Performance is one of four criteria modules currently under development that will be applied across all EPEAT product categories. Other criteria modules include Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources and Chemicals of Concern. See the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact for more information on these criteria modules, GEC’s criteria development process, participation options, and anticipated schedule.

Questions about Technical Committee applications should be directed to Greta Baragar at NSF (GBaragar@NSF.org). If you have questions about the Corporate ESG criteria or the criteria development process, please contact GEC at: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

GEC is pleased to release its final State of Sustainability Research for Corporate ESG Performance, which reflects stakeholder comments and data-supported recommendations submitted during the public consultation process. This State of Sustainability Research serves as the evidenced-based scientific foundation for EPEAT criteria development.

The research provides an overview of key labor and workforce concerns and current practices in social auditing in the electronics supply chain. This research then provides thoughtful and practical strategies to improve social audits and performance in the sector. Strategies include increased supply chain transparency, improvements in factory monitoring and reporting, and meaningful remediation of non-conformance findings during audits.

The State of Sustainability Research for Corporate ESG Performance is the fourth analysis in support of GEC’s initiative to develop modular criteria that will apply across all EPEAT ICT product categories. Additional analyses include State of Sustainability Research for Climate Change Mitigation, State of Sustainability Research for Sustainable Use of Resources and State of Sustainability Research on Chemicals of Concern.

If you have questions about the Corporate ESG criteria or the criteria development process, please contact GEC at: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

On June 13, 2022, EPEAT launched a Level 1 Continuous Monitoring Round for the Computers and Displays product category. Level 1 Rounds involve investigations that use Documentation Review to determine the conformance of products with specific EPEAT Criteria.

In these investigations, Participating Manufacturers have a discrete period in which they must provide evidence that demonstrates conformance with the selected EPEAT Criteria. The plan for this Round (CD-2022-04) is now posted on the EPEAT Registry, and provides an overview of the investigative process, the total number of products selected, and the criteria selected for investigation. Key dates for this Round are as follows:

On the start date of the Round, GEC-approved CABs notify their Participating Manufacturer clients that their products have been selected for investigation and begin the evidence collection process.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

Coming Soon: Public Comment on Draft Reduction of Chemicals of Concern Criteria

GEC’s draft Reduction of Chemicals of Concern criteria will be released for public comment on July 13th. The public comment period, open for 60 days, is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft criteria.  These criteria are one of 4 sustainability impact modules that will be applied across EPEAT product categories, starting in 2023. A notice will appear in these EPEAT Announcements and in the GEC Newsletter when the public comment period opens.

Upcoming Webinar: Draft Criteria on Reduction of Chemicals of Concern

Join this webinar on July 21, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm U.S. Eastern for an overview of the draft criteria for the Reduction of Chemicals of Concern, including the rationale for the criteria and the requirements. The webinar also will review the process for submitting public comments on the criteria.  REGISTRATION LINK

 Reduction of Chemicals of Concern Technical Committee

NSF International, the partner GEC selected to manage the voluntary consensus process for its sustainability impact modules, released the roster for the Technical Committee for the Reduction of Chemicals of Concern. The Technical Committee serves as the voluntary consensus body in the GEC Dynamic Criteria Development Process. GEC’s process requires balanced stakeholder representation including manufacturers, purchasers, government policy and sustainability advocates, and other industry in the electronics supply chain, as well as geographic and product representation. Two open seats remain on the Technical Committee for purchasers and ecolabel criteria users. If you are purchaser who is interested in actively supporting the development of this new criteria, please reach out to Greta Baragar (gbaragar@nsf.org).  

For more information on the Reduction of Chemicals of Concern criteria, see the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact. Please contact Rachel Simon (rsimon@gec.org) with questions.

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

On June 20, 2022, EPEAT launched a Level 1 Continuous Monitoring Round for the Imaging Equipment product category. Level 1 Rounds involve investigations that use Documentation Review to determine the conformance of products with specific EPEAT Criteria.

In these investigations, Participating Manufacturers have a discrete period in which they must provide evidence that demonstrates conformance with the selected EPEAT Criteria. The plan for this Round (IE-2022-04) is now posted on the EPEAT Registry, and provides an overview of the investigative process, the total number of products selected, and the criteria selected for investigation. Key dates for this Round are as follows: 

On the start date of the Round, GEC-approved CABs notify their Participating Manufacturer clients that their products have been selected for investigation and begin the evidence collection process.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. Participating Manufacturers are responsible for participating in these Rounds, cooperating with their CABs, and providing the necessary documentation to demonstrate conformance with EPEAT Criteria.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received Major Nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds SV-2022-02 (which focused on Servers), and TV-2022-02 (which focused on Televisions), are now available on the EPEAT Registry. Both Rounds involved Level 1 Investigations, which require CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

GEC would like to thank attendees for their participation during the June 2 and June 27, 2022 Conformity Guidance Group meetings to discuss the Transition to Sustainability Impact Module Criteria.

GEC will be facilitating a follow up Conformity Guidance Group meeting on July 20, 2022, at 6am Pacific time/ 9am Eastern Time North America / 3pm Central European Time / 9pm China Standard Time to bring all attendees and interested stakeholders back together in one meeting to continue discussing the transition. If you are interested in attending the upcoming meeting, please register at this weblink.

During this meeting, we discuss the following meeting topics:

·        Continued discussion of the Transition to Sustainability Impact Module Criteria.

·        Qualification of TS-HH-001 as a Qualified Electronics Recycling Standard.

 As a reminder, the CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members. The EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT.

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022 and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report for May 2022  is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from May 1, 2022 to May 31, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in July 2022.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org 

GEC is pleased to announce that starting with the Climate Change Mitigation module, NSF will expand the opportunity for stakeholder participation in EPEAT criteria development by piloting a 2nd public consultation period. This opportunity will be open for 30 days and limited in scope to those revisions proposed by the Technical Committee since the initial public consultation.

The 2nd public consultation for the Climate Change Mitigation module will open in July or August 2022, with the timing dependent on the progress of the Technical Committee. Following this pilot, NSF will make any refinements necessary and will implement a 2nd public consultation for other EPEAT criteria development initiatives and sustainability impact modules.

Any questions about the pilot should be directed to Patty Dillon, GEC Senior Director of Criteria and Category Development(pdillon@gec.org) or Greta Baragar, NSF Sustainability Standards Lead.

GEC will be facilitating a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on June 27, 2022 over the following timeslots:

• Timeslot 1: 5am Pacific/8am Eastern/2pm Central Europe/8pm China Standard Time
• Timeslot 2: 11am Pacific/2pm Eastern/8pm Central Europe/2am China Standard Time
• Timeslot 3: 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern/2am Central Europe [June 28th, 2022]/8am China Standard Time [June 28th, 2022].

The Conformity Guidance Group (CGG) is open to all stakeholders including Participating Manufacturers, GEC approved CABs, and Purchasers. The CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members.

As a reminder, the EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT. Because participants must be prepared to discuss and provide feedback on technical issues, the EPEAT Program requests that participants be technical experts themselves or have access to relevant technical resources.

The following agenda items will be reviewed during the June 27, 2022 meeting:

• Transition to Sustainability Impact Module Criteria (continued from June 2, 2022 meeting).

If you are interested in attending the upcoming meeting, please register at one of the timeslots above to be added to the meeting invitation and distribution list. Attendees will receive reference materials with background on the topic and specific questions we are seeking input on. 

GEC is excited to announce a bold new initiative that could help EPEAT Participating Manufacturers get more exposure for their EPEAT-registered products and make it easier for institutional purchasers to identify EPEAT-registered products on third-party platforms.

GEC is exploring a new initiative to provide more visibility of EPEAT-registered products on third-party platforms. These could include ecommerce sites and online B2B marketplaces. This could significantly increase the visibility of EPEAT-registered products to institutional purchasers. 

The initiative is in its initial exploratory phase. GEC is working with a limited number of partners to test an Application Programming Interface, or API, to ensure that it technically works properly. This API would provide automated, nearly real-time data sharing with third-party platforms, so EPEAT-registered products would be more visible in online marketplaces and internal procurement resources. This would support purchasers to identify EPEAT-registered products in other platforms outside of the EPEAT Registry.

The technical testing will begin on June 6, 2022 and we welcome any comments or concerns by June 3, 2022. Please submit them to EPEAT@gec.org.  

Depending on the results of the technical testing, GEC plans to move on to a pilot program with a select group of third-party platform partners, likely beginning in Q3 2022. During the pilot program, all EPEAT Participating Manufacturers will have full control to approve whether their data is shared with any platform. GEC will keep stakeholders informed on the progress.

GEC hopes that stakeholders are as excited as we are to explore new ways to develop tools to connect institutional purchasers to EPEAT-registered products.

Today GEC releases its draft Sustainable Use of Resources criteria for public comment. The public comment period -- open for 60 days -- is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide technical comments on the draft criteria. These criteria are intended to address the life cycle sustainability impacts identified in the State of Sustainability Research for Sustainable Use of Resources and represent leadership and international best practices to enable circularity. These criteria are one of 4 sustainability impact modules that will be applied across EPEAT product categories, starting in 2023.

NSF International manages the public comment process on behalf of GEC. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on July 18, 2022 using the NSF Online Workspace, available here. Instructions on submitting comments are provided on the NSF Online Workspace. To support openness and transparency, the NSF website displays all public comments and their resolution.   

GEC, along with NSF, will host a webinar on May 25th, noon - 1:00 pm ET to provide an overview of the draft criteria, provide instructions on how to submit comments, and answer stakeholder questions. To sign up for the webinar, go to this REGISTRATION LINK.

For more information on the Sustainable Use of Resources criteria, see the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact. Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with questions.

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022 and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report for April 2022  is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from April 1, 2022 to April 30, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in June 2022.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org 

GEC invites stakeholders to participate in the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT sustainability impact module for Corporate ESG Performance.

GEC anticipates forming Expert Ad Hoc Groups to address the following criteria topics:

1.     Labor and Occupational Health and Safety Performance in the electronics supply chain

2.     Responsible Mineral Sourcing, covering 3TG + cobalt

3.     Corporate Environmental Management Systems

Expert Ad Hoc Groups will provide technical feedback on draft criteria and definitions, and draft criteria text as needed. The work of the Expert Ad Hoc Groups will start in late June 2022 and is expected to continue for 2-4 months depending on the topic. The Expert Ad Hoc Groups will meet by teleconference and provide offline review and comment on drafts.

Stakeholders with expertise in the above topics are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, non-governmental organizations, academics, and component and material suppliers.

If you’d like to participate in any of the above Expert Ad Hoc Groups, please send an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by June 2, 2022. Please identify the Expert Ad Hoc Group(s) that you are interested in from the above list and provide a brief summary of your background and experience with the topic.

Please contact the project lead, Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org), with any questions.

• Coming Soon: Public Comment on Draft Sustainable Use of Resources Criteria

GEC’s draft Sustainable Use of Resources criteria will be released for public comment the week of May 18th. The public comment period, open for 60 days, is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft criteria. A notice will appear in the EPEAT Announcements and GEC Newsletter when the public comment period opens.

• Upcoming Webinar: Draft Criteria on Sustainable Use of Resources

Join this webinar on May 25, 12:00 - 1:00 pm U.S. Eastern for an overview of the draft criteria for Sustainable Use of Resources, including the rationale for the criteria and the requirements. The webinar also will review the process for submitting public comments on the criteria.  REGISTRATION LINK

• Sustainable Use of Resources Technical Committee

NSF International, the partner GEC selected to manage the voluntary consensus process for its sustainability impact modules, released the roster for the Technical Committee for Sustainable Use of Resources. The Technical Committee serves as the voluntary consensus body in the GEC Criteria Development Process. GEC’s process requires balanced stakeholder representation including manufacturers, purchasers, government policy and sustainability advocates, and other industry in the electronics supply chain, as well as geographic and product representation.

For more information on the Sustainable Use of Resources criteria, see the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact. Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with questions.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. Participating Manufacturers are responsible for participating in these Rounds, cooperating with their CABs, and providing the necessary documentation to demonstrate conformance with EPEAT Criteria.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received major nonconformances and the actions taken to restore accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Round CD-2021-03 (which focused on the Computers and Displays product category), is now available on the EPEAT Registry. This Round involved Level 1 Investigations, which require CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

GEC will be facilitating a Conformity Guidance Group meeting on June 2, 2022 at 6am Pacific time/ 9am Eastern Time North America / 3pm Central European Time / 9pm China Standard Time.

The Conformity Guidance Group (CGG) is open to all stakeholders including Participating Manufacturers, GEC approved CABs, and Purchasers. The CGG is not a standing committee and there are no standing members.

As a reminder, the EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the CGG. The purpose of the CGG is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT. Because participants must be prepared to discuss and provide feedback on technical issues, the EPEAT Program requests that participants be technical experts themselves or have access to relevant technical resources.

GEC anticipates that the following agenda items will be reviewed during the June 2, 2022 meeting:

·        Input Voltage Testing Requirements for Internal Power Supplies

·        Transition to Sustainable Impact Modules

 If you are interested in attending the upcoming meeting, please register here to be added to the meeting invitation and distribution list. Attendees will receive an issue paper for each agenda item approximately two weeks before the meeting. Issue papers provide a background, any reference material, and specific questions we are seeking input on.

We’ve extended the deadline to apply for membership on the Technical Committee that will deliberate and approve the chemicals criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel until April 30, 2022. For more details, please see the Call for Participation. These criteria will be applied to all EPEAT ICT product categories beginning in mid-2023, including computers and displays, mobile phones, imaging equipment, servers, and televisions. GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee.

We are looking for diverse, global stakeholders to participate on the Technical Committee, including product manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, suppliers, not-for-profits, and other chemical experts. This Technical Committee is expected to begin its work in late Q2 and continue for up to 8 months. Technical Committee meetings will occur monthly via teleconference. Applications for Technical Committee membership are due by 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time on April 30, 2022.

Reduction of Chemicals of Concern is one of four criteria modules currently under development that will be applied across all EPEAT product categories. Other criteria modules include Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources, and Corporate ESG Performance. See the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact for more information on these criteria modules, GEC’s criteria development process, participation options, and anticipated schedule.

Questions about Technical Committee applications should be directed to Greta Baragar at NSF (GBaragar@NSF.org). If you have questions about the Reduction of Chemicals of Concern criteria or the criteria development process, please contact the GEC project lead, Rachel Simon (RSimon@gec.org).

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

On April 11, 2022, EPEAT launched a Level 1 Continuous Monitoring Round for the Computers and Displays product category. Level 1 Rounds involve investigations that use Documentation Review to determine the conformance of products with specific EPEAT Criteria.

In these Investigations, Participating Manufacturers have a discrete period in which they must provide evidence that demonstrates conformance with the selected EPEAT Criteria. The plan for this Computers and Displays Round (CD-2022-03) is now posted on the EPEAT Registry, and provides an overview of the investigative process, the total number of products selected, and the Criteria selected for investigation. Key dates for this Round are as follows:

On the start date of the Round, GEC-approved CABs notify their Participating Manufacturer clients that their products have been selected for investigation and begin the evidence collection process.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received major nonconformances and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry. 

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Round CD-2021-01 is now available on the EPEAT Registry. This Round involved Level 2 Investigations of EPEAT-registered products in the Computers and Displays product category. Level 2 Investigations require laboratory evaluation of products to determine their conformance with specific EPEAT Criteria.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022 and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report for March 2022  is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from March 1, 2022 to March 31, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in May 2022.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org 

Unique product identifiers are now available in the public facing EPEAT Registry! GEC thanks Participating Manufacturers for their dedication in collecting and submitting unique product identifiers for their EPEAT-registered products!

Confirmation of Uploaded Unique Product Identifiers

GEC has been able to upload most of the unique product identifiers provided by Participating Manufacturers. In some cases, we have additional questions that we need Participating Manufacturer feedback on to ensure the most accurate information is uploaded. Within the next several days, we will reach out to each Participating Manufacturers to confirm exactly which unique product identifiers were successfully uploaded and whether we have questions. If applicable, we will then perform any necessary actions that are needed to address Participating Manufacturer responses. We expect this process to be completed by the end of April 2022.

Unique Product Identifier Functionality

Participating Manufacturers are now able to add, edit, and/or delete unique product identifiers for their EPEAT-registered products, either by manual entry (for a single product) or by bulk upload (for all products at once). If a product(s) does not have a unique product identifier, Participating Manufacturers are able to check a box to indicate this. Detailed instructions are provided on the EPEAT Registry intake screens.

EPEAT Staging Environment Will Remain Open

The EPEAT Staging Environment will remain open until the end of the day on Friday May 6 for Participating Manufacturers to continue to test, become familiar with and practice using the unique product identifier functionality without impacting what is reflected on the public facing Registry. By Monday April 18, the EPEAT Staging Environment will reflect all successfully uploaded unique product identifiers that were provided by each Participating Manufacturer. Participating Manufacturers that have NOT yet registered as a beta tester but would like to access the EPEAT Staging Environment should register here.

Participating Manufacturer Authorization to Transmit EPEAT Product Data to Third-Party Platforms

In the coming months, EPEAT will start transmitting product data from the public facing Registry to GEC-approved third-party platforms using the EPEAT API (application programming interface). To become approved, a third-party platform must first be vetted by GEC and then sign a legal agreement holding it to rigorous terms and conditions. Participating Manufacturers will have the option to approve whether their EPEAT-registered product data is sent to each of these third-party platforms.

The functionality allowing Participating Manufacturers to approve these platforms is already available. However, the EPEAT API itself is still in the final stages of development. More information will be communicated on the EPEAT API and how Participating Manufacturers can approve third-party platforms well in advance of the EPEAT API launch.

Questions or Comments?

Please contact Kim Hair at khair@gec.org with any questions or comments about the above information.

GEC is excited to announce that beginning April 8, 2022, unique product identifiers will be displayed on the public EPEAT Registry for active EPEAT registered products.

GEC appreciates the dedication and hard work of Participating Manufacturers over the past several months in collecting and submitting unique product identifying information for their products as a part of the initiative to facilitate the reliable and efficient identification of EPEAT-registered products in the global marketplace.

On April 11, 2022, GEC will release the new backend EPEAT Registry functionality that enables Participating Manufacturers to maintain up to 3,500 unique product identifiers for each new or existing product record by manual entry or bulk upload. This functionality also provides Participating Manufacturers the ability to check a box attesting to the fact that unique product identifiers may not exist for certain products and therefore are not provided.

On March 29, 2022, GEC provided training to Participating Manufacturers on how to use the functionality to maintain unique product identifiers for their products. The functionality was available for beta testing in the EPEAT Registry Staging Environment from March 30 – 31, 2022. GEC appreciates the participation and feedback provided by those who were able to beta test this new functionality.

Please reference the links below for additional information on the administration and display of unique product identifiers on the EPEAT Registry.

Training and Resources on Unique Product Identifier Functionality

March 29 - Training Presentation

March 29 - Training Recording

January 18 - Announcement on Unique Product Identifiers

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions or Comments?

For technical questions or comments regarding unique product identifier administration on the EPEAT Registry, please contact Kim Hair at khair@gec.org.

GEC provides a quarterly update on the schedule for criteria development and implementation for EPEAT’s 4 sustainability impact modules. In 2023 these criteria will replace the existing criteria in EPEAT ICT product categories. This  quarter we’ve updated the EPEAT criteria implementation plan to reflect the current status of criteria development. The revised schedule in the GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview, page 5, shows the public launch of the EPEAT Registry with the new criteria in September 2023, followed by a 12-month transition period. During the transition period, the old criteria and the new sustainability impact criteria will be available for product conformance to EPEAT.

If you have any questions about EPEAT criteria development, the sustainability impact modules, or how to engage in the process, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received major nonconformances and the actions taken to restore accuracy of the EPEAT Registry. 

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds IE-2021-01 and SV-2021-01 are now available on the EPEAT Registry. These Rounds involved Level 2 Investigations of EPEAT-registered products in the Imaging Equipment (IE-2021-01) and Servers (SV-2021-01) product categories. Level 2 Investigations require laboratory evaluation of products to determine their conformance with specific EPEAT Criteria.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

On April 4, 2022, EPEAT launched a Level 1 Continuous Monitoring Round for the Imaging Equipment product category. Level 1 Rounds involve investigations that use Documentation Review to determine the conformance of products with specific EPEAT Criteria.

In these Investigations, Participating Manufacturers have a discrete period in which they must provide evidence that demonstrates conformance with the selected EPEAT Criteria. The plan for this Imaging Equipment Round (IE-2022-03) is now posted on the EPEAT Registry, and provides an overview of the investigative process, the total number of products selected, and the Criteria selected for investigation. Key dates for this Round are as follows:

On the start date of the Round, GEC-approved CABs notify their Participating Manufacturer clients that their products have been selected for investigation and begin the evidence collection process.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is developing criteria aimed at reducing toxic chemicals in electronic products and manufacturing processes, developing a deeper understanding of and increasing transparency on chemical used in electronics and the supply chain, and identifying safer alternatives to hazardous substances. These criteria will be applied to all EPEAT ICT product categories beginning in 2023, including computers and displays, mobile phones, imaging equipment, servers, and televisions. This Call for Participation is to notify stakeholders of the opportunity to participate on the multi-stakeholder Technical Committee that will deliberate and reach consensus on these sustainability leadership criteria. GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee.

We are looking for diverse, global stakeholders to participate on the Technical Committee, including product manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, suppliers, not-for-profits, and other chemical experts. This Technical Committee is expected to begin its work in late Q2 and continue for up to 8 months. Technical Committee meetings will occur monthly via teleconference. Applications for Technical Committee membership are due by 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time on April 23, 2022. See the Call for Participation for additional information on Technical Committee membership and application forms.

Reduction of Chemicals of Concern is one of four criteria modules currently under development that will be applied across all EPEAT product categories. Other criteria modules include Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources, and Corporate ESG Performance. See the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact for more information on these criteria modules, GEC’s criteria development process, participation options, and anticipated schedule.

Questions about Technical Committee applications should be directed to Greta Baragar at NSF (GBaragar@NSF.org). If you have questions about the Reduction of Chemicals of Concern criteria or the criteria development process, please contact the GEC project lead, Rachel Simon (RSimon@gec.org).

Today GEC released its draft State of Sustainability Research for Corporate ESG Performance for a 60-day public comment period. This report, which will guide the upcoming revision of EPEAT criteria, provides an overview of key labor and workforce concerns and current practices in social auditing in the electronics supply chain. The report then provides thoughtful and practical strategies to improve social audits and performance in the sector, including increased supply chain transparency, improvements in factory monitoring and reporting, and meaningful remediation of non-conformance findings during audits.

To produce this report, GEC was pleased to partner with Electronics Watch, an independent human rights monitoring organization with extensive global field experience that helps public buyers address and protect the rights of workers in electronics supply chains.

GEC welcomes stakeholder review and comments on this State of Sustainability Research. Comments must be submitted using the Public Comment Form and submitting it via e-mail to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org no later than 11:59 PST on May 14, 2022.

This State of Sustainability Research is part of GEC’s initiative to revise criteria across all EPEAT ICT product categories, focusing on 4 sustainability impact areas. See the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact for more details on GEC’s criteria development process and anticipated schedule. If you’re interested in participating in criteria development for criteria on Corporate ESG Performance, please send an email expressing interest to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022 and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report for February 2022  is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from February 1, 2022 to February 28, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in April 2022.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org 

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

On February 21, 2022, EPEAT launched Level 1 Continuous Monitoring Rounds for the Mobile Phones, Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters, Servers, and Television product categories. Level 1 Rounds involve investigations that use Documentation Review to determine the conformance of products with specific EPEAT Criteria. 

In these Investigations, Participating Manufacturers have a discrete period in which they must provide evidence that demonstrates conformance with the selected EPEAT Criteria. The plans for these Rounds are now posted on the EPEAT Registry: Mobile Phones (MP-2022-02), Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters (PV-2022-01), Servers (SV-2022-02), and Televisions (TV-2022-02). Round Plans provide an overview of the investigative process, the total number of products selected, and the Criteria selected for investigation in each Round. Key dates for these Rounds are as follows: 

On the start date of the Rounds, GEC-approved CABs notify their Participating Manufacturer clients that their products have been selected for investigation and begin the evidence collection process. Participating Manufacturers are encouraged to review conformity guidance materials at the beginning of the Investigation Phase of any Continuous Monitoring Round.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. Participating Manufacturers are responsible for participating in these Rounds, cooperating with their CABs, and providing the necessary documentation to demonstrate conformance with EPEAT Criteria.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received major nonconformances and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Round TV-2021-03 is now available on the EPEAT Registry. This Round involved Level 1 Investigations, which require CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

On February 14, 2022, EPEAT launched a Level 1 Continuous Monitoring Round for the Imaging Equipment product category. Level 1 Rounds involve investigations that use Documentation Review to determine the conformance of products with specific EPEAT Criteria. 

In these Investigations, Participating Manufacturers have a discrete period in which they must provide evidence that demonstrates conformance with the selected EPEAT Criteria. The plan for this Imaging Equipment Round (IE-2022-02) is now posted on the EPEAT Registry, and provides an overview of the investigative process, the total number of products selected, and the Criteria selected for investigation. Key dates for this Round are as follows:

On the start date of the Round, GEC-approved CABs notify their Participating Manufacturer clients that their products have been selected for investigation and begin the evidence collection process.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities, which must be implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs), occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Some Continuous Monitoring activities require that investigations be conducted in discrete timeframes called Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received major nonconformances and the actions taken to restore accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Round PVMI-2021-02, which focused on the Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters product category, is now available on the EPEAT Registry. This Round involved Level 1 Investigations, which require CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance.

Additional details about the Round including the total number of investigations completed, the number of nonconformances found, and a breakdown of nonconformances by type and Criterion are available in the Outcomes Report.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

GEC is pleased to release its final State of Sustainability Research for Chemicals of Concern, which reflects stakeholder comments and data-supported recommendations submitted during the public consultation process. This State of Sustainability Research serves as the scientific, evidenced-based foundation for EPEAT criteria development.

The research identifies the human and environmental health impacts of chemicals of concern across the life cycle of ICT products and strategies to reduce these impacts The research identifies strategies to reduce chemicals of concern through understanding the chemical used within products and processes, determining the health impacts of chemicals, preventing the use of know toxic chemicals, and identifying safer alternatives. Finally, this research recommends criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel, based on the science and evidence presented in this State of Sustainability Research.

GEC is now convening Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review and draft criteria for chemicals of concern. Expert Ad Hoc Groups will meet over 8 to 12 weeks beginning in March 2022. The following Expert Ad Hoc Groups are being formed: Management of Substances Used in Product, Substance Inventory & Transparency, Alternatives Assessment for Chemicals of Concern, and Safer Manufacturing Chemicals. Stakeholders interested in participating in criteria development are encouraged to contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The State of Sustainability Research for Chemicals of Concern is the third of four analyses supporting GEC’s initiative to develop modular criteria that will apply across all EPEAT product categories. In April 2021 GEC issued State of Sustainability Research for Climate Change Mitigation, and in December 2021 GEC issued its State of Sustainability Research for Sustainable Use of Resources. In 2022 GEC will issue State of Sustainability Research for Corporate ESG Performance. 

Please contact Rachel Simon (rsimon@gec.org) with any questions.  

Today, the Global Electronics Council (GEC) published revised versions of the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and GEC Criteria Development Process (P74). These documents are available through either the EPEAT Registry, an EPEAT Registry account under “Resources”, or upon request.

 GEC released proposed revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and GEC Criteria Development Process (P74) for a 60-day public stakeholder comment period from October 18 through December 17, 2021. Stakeholder consultation is a crucial element of Type 1 ecolabels, and an important component of the EPEAT Program. Stakeholders were invited to submit written feedback regarding the draft revised versions of these documents using the GEC provided stakeholder comment form. GEC also held a series of virtual informational sessions for stakeholders to highlight and provide clarity on key proposed revisions.

 GEC thanks all stakeholders for the constructive and thoughtful feedback provided during the public comment period and appreciates the time and effort stakeholders took to review the draft revised documents. GEC received over 110 written comments from different stakeholder groups which have been compiled into two stakeholder comment reports. The first report summarizes comments received on both the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65) and EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), while the second report summarizes comments pertaining to GEC Criteria Development Process (P74).

 New requirements take effect on July 1, 2022. Participating Manufacturers and GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies must operate in accordance with both EPEAT Policy Manual (P65) and EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66) as of this effective date to fulfill EPEAT Program requirements. The EPEAT Program will develop training resources to identify new requirements for CABs and Manufacturers.

 Please direct any questions about these documents to EPEAT@GEC.org.

To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of ongoing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, in December 2021 GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to issue new temporary conformity assurance modifications. The modifications took effect on January 1, 2022 and are based on stakeholder outreach and consultation that was undertaken in Q4 2021.

GEC is committed to publishing an EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report to enable all EPEAT Program stakeholders to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Participating Manufacturers, and to communicate how the temporary COVID-related conformity assurance modifications are being used by Participating Manufacturers.

The first EPEAT Program Monthly Transparency Report is now available and summarizes the use of COVID policy modifications by all active EPEAT Participating Manufacturers from January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2022. The next monthly report will be released in March 2022.

For any questions, please email us at EPEAT@gec.org 

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities, which must be implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs), occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Some Continuous Monitoring activities require that investigations be conducted in discrete timeframes called Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received major nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds IE-2021-02 and TV-2021-01 are now available on the EPEAT Registry. Continuous Monitoring Round IE-2021-02 was for the Imaging Equipment product category and involved Level 1 Investigations, which require CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance. Continuous Monitoring Round TV-2021-01 was for the Televisions product category and involved Level 2 Investigations, which require laboratory evaluation of products to determine their conformance with specific EPEAT Criteria.

Additional details about the Rounds including the total number of investigations completed, the number of nonconformances found, and a breakdown of nonconformances by type and by Criterion are available in the respective Outcomes Report

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org.

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

On February 7, 2022, EPEAT launched a Level 1 Continuous Monitoring Round for the Computers and Displays product category. Level 1 Rounds involve investigations that use Documentation Review to determine the conformance of products with specific EPEAT Criteria. 

In these Investigations, Participating Manufacturers have a discrete period in which they must provide evidence that demonstrates conformance with the selected EPEAT Criteria. The plan for this Computers and Displays Round (CD-2022-02) is now posted on the EPEAT Registry, and provides an overview of the investigative process, the total number of products selected, and the Criteria selected for investigation. Key dates for this Round are as follows:

On the start date of the Round, GEC-approved CABs notify their Participating Manufacturer clients that their products have been selected for investigation and begin the evidence collection process.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

The deadline to apply for membership on the Technical Committee for Sustainable Use of Resources is extended until 11:59 PM EST on February 11, 2022. This multi-stakeholder Technical Committee is the voluntary consensus body in the GEC Criteria Development Process, developing performance criteria that address material selection, product longevity, design for reuse and recycling, critical metals/rare earth elements, responsible end-of-life management, zero waste manufacturing and water consumption in the supply chain, and packaging. These criteria will apply across all EPEAT ICT product categories in 2023, replacing existing criteria.. 

GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee. The Committee will be comprised of 21 voting members, plus observers, with balanced representation from 4 stakeholder categories: manufacturers, sustainability advocates/government policy, purchasers and ecolabel users, and other industry. See the Call for Participation for additional information on Technical Committee membership and the application form, due no later than11:59 PM EST on February 11, 2022.

Sustainable Use of Resources is one of four criteria modules currently under development that will be applied across all EPEAT product categories. Other criteria modules include Climate Change Mitigation, Chemicals of Concern, and Corporate ESG Performance. See the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact for more information on these criteria modules, GEC’s criteria development process, participation options, and anticipated schedule.

Questions about Technical Committee applications should be directed to Greta Baragar at NSF (GBaragar@NSF.org). If you have questions about the Sustainable Use of Resources criteria or the criteria development process, please contact GEC at: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

The public comment period for GEC’s draft Ultra-Low Carbon Solar (ULCS) Criterion is extended until February 15, 2022. This Criterion will be added to the EPEAT Photovoltaic Module and Inverter (PVMI) product category, allowing purchasers to identify PV modules with an ultra-low carbon footprint. The ULCS Criterion establishes a standardized methodology for calculating low-embodied carbon PV modules and a consensus-based performance threshold.

Comments on any aspect of the criterion are welcome. There are also several topics in the criterion document where specific feedback is requested. All comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on February 15, 2022 using this Public Comment form. Comments should be sent to Skye Lei at Anthesis (skye.lei@anthesisgroup.com).  

GEC is partnering with Anthesis, an organization with extensive expertise in life cycle analysis, to convene and manage the ULCS criteria development process. Any questions on the technical content of the criterion should be directed to Skye Lei at Anthesis (skye.lei@anthesisgroup.com). Questions about EPEAT and the application of the ULCS criterion should be directed to Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

GEC provides a quarterly update on the schedule for criteria development and implementation for EPEAT’s 4 sustainability impact modules. In 2023 these criteria will replace the existing criteria in EPEAT ICT product categories. The schedule in the attached update of the GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview, now includes a schedule for product-specific criteria.  

If you have any questions about EPEAT criteria development, the sustainability impact modules, or how to engage in the process, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

In April 2020, the Global Electronics Council (GEC) authorized the EPEAT Program to address COVID-19 related disruptions and modify existing conformity assurance requirements and outlined these in addenda to EPEAT’s Policy Manual (P65) and the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66). Since the release of the initial modifications, GEC continued to monitor COVID-19 related disruptions and has been responding accordingly. To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of continuing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to withdraw the existing temporary modifications on January 1, 2022, and replace them with new temporary modifications.

These new 2022 modifications and the associated policy addenda are identified in an updated version of the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65). Additional resources, including the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), a Frequently Asked Questions and Implementation Guidance (2022) companion document, and templates for implementation of several modifications are available through an EPEAT Registry account under “Resources”, or upon request.

On January 13, 2022, the EPEAT Program held three stakeholder information sessions to provide further details on the new modifications and associated requirements. The same information was presented in all sessions, which were held at various times to accommodate different time zones. The information session presentation materials, as well as a recording of the session, are now available.   

Please direct any questions about the COVID-19 modifications to EPEAT@gec.org

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

On January 24, 2022, EPEAT launched Level 2 Continuous Monitoring Rounds for the following product categories: Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones, Servers, and Televisions. Level 2 Rounds use laboratory evaluation of products to demonstrate conformance with selected EPEAT Criteria.

In these Rounds, CABs must obtain the products from the open market, without involvement of Participating Manufacturers, where possible, and send the products for independent evaluation by accredited laboratories. The Plans for each of these Rounds (Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones, Servers, Televisions) are now posted on the EPEAT Registry, and provide an overview of the investigative process, the total number of products selected, and the Criteria selected for investigation. Key dates for these Rounds are as follows:

GEC-approved CABs have 30 days to obtain the products on the open market without the involvement of Participating Manufacturers. Therefore, EPEAT Participating Manufacturers whose products have been selected can expect to be notified by their CABs within the next 30 days. No further action is required by EPEAT Participating Manufacturers at this time.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@gec.org

The EPEAT Program allows for a Participating Manufacturer to rebrand another Participating Manufacturer’s active EPEAT-registered products and register these under its own brand, through amended Documentation Review and Continuous Monitoring activities. The Rebranding Participating Manufacturer must complete Initial Documentation Review and Continuous Monitoring activities for product level Criteria that have disclosure requirements. The EPEAT Program maintains a list of applicable Criteria for each product category. This policy guidance document Rebranding of EPEAT-Registered Products: Product Level Criteria with Disclosure Requirements (P82 Issue 1 Rev 0), is now available through an EPEAT Registry account under “Resources” or upon request. Full details of the rebranding process can be found in EPEAT Policy Manual (P65) and EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), both of which are available through an EPEAT Registry account under “Resources” or upon request.

To provide EPEAT Participating Manufacturers with more time to meet the unique product identifier requirement, the deadline for submission of unique product identifiers has been extended to 11:59pm Eastern Time on April 1, 2022.

GEC thanks the EPEAT Participating Manufacturers that have already submitted their UPI EPEAT Active Registered Products Forms.

Updated Important Dates and Deadlines

 Training on Unique Product Identifier Implementation

GEC will provide training on the new functionality improvements that allow the upload of unique product identifiers for EPEAT-registered products. If interested in attending a training webinar, please use the below registration link(s). All training webinars will cover the same information.

All existing training webinar registrations will convert to the new date on March 29, 2022, at the session time originally selected.

Updated Resources on the Unique Product Identifier Implementation

Please reference these updated resources that provide important information on the implementation of unique product identifiers on the EPEAT Registry.

Announcement on Unique Product Identifiers

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions or Comments? 
 
Please forward all questions or comments on the EPEAT Unique Product Identifier policy requirement to Susan Herbert (sherbert@gec.org).

Please contact Kim Hair (khair@gec.org) regarding technical questions on how to upload/add unique product identifying data.

Today, the Global Electronics Council (GEC) published a revised version of the GEC Criteria Development Process (P74).
 
The Global Electronics Council (GEC) released a draft revised version of GEC Criteria Development Process (P74) to seek public comment on this document from October 18 through December 17, 2021. Stakeholder consultation in the form of a public comment period is a crucial element of Type 1 ecolabels, and an important component of the EPEAT Program. Stakeholders were invited to submit written feedback on the draft revised version of the document using the GEC provided stakeholder comment form. GEC also held a series of virtual informational sessions for stakeholders to highlight and provide clarity on key proposed revisions.
 
GEC thanks all stakeholders for the constructive and thoughtful feedback provided during the October 18 through December 17, 2021 public comment period. We appreciate the time and effort stakeholders took to review the draft revised document and provide comments. GEC believes that transparency strengthens the EPEAT Program in an important way. GEC received more than 20 written comments from different stakeholder groups.
 
The final revisions in this issue of GEC Criteria Development Process (P74) only address the addition of Observers to the Technical Committee found in Sections 2.5.1, 2.5.1.1, 2.5.1.2 and 2.5.1.3. GEC considered these revisions important to increase transparency in the voluntary consensus process and committed to expedite these revisions given the major initiative underway to develop criteria by sustainability impact modules. GEC will consider the full set of public comments and release another issue of GEC Criteria Development Process (P74) on February 15, 2022 according to EPEAT’s annual revision schedule.

The revisions in this issue of GEC Criteria Development Process (P74) take effect today, January 14, 2022. A Comment Summary report addressed the revisions in this issuance of P74.

Please direct any questions about these documents to EPEAT@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org. 

• Starting Today: Public Comment on Draft Wearables Criteria

GEC’s draft criteria for Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices are now open for public comment. This 60-day public comment period is the opportunity for you and any interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft criteria. Use this link to read the draft criteria and provide comments: LINK TO PUBLIC COMMENT. If you have questions about how to participate or would like to learn more about the draft criteria, please join our webinar on January 13, 11:00-12:30 Eastern: REGISTRATION LINK

• Wearables Technical Committee

NSF International, the partner GEC selected to manage the voluntary consensus process for its sustainability criteria, released the roster for the Technical Committee for Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices. The Technical Committee serves as the voluntary consensus body in the GEC Dynamic Criteria Development Process. GEC’s process requires balanced stakeholder representation including manufacturers, purchasers, government policy and sustainability advocates, and other industry in the electronics supply chain, as well as geographic and product representation.

 There are two open seats on the Technical Committee: one for a manufacturer and one for a sustainability advocate or government stakeholder. If you are interested in actively supporting the development of this new product category, please reach out to Greta Baragar (gbaragar@nsf.org).  Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with other questions.

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes called Continuous Monitoring Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received major nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Round IE-2020-01 is now available on the EPEAT Registry.

Continuous Monitoring Round IE-2020-01 involved Level 2 Investigations of EPEAT-registered products in the Imaging Equipment Product Category. Level 2 Investigations require laboratory evaluation of products to determine their conformance with specific EPEAT Criteria. This Round was significantly delayed due to a series of COVID-related challenges in every phase of the Round.

Additional details about the Round including the total number of investigations completed, the number of nonconformances found and a breakdown of nonconformances by type and by Criterion are available in the Outcomes Report.

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is developing criteria to address sustainable use of resources, including circularity, throughout the life cycle of electronic products. These criteria will be leveraged across all EPEAT ICT product categories, initially including computers and displays, mobile phones, imaging equipment, servers, and televisions.  This Call for Participation is to notify stakeholders of the opportunity to participate on the multi-stakeholder Technical Committee that will evaluate and reach consensus on sustainability leadership criteria to reduce the stress on global resources and greenhouse gas emissions. GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee.

The criteria will address best practices for mitigating environmental impacts associated with production and consumption of ICT devices, inclusive of criteria addressing material selection, product longevity, design for reuse and recycling, critical metals/rare earth elements, responsible end-of-life management, zero waste manufacturing and water consumption in the supply chain, and packaging.

Applications for Technical Committee membership are due by 11:59 pm U.S. Eastern Time on January 31, 2022.  See the Call for Participation for additional information on Technical Committee membership and application form.

Sustainable Use of Resources is one of four criteria modules currently under development that will be applied across all EPEAT product categories. Other criteria modules include Climate Change Mitigation, Chemicals of Concern, and Corporate ESG Performance. See the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact for more information on these criteria modules, GEC’s criteria development process, participation options, and anticipated schedule.

Questions about Technical Committee applications should be directed to Greta Baragar at NSF (GBaragar@NSF.org). If you have questions about the Sustainable Use of Resources criteria or the criteria development process, please contact GEC at: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

GEC is launching a new EPEAT product category for Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices, including fitness trackers, smartwatches, and the diverse wearables used to remotely monitor patient and employee health.

Join our webinar on January 13, 2022, 11:00 to 12:30 pm U.S. Eastern Time to learn about this new EPEAT category, the scope of products covered, and the draft criteria. Criteria cover chemical substances in the product, design for reuse and recycling, responsible end of life management, and data privacy. Register for this webinar using the following REGISTRATION LINK.

A 60-day public comment period on the draft criteria will begin on 12 January 2022. The public comment period, open for 60 days, is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft criteria. A notice will appear in these EPEAT Announcements and in the GEC Newsletter when the public comment period opens. The January webinar will also explain the process for submitting public comments.

For questions about this new product category, the webinar, or draft criteria please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

GEC invites stakeholders to participate in a Zero Waste Manufacturing Expert Ad Hoc group. This work will support the EPEAT sustainability impact module for Sustainable Use of Resources, focusing specifically on criteria to incentivize conservation of resources or “zero waste” in upstream supply chain manufacturing operations. Expert Ad Hoc Groups provide technical feedback on draft criteria and definitions. The work of this Expert Ad Hoc Group will start in early 2022 and is expected to continue for 1 month. The Expert Ad Hoc will meet by teleconference and provide offline review and comment on drafts.

This work adds to the Sustainable Use of Resources Expert Ad Hoc Groups previously communicated, specifically Materials Selection, Critical Minerals, Product Longevity (including design, circularity innovation, secure data deletion), Packaging Design, End-of-Life and Water Resources.

Stakeholders with expertise in zero waste manufacturing are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, non-governmental organizations, academics, and component and material suppliers.

Please notify GEC of your interest in joining this Expert Ad Hoc Group by sending an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by January 3, 2022. Please also provide a provide a brief summary of your background and experience with the topic.

 Please contact the project lead, Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org), with any questions.

Today GEC releases its draft Ultra-Low Carbon Solar (ULCS) Criterion for public comment. The ULCS Criterion is developed based on the principle that low-embodied carbon in photovoltaic (PV) modules is critical for achieving net-zero emissions with renewable energy. The ULCS Criterion establishes a standardized methodology for calculating low-embodied carbon in PV modules and a consensus-based performance threshold. This Criterion will be added to the EPEAT PV product category, allowing purchasers to identify PV modules with an ultra-low carbon footprint.

The public comment period -- open for 60 days -- is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide technical comments on the draft criteria. Comments on any aspect of the criterion are welcome. There are also several topics in the criterion document where specific feedback is requested. All comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM North American Pacific Time on January 31, 2022 using this Public Comment form. Comments should be sent to Skye Lei at Anthesis (skye.lei@anthesisgroup.com).  

GEC is partnering with Anthesis, an organization with extensive expertise in life cycle analysis, to convene and manage the ULCS criteria development process. Any questions on the technical content of the criterion should be directed to Skye Lei at Anthesis (skye.lei@anthesisgroup.com). Questions about EPEAT and the application of the ULCS criterion should be directed to Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

At the request of stakeholders, GEC proposed a revision to its GEC Criteria Development Policy (P74) that will add the opportunity for stakeholders to participate as Observers in criteria development Technical Committees, which are the voluntary consensus bodies for EPEAT criteria. The public comment period on the proposed revision to the GEC Criteria Development Policy closes on December 17, 2021. Provided the proposed revision receives favorable public comments, GEC plans to expedite implementation of the proposed Observer policy, effective January 17, 2021. This will allow interested stakeholders to participate as Observers in the first substantive meeting of the Technical Committee for Climate Change Mitigation.

In its policy, GEC establishes general parameters for the operation of Technical Committees to ensure that the criteria development process is open and transparent to all interested organizations, while also fostering meaningful dialogue and the exchange of perspectives among stakeholder interest groups. Per the proposed policy revision, Observer status allows individuals to attend Technical Committee meetings and receive documents provided to the Technical Committee, such as meeting agendas and updates to the Full Draft Criteria Document. Technical Committee Observers may only observe meeting discussions, unless invited by the Technical Committee Chair to contribute to the meeting. Stakeholders must apply for Observer status and sign an Observer Agreement before receiving Technical Committee documents or attending meetings. Technical Committee Observers are limited to one representative from an organization. Organizations that have a representative with Technical Committee Member status are not eligible to have a Technical Committee Observer. The names and affiliations of all Technical Committee Observers are publicly available. See the proposed revisions for additional information.

In anticipation of this change, NSF International, GEC’s partner organization for criteria development, will be accepting applications from stakeholders that are interested in becoming Observers in active Technical Committees. Active Technical Committees currently include 1) Climate Change Mitigation, and 2) Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices.  Interested stakeholders should contact Greta Baragar (GBarager@NSF.org) to apply for Observer status. Please include in your correspondence the organization that you represent and which of the above Technical Committees you are interested in joining as an Observer. NSF will provide Observer Agreement that must be completed before granting Observer status. 

For all other queries about EPEAT criteria development, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The deadline for comments on GEC’s State of Sustainability Research on Chemicals of Concern is extended until 11:59 PST January 7, 2022. GEC welcomes stakeholder review and comments submitted using the Public Comment Form via e-mail to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

This research examines the human health and environmental impacts associated with chemicals within and for the manufacturing of ICT products, then takes a systematic look at strategies to reduce the impact of chemicals and the potential to realize a shift to safer, more sustainable substances in electronics and its supply chain.

While all comments are welcome, we’re particularly interested in:

• Identification of additional information and data on chemicals of concern relevant to ICT products;
• Recommendation for additional mitigation strategies and best practices leading to demonstrable impact reductions;
• Errors and omissions in the analyses and criteria recommendations; and
• Affirmative feedback (e.g., if priority sustainability impacts are identified and adequately addressed).

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

GEC is pleased to release its final State of Sustainability Research for Sustainable Use of Resources, which reflects stakeholder comments and data-supported recommendations submitted during the public consultation process. This State of Sustainability Research serves as the evidenced-based scientific foundation for EPEAT criteria development.

The research identifies priority contributors to resource depletion across the life cycle of ICT products and strategies to reduce these impacts, including material selection, product longevity, recovery and recycling, water management, and circular business strategies. Finally, this research recommends criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel, based on the science and evidence presented in this State of Sustainability Research.

GEC is now convening Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review and draft criteria for sustainable use of resources. Stakeholders interested in participating in criteria development are encouraged to contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The State of Sustainability Research for Sustainable Use of Resources is the second of four analyses supporting GEC’s initiative to develop modular criteria that will apply across all EPEAT ICT product categories. In April 2021 GEC issued State of Sustainability Research for Climate Change Mitigation, in November 2021 GEC issued its draft State of Sustainability Research on Chemicals of Concern. In 2022 GEC will issue State of Sustainability Research for Corporate ESG Performance.  

Please contact Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org) with any questions.  

The EPEAT Program makes policy and procedural updates on an annual basis and is proposing revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and GEC Criteria Development Process (P74).

Stakeholder feedback and insights are an essential part of the Global Electronics Council’s (GEC) management of the EPEAT Program. As a result, GEC is holding a 60-day comment period and welcomes stakeholder feedback on the October 2021 proposed revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual, the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual, and GEC Criteria Development Process. Please use the links above when accessing these three consultation documents, as they direct to versions of the documents that contain “tracked changes” which highlight deletions and insertions.

To facilitate the review of these documents, GEC held three informational sessions for stakeholders on November 18, 2021, to highlight key changes and answer any questions. Three sessions were held throughout the day to accommodate worldwide locations, and each session covered the same topics. A recording of the webinar, as well as the presentation materials, are now available.   

As a reminder, the comment period is open from October 18 through December 17, 2021. Comments must be documented using the EPEAT Public Comment Form and submitted electronically to EPEAT@globalelectronicscouncil.org. All comments received will be made publicly available in a stakeholder comment report, summarizing comments received and attributing the comments directly to the submitter.

GEC reserves the right to not consider comments received after 11:59 pm North America Pacific Time on December 17, 2021.

Please direct any questions about this public comment period to EPEAT@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

In April 2020, the Global Electronics Council (GEC) authorized the EPEAT Program to address COVID-19 related disruptions and modify existing conformity assurance requirements and outlined these in addenda to EPEAT’s Policy Manual (P65) and the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66).

Since the release of the initial modifications, GEC continued to monitor COVID-19 related disruptions and has been responding accordingly. In September and October 2021, GEC engaged with stakeholders to solicit feedback and identify current and future anticipated COVID-related EPEAT Program challenges. To continue balancing the credibility of EPEAT with the reality of continuing global impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to withdraw the existing temporary modifications on January 1, 2022, and replace them with new temporary modifications.

These new 2022 modifications and the associated policy addenda are identified in an updated version of the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65). Additional resources, including the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), a Frequently Asked Questions and Implementation Guidance (2022) companion document, and templates for implementation of several modifications are available through an EPEAT Registry account under “Resources” or upon request.

The Frequently Asked Questions and Implementation Guidance (2022) document outlines the implementation requirements and responsibilities associated with the use of these new temporary conformity assurance modifications. It also identifies the steps that must be taken regarding the withdrawal of the old (2021) modifications. Participating Manufacturers and GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies are responsible for reviewing this document and ensuring all required actions are taken.

To provide Purchasers with additional transparency, the EPEAT Program will also publish a monthly trend report on the use of the temporary conformity assurance modifications by Participating Manufacturers. These reports will not disclose the name of Participating Manufacturers or EPEAT-registered products and instead will present aggregated data.

GEC invites all stakeholders to participate in an information session in January 2022 which will provide further details on the new modifications and associated requirements. To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for this call – note that the same topics will be discussed in each call.

If you or your colleagues are interested in participating in one of these calls, please use the registration links below. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing details for joining the call. 

If you have any questions, please email us at EPEAT@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org

The EPEAT Program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities, which must be implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs), occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Some Continuous Monitoring activities require that investigations be conducted in discrete timeframes called Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received major nonconformances, and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Report for Continuous Monitoring Round CD-2021-02 is now available on the EPEAT Registry. This Continuous Monitoring Round for the Computers and Displays product category involved Level 1 Investigations, which require CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance.

Additional details about the Round including the total number of investigations completed, the number of nonconformances found, and a breakdown of nonconformances by type and by Criterion is available in the Outcomes Report.

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

To facilitate the reliable and efficient identification of EPEAT-registered products in the global marketplace, GEC is requiring EPEAT Participating Manufacturers to provide unique product identifying information for their active EPEAT-registered products.

GEC does not require Participating Manufactures to place the EPEAT trademark on active EPEAT-registered products. Instead, a product that is listed on the EPEAT Registry is considered to carry the EPEAT Mark. GEC is requiring Participating Manufacturers to provide unique product identifiers for their products listed on the EPEAT Registry to assist purchasers in locating the same product elsewhere. With the rise of online purchasing on 3rd party platforms and electronic catalogues, GEC seeks to increase the confidence of purchasers seeking to identify EPEAT-registered products on other platforms after initially finding them on the EPEAT Registry.

A Frequently Asked Questions document is available to answer commonly asked questions about unique product identifiers in the EPEAT Registry. 

On February 1, 2022, GEC is requiring that EPEAT Participating Manufacturers provide unique product identifier(s) for all active EPEAT-registered products.

EPEAT Participating Manufacturers will be required to provide at least one unique product identifier for each active EPEAT-registered product. Unique product identifiers ensure reliable identification of EPEAT products by purchasers, as well as facilitate the reliable transmission of EPEAT product data through the EPEAT API.

GEC requires that at least one unique product identifier from the list below be provided for each active EPEAT-registered product publicly viewable on the EPEAT Registry. While GEC prefers that Participating Manufacturers provide Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs), since they are globally applicable, any unique product identifier is acceptable. Participating Manufacturers are required to provide at least one unique product identifier but are welcome to provide as many unique product identifiers, per product, as possible.

1. Global Trade Item Number (GTIN): Describes a family of codes that use up to 14-digits to identify products. Primary GTINs are GTIN-12, GTIN-13, GTIN-8, and GTIN-14, which are also referred to under the terminology UPC, EAN, EAN-8, and EAN/UCC-14, respectively. 

2. Universal Product Code (UPC): A 12-digit code used primarily in North America. Also referenced as GTIN-12.

3. European Article Number (EAN): A 13-digit code used primarily outside North America. Also referenced as GTIN-13.

4. Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): An alphanumeric code with up to 17 digits set by a product’s manufacturer to identify and differentiate that product. 

5. Additional Unique Product Identifier: A specific unique product identifier not already listed that is primarily used in specific marketplaces. An example is the Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN).

What happens if a Participating Manufacturer does not provide unique product identifying information?

Providing unique product identifying information is an EPEAT program requirement beginning February 1, 2022.  GEC reserves the right to not list product(s) on the EPEAT Registry that are missing unique product identifying information.  GEC understands that there may be instances where a Participating Manufacturer is unable to provide unique product identifying information and will review those instances on a case-by-case basis.  Please note that products missing unique product identifier information will not be included in the EPEAT API shared with GEC approved third-party platforms. 

Participating Manufacturers can provide unique product identifier information in two ways:  

1. Batch upload using GEC provided “UPI EPEAT Active Registered-Products Form”

On November 22, 2021, GEC will email to EPEAT Participating Manufacturer Administrators a form that lists all active EPEAT registered products as of November 1, 2021. The form will contain fields in which unique product identifier(s) can be inserted. Each manufacturer organization is required to return the forms containing unique product identifier information to GEC by February 1, 2022. Instructions will be provided on inserting unique product identifying information into the UPI EPEAT Active Registered-Products Form. GEC will upload the unique product identifier data submitted by Participating Manufacturers into the EPEAT Registry. The unique product data provided by the February 1, 2022 deadline is expected to be publicly viewable on the Registry by February 7, 2022.

GEC is also developing Registry functionality to allow Participating Manufacturers to download an UPI EPEAT Active Registered-Products Form, edit/add unique product identifying information and then upload this data. The unique product identifiers uploaded via the UPI EPEAT Active Registered-Products Form will be automatically validated for correctness and EPEAT Participating Manufacturers performing the upload will be required to attest to the veracity of the unique product identifier data provided. If there are products without a unique product identifier, Participating Manufacturers will have to confirm, using the appropriate field on the form, that a unique product identifier is not provided. This new Registry backend functionality is expected to be available for use on February 10, 2022. This functionality improvement will be available for beta testing ahead of release on the EPEAT Registry. If interested in beta testing this functionality, please register here.

2. Adding unique product identifier information in existing/new individual product records

On February 10, 2022, GEC will release a new backend Registry functionality that enables EPEAT Participating Manufacturers to manually enter unique product identifiers in existing and/or new product records. All unique product identifiers provided will be automatically validated for correctness and EPEAT Participating Manufacturers will be required to attest the data is correct to the best of their knowledge before the data is made publicly viewable on the EPEAT Registry. If a product does not have a unique product identifier, Participating Manufacturers will have to check a box confirming that a unique product identifier is not provided. This functionality improvement will be available for beta testing ahead of release on the EPEAT Registry. If interested in beta testing this functionality, please register here.
 
How Will the EPEAT Registry Display Unique Product Identifiers?
 
Unique product identifiers provided for active EPEAT-registered products will be reflected on the public facing EPEAT Registry by February 7, 2022. Unique product identifiers will appear on the Product Summary page for any products returned in a search. Please note that only the first ten (10) unique product identifiers provided in each predesignated or fill-in field will be listed on the page. If more than ten (10) unique product identifiers are listed, they will appear in a pop-up box on the same screen. All unique product identifiers listed for products on the public facing EPEAT Registry will be available for export and download.
 
Training on Unique Product Identifier Implementation
 
GEC will provide training on the new functionality improvements that allow the upload of unique product identifiers for EPEAT-registered products. If interested in attending a webinar, please use the below registration link(s). All webinars will cover the same information.

Webinar Session #1         
6am Pacific Time on January 26, 2022
9am Eastern Time on January 26, 2022
3pm Central European Time on January 26, 2022
10pm Beijing Time on January 26, 2022
Webinar Session 1 Registration Link

 Webinar Session #2         
10am Pacific Time on January 26, 2022
1pm Eastern Time on January 26, 2022
7pm Central European Time on January 26, 2022
2am Beijing Time on January 26, 2022
Webinar Session 2 Registration Link

 Webinar Session #3         
5pm Pacific Time on January 26, 2022
8pm Eastern Time on January 26, 2022
2am Central European Time on January 26, 2022
9am Beijing Time on January 26, 2022
 Webinar Session 3 Registration Link
 
Important Dates and Timeline for Unique Product Identifiers Required in the EPEAT Registry

November 22, 2021: GEC will provide UPI EPEAT Active Registered-Products Form to EPEAT Participating Manufacturer Administrators. Instructions to complete the form will be provided along with the form.

January 26, 2021: Training Webinars (Sessions 1, 2 and 3) on Unique Product Identifier Implementation.

February 1, 2022: Participating Manufacturer return completed UPI EPEAT Active Registered-Products Form to GEC.

February 7, 2022: Unique Product Identifiers appear on the public EPEAT Registry.

February 10, 2022: Unique Product Identifier functionality by product record and /or bulk upload available in EPEAT Registry. All active EPEAT products must have at least one unique product identifier. If products do not have a unique product identifier, EPEAT Participating Manufacturers will be required to attest to this, and the product will not be included in EPEAT API.

Questions or Comments?
 
GEC looks forward to working with EPEAT Participating Manufacturers to foster increased efficiency and reliability in promoting the identification and purchase of EPEAT products.
 
Please forward all questions or comments on the EPEAT Unique Product Identifier policy requirement to Susan Herbert (sherbert@globalelectronicscouncil.org). 

 Please contact Kim Hair (khair@globalelectronicscouncil.org) regarding technical questions on how to upload/add unique product identifying data.

GEC invites stakeholders to participate in the technical review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT sustainability impact module for Chemicals of Concern.

Below is a list of Expert Ad Hoc Groups that GEC is currently forming and the criteria topics they will address.

1.    Management of substances used in product – assessing and controlling chemicals of concern.

2.    Substance inventory & transparency – reporting of chemicals within products is to inform responsible supply chain management.

3.    Alternatives assessment for chemicals of concern & public disclosure –identifying, assessing, and making informed risk-based toxicological determination of the acceptability of use of materials and chemicals to replace high hazard chemicals with safer alternatives.

4.    Safer manufacturing chemicals -replacing high hazard cleaners and degreasers with safer alternatives.

Expert Ad Hoc Groups will review and provide technical feedback on draft criteria and definitions. The work of the Ad Hoc Groups will start in January 2022 and are expected to continue for 8-12 weeks. The Groups will meet by teleconference and provide offline review and comment on drafts.

Stakeholders with expertise in the Ad Hoc topics are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, non-governmental organizations, academics, and component and material suppliers.

If you have expertise in any of these topics, please send an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by December 17, 2021. Please identify the Ad Hoc Group(s) that you are interested in from the above list and provide a brief summary of your background and experience with the topic.

Please contact the project lead, Rachel Simon (rsimon@globalelectronicscouncil.org) with any questions.

The EPEAT program ensures the ongoing conformance of EPEAT-registered products through a surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities, which must be implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs), occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. Some Continuous Monitoring activities require that investigation be conducted in discrete timeframes called Rounds. For each Round, the EPEAT Program specifies the products and EPEAT Criteria to be investigated, the specific timeframe for investigative activities, and the method of investigation that CABs must use.

To maintain the level of transparency relied on by purchasers, the EPEAT Program publishes an Outcomes Report at the conclusion of each Round to summarize the activities conducted and to identify the products and Participating Manufacturers that received major nonconformances and the actions taken to restore the accuracy of the EPEAT Registry.

The Outcomes Reports for Continuous Monitoring Rounds PVMI-2021-01, SV-2021-02, and TV-2021-02 are now available on the EPEAT Registry.

Continuous Monitoring Rounds for Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters (PVMI-2021-01), Servers (SV-2021-02), and Televisions (TV-2021-02) all involved Level 1 Investigations, which require CABs to review documentary evidence provided by Participating Manufacturers to demonstrate conformance.

Additional details about each Round including the total number of investigations completed, the number of nonconformances found and a breakdown of nonconformances by type and by Criterion are available in each respective Outcomes Report.

Deadline extended to January 7, 2022, 11:59 pm PST

Today GEC releases its draft State of Sustainability Research on Chemicals of Concern for a 30-day public comment period. This Research, which will guide upcoming EPEAT criteria development, examines the human health and environmental impacts associated with chemicals within and for the manufacturing of ICT products, then takes a systematic look at strategies to reduce the impact of chemicals and the potential to realize a shift to safer, more sustainable substances in electronics and its supply chain.

GEC welcomes stakeholder review and comments on this State of Sustainability Research. Comments must be submitted using the Public Comment Form and submitting it via e-mail to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org no later than 11:59 PST on December 10, 2021.

 GEC invites stakeholder review of this State of Sustainability Research and submission of comments, including:

• Identification of additional information and data on chemicals of concern relevant to ICT products;
• Recommendation for additional mitigation strategies and best practices leading to demonstrable impact reductions;
• Errors and omissions in the analyses and criteria recommendations; and
• Affirmative feedback (e.g., if priority sustainability impacts are identified and adequately addressed).

This State of Sustainability Research is part of GEC process to revise criteria across all EPEAT product categories, focusing on 4 sustainability impact areas. See the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact for more details on GEC’s criteria development process and anticipated schedule.

Questions regarding this notice may be directed to the project lead, Rachel Simon, Senior Manager Technology Assessment and Resource Development.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

At the request of stakeholders, GEC will provide a quarterly update on the schedule for criteria development for the 4 sustainability impact modules. The schedule in the attached update of the GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview, reflects the current public comment period for Climate Change Mitigation criteria (closes December 7) and the upcoming public comment period for the State of Sustainability Research for Chemicals of Concern (opens November 10). We’ve also now included in this overview document the proposed implementation schedule for the sustainability impact modules that was previously shared on public webinars.  

If you have any questions about EPEAT criteria development, the sustainability impact modules, or how to engage in the process, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The 2022 Schedule of EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Rounds is now publicly available on the EPEAT Registry.

The EPEAT program ensures the veracity of EPEAT-registered products through an ongoing surveillance process known as Continuous Monitoring. Continuous Monitoring activities occur throughout the year and test the ability of Participating Manufacturers to prove conformance with EPEAT Criteria on an ongoing basis. All EPEAT-registered products in all product categories and all Participating Manufacturers are subject to Continuous Monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring activities include Investigations planned by the EPEAT Program and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes (called Continuous Monitoring Rounds). Participating Manufacturers are responsible for participating in these Rounds, cooperating with their CABs, and providing the necessary documentation to show conformance with EPEAT Criteria.

GEC is committed to transparency, and to this end, the 2022 EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Schedule and the subsequent results of each Round are made publicly available. The annual schedule is also made available to both Participating Manufacturers and GEC-approved CABs to facilitate their resource planning for the year.

Please note that the 2021 Schedule of EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Rounds will remain available until the completion of the 2021 Continuous Monitoring Rounds.

Please direct any questions about this 2022 Schedule of EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Rounds to EPEAT@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The EPEAT Program makes policy and procedural updates on an annual basis and is proposing revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65), EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and GEC Criteria Development Process (P74).

 The EPEAT Policy Manual identifies the underlying policies that govern and support EPEAT programmatic activities. The EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual defines the specific requirements and expectations of EPEAT-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs), and of manufacturers or brands that have active EPEAT-registered products or are in the process of confirming that their products conform with EPEAT Criteria. GEC Criteria Development Process (P74) identifies the process followed by the Global Electronics Council to develop, revise, and evaluate criteria for use in the EPEAT Program.

 Stakeholder feedback and insights are an essential part of the Global Electronics Council’s (GEC) management of the EPEAT Program. As such, GEC is holding a 60-day comment period and welcomes stakeholder feedback on the October 2021 proposed revisions to the EPEAT Policy Manual, the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual, and GEC Criteria Development Process.  

 The comment period is open from October 18 through December 17, 2021. Comments must be documented using the EPEAT Public Comment Form and submitted electronically to EPEAT@globalelectronicscouncil.org. All comments received will be made publicly available in a stakeholder comment report, summarizing comments received and attributing the comments directly to the submitter.

 GEC reserves the right to not consider comments received after 11:59 pm North America Pacific Time on December 17, 2021.

 To facilitate the review of these documents, GEC is holding three informational sessions for stakeholders to highlight key changes and answer any questions. To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for this call – note that the same topics will be discussed in each call.

 GEC will not be accepting feedback from participants during these sessions; all feedback must be submitted electronically using the EPEAT Public Comment Form provided. If you or your colleagues are interested in participating in one of these calls, please use the registration links below.

 GEC proposes to publish the revised documents on February 15, 2022. Unless otherwise identified in the documents, new policy changes are proposed to become effective as of July 1, 2022. Participating Manufacturers and EPEAT-approved CABs will be responsible for conforming with the new requirements as of this date.

 Please direct any questions about this public comment period to EPEAT@globalelectronicscouncil.org

On September 22, 2021 EPEAT launched a Continuous Monitoring Round for the Computers and Displays product category, while a Continuous Monitoring Round was launched for the Imaging Equipment product category on September 27, 2021. Both Rounds involve Investigations that will use Documentation Review to determine the conformance of products with specific EPEAT Criteria.  

In these Investigations, Participating Manufacturers have a discrete time period in which they must provide evidence that demonstrates conformance with the selected EPEAT Criteria. The Plans for the Computers and Displays Round (CD-2021-03) and the Imaging Equipment Round (IE-2021-03) are now posted on the EPEAT Registry, and provide an overview of the investigative process, the total number of products selected, and the Criteria selected for investigation in each Round. 

Please contact us with any questions at EPEAT@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org

In April 2020, GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to address COVID-19 related disruptions and modify existing conformity assurance requirements and outlined these in addenda to EPEAT Policy Manual (P65) and EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), and in the accompanying special document: “EPEAT Program COVID-19 Response – Frequently Asked Questions and Implementation Guidance".

Since the release of the initial modifications in April 2020, GEC continued to monitor COVID-19 related disruptions and has been responding accordingly. GEC seeks to engage stakeholders as we develop a balanced approach for 2022.  

GEC invites all stakeholders to participate in a multi-stakeholder session on October 28, 2021, where we will provide further details on proposed COVID-19 policy modifications for 2022. To accommodate worldwide locations, we have scheduled three times for this call – note that the same topics will be discussed in each call.

If you or your colleagues are interested in participating in a session, please use the registration links below. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing details for joining the call.

If you have any questions, please email us at EPEAT@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

Today GEC releases its draft Climate Change Mitigation criteria for public comment. The public comment period -- open for 60 days -- is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide technical comments on the draft criteria. These criteria are intended to address the life cycle sustainability impacts identified in the State of Sustainability Research for Climate Change Mitigation and represent leadership and international best practices in reducing the identified impacts. These criteria are one of 4 sustainability impact modules that will be applied across EPEAT product categories, starting in 2023.

NSF International manages the public comment process on behalf of GEC. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on December 6, 2021 using the NSF Online Workspace, available here. Instructions on submitting comments are provided on the NSF Online Workspace. To support openness and transparency, the NSF website displays all public comments and their resolution.    

GEC, along with NSF, will host a webinar on October 13, 11 am - 12:30 pm ET to provide an overview of the draft criteria, provide instructions on how to submit comments, and answer stakeholder questions. To sign up for the webinar, go to this REGISTRATION LINK.

For more information on the Climate Change Mitigation criteria, see the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact. Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with questions.

The EPEAT Program held a webinar on September 22, 2021 to review the 2019 Servers and 2020 Computers and Displays amendment changes with Participating Manufacturers and CABs. Thank you to all who attended. A copy of the slides can be found on our website here, and a copy of the webinar recording can be found here. Please contact Cara Beatty if you have questions.

Coming Soon: Public Comment on Draft Climate Change Mitigation Criteria

GEC’s draft Climate Change Mitigation criteria will be released for public comment in the first week of October. The public comment period, open for 60 days, is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft criteria.  A notice will appear in these EPEAT Announcements and in the GEC Newsletter when the public comment period opens.

Upcoming Webinar: Draft Criteria on Climate Change Mitigation

Join this webinar on October 13, 11:00 am -12:30 pm Eastern for an overview of the draft criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, including the rationale for the criteria and the requirements. The webinar also will review the process for submitting public comments on the criteria.  REGISTRATION LINK

Climate Change Mitigation Technical Committee

NSF International, the partner GEC selected to manage the voluntary consensus process for its sustainability impact modules, released the roster for the Technical Committee for Climate Change Mitigation. The Technical Committee serves as the voluntary consensus body in the GEC Dynamic Criteria Development Process. GEC’s process requires balanced stakeholder representation including manufacturers, purchasers, government policy and sustainability advocates, and other industry in the electronics supply chain, as well as geographic and product representation. 

For more information on the Climate Change Mitigation criteria, see the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact. Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with questions.

GEC invites stakeholders to participate in the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT sustainability impact module for Sustainable Use of Resources.

Below is a list of Expert Ad Hoc Groups that GEC is currently forming and the criteria topics they will address.

1.     Materials selection – Selecting lower impact materials (metals/plastics) and use of recycled content.

2.     Critical minerals – Focus on recovery and recycling of critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs).

3.     Product longevity

a)    Design for durability, repairability and recycling and provision of product service and spare parts. Some specific topics include longer life batteries, product durability testing, utilization of repairability indices, component part failure rates and availability of spare parts, part markings and information for recyclers to facilitate safe handling.   

b)    Business practices to incentivize circularity – how to incentivize and recognize transformative business practices to enable a more circular economy.

c)     Secure data deletion – Best practices to ensure data is securely removed from end-of-life equipment, such that it can be reused or repurposed.

4.    Packaging design – Promoting material efficiency and use of recycled and responsibly sourced renewable content.

5.    End-of-life – Addressing take-back (collection and recovery mechanisms), environmentally responsible processing, capacity building for developing markets, and reporting on recovery and recycling achievements.  

6.    Water resources – Assessing and reporting water use in the electronic product value chain.  

Expert Ad Hoc Groups will provide technical feedback on draft criteria and definitions. The work of the Expert Ad Hoc Groups will start in November 2021 and is expected to continue for 2-4 months depending on the topic. The Expert Ad Hocs will meet by teleconference and provide offline review and comment on drafts.

Stakeholders with expertise in the above topics are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, non-governmental organizations, academics, and component and material suppliers.

If you’d like to participate in any of the above Expert Ad Hoc Groups, please send an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by October 13, 2021. Please identify the Expert Ad Hoc Group(s) that you are interested in from the above list and provide a brief summary of your background and experience with the topic.

Please contact the project lead, Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org), with any questions.

Today GEC releases its draft State of Sustainability Research on Sustainable Use of Resources for a 30-day public comment period. This Research examines environmental impacts associated with materials used in and to produce ICT products and e-waste, then takes a systematic look at how to reduce these impacts through strategies that extend the useful life of products, increase product collection and repurposing, and target the recovery of valuable and critical materials.

The purpose of GEC’s State of Sustainability Research is to identify priority impacts and best practices for mitigating these impacts and serve as the science and evidence-based foundation for developing criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel.  GEC welcomes stakeholder review of this State of Sustainability Research and submission of comments, including:

·       Identification of additional life cycle analyses and pertinent data on the sustainable use of resources;

·       Mitigation strategies and best practices leading to demonstrable impact reductions;

·       Errors and omissions in the analyses and criteria recommendations; and

·       Affirmative feedback (e.g., if priority sustainability impacts are identified and adequately addressed). 

Please submit comments, by completing the SOSR Public Comment Form and submitting it via e-mail to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org no later than 11:59 PST on October 13, 2021.

GEC is updating EPEAT criteria, focusing on 4 sustainability impact areas, including Sustainable Use of Resources.  See the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact for more details on GEC’s criteria development process and anticipated schedule.

Questions regarding this notice may be directed to the project lead, Erica Logan, Senior Manager Technology Assessment and Resource Development; elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

Earlier this year, GEC launched a multi-year initiative to revise its EPEAT criteria to align with sustainability impacts of electronic products and their supply chains, including Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources (or Circularity), Reduction of Chemicals of Concern, and Corporate ESG Performance. When complete, these “modular” criteria will be applied across all EPEAT product categories, including computers and displays, mobile phones, imaging equipment, servers, televisions and network equipment. This GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview includes a summary of the criteria development process, opportunities to engage, and an update on the anticipated project implementation schedule. Stakeholders are encouraged to send questions to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is developing criteria for its EPEAT ecolabel to calculate and identify low embodied carbon solar panels. This Call for Participation is to notify stakeholders of the opportunity to participate on the multi-stakeholder Technical Committee that will evaluate and reach consensus on these leadership criteria. GEC is partnering with Anthesis, an organization with extensive expertise in life cycle analysis, to convene and manage the Technical Committee. The State of Sustainability Report on Ultra Low Carbon Solar provides the scientific-basis and background documentation for criteria development.

The Technical Committee is the consensus body in the GEC criteria development process. The Technical Committee on ultra-low carbon solar criteria is expected to begin its work in October 2021 and continue for up to 4 months. Technical Committee meetings will occur monthly via teleconference. See the Call for Participation for more information on the role of the Technical Committee and how to apply for membership. Applications for Technical Committee membership are due by midnight ET on September 11, 2021. 

For questions about this initiative, please contact: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

GEC facilitated a Technical Conformity Assurance Committee (T-CAC) meeting on June 29, 2021. The purpose of the T-CAC is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT. During this meeting, the following agenda items were discussed:

1.      Servers 2019 and Computers and Displays 2020 amendments

2.      Testing plastic parts vs plastic pellets

3.      Definition of electronic components

4.      Definition of product end-of-life and product no longer available for sale

GEC would like to thank all stakeholders who participated and provided feedback. Please contact Cara Beatty if you would like to receive a copy of the issue papers and slides reviewed during the meeting.

In April 2020, GEC authorized the EPEAT Program to address COVID-19 related disruptions and modify existing conformity assurance requirements and outlined these in addenda to EPEAT Policy Manual, and EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual and the accompanying special document: “EPEAT Program COVID-19 Response - Frequently Asked Questions and Implementation Guidance”.

Since the release of the initial modification in April 2020, GEC has been monitoring COVID-19 related disruptions. GEC continues to see impacts to EPEAT Program activities arising from the pandemic and recent global surges. As a result, GEC has authorized the EPEAT Program to extend the current modifications to December 31, 2021.

These modifications are outlined in the June 11, 2021 addenda to the EPEAT Policy Manual (P65) that becomes effective starting July 1, 2021. Additional resources, including the EPEAT Conformity Assurance Implementation Manual (P66), a Frequently Asked Questions and Implementation Guidance companion document, and templates for implementation of the Force Majeure concept for supplier changes and component changes are available through an EPEAT Registry account under “Resources” or upon request. These additional resources provide details to help EPEAT Participating Manufacturers and GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) implement the modified conformity assurance requirements.

If you have any questions or would like the EPEAT Program to hold an information session about these policy modifications with your organization, please email us at EPEAT@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

Technical Committee launching for Climate Change Mitigation criteria for EPEAT ecolabel – now is your opportunity to get involved!

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is developing criteria to address climate change impacts throughout the life cycle of electronic products. These criteria will initially be leveraged across  EPEAT ICT product categories, including computers and displays, mobile phones, imaging equipment, servers, and televisions.  This Call for Participation is to notify stakeholders of the opportunity to participate on the multi-stakeholder Technical Committee that will evaluate and reach consensus on sustainability leadership criteria to reduce climate change impacts. GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee.

The criteria will address best practices for mitigating climate change impacts, inclusive of criteria to address embodied carbon in the supply chain through manufacturing energy efficiency and renewable electricity sourcing, product energy efficiency, reduction of high global warming potential chemicals in manufacturing, carbon footprint analysis to identify product-specific hot spots, and manufacturer carbon reduction goals aligned with climate science.

See the Call for Participation for information on how to participate in the Technical Committee. Applications for Technical Committee membership are due by midnight ET on July 16, 2021. 

If you have questions about the Climate Change criteria or the criteria development process, please send an email to: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

Technical Committee launching for Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel – now is your opportunity to get involved!

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is developing criteria to address the life cycle environmental and social impacts of Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices. This Call for Participation is to notify stakeholders of the opportunity to participate on the multi-stakeholder Technical Committee that will evaluate and reach consensus on sustainability leadership criteria to reduce these impacts. GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee.

The Technical Committee will consider criteria for wearables covering data privacy and information security; chemicals of concern; chemicals alternatives assessment; skin sensitizers; design for reuse, repair, and recycling; recycled content; and end-of-life management. This product category will also leverage the Climate Change criteria currently in development.

See the Call for Participation  for information on the scope of criteria and how to participate in the Technical Committee. Applications for Technical Committee membership are due by midnight ET on July 16, 2021. 

If you have questions about the Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices product category or the criteria development process, please send an email to: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

GEC will be facilitating a Technical Conformity Assurance Committee (T-CAC) meeting on June 29, 2021 at 9am Eastern Time North America / 3pm Central European Time / 9pm China Standard Time.

The T-CAC is open to all stakeholders including Participating Manufacturers, GEC-approved CABs, and Purchasers. The T-CAC is not a standing committee and there are no standing members.

As a reminder, the EPEAT Program seeks technical guidance and expertise from the T-CAC. The purpose of the T-CAC is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT. Because participants must be prepared to discuss and provide feedback on technical issues, the EPEAT Program requests that participants be technical experts themselves or have access to relevant technical resources.

GEC anticipates that the following agenda items will be reviewed during the June 29, 2021 meeting:

1.      Servers 2019 and Computers and Displays 2020 amendments

2.      Testing plastic parts vs plastic pellets

3.      Definition of electronic components

4.      Definition of product end-of-life

 If you are interested in attending the upcoming meeting, please email Cara Beatty to be added to the meeting invitation and distribution list. Attendees will receive an issue paper for each agenda item. Issue papers provide a background, any reference material, and specific questions we are seeking input on. 

GEC is pleased to release its final State of Sustainability Research for Climate Change Mitigation, which reflects stakeholder comments and data-supported recommendations submitted during the public consultation process. This State of Sustainability Research serves as the evidenced-based scientific foundation for EPEAT criteria development.

The research identifies priority contributors to climate change across the life cycle of ICT products and strategies to reduce these impacts. It critically analyzes greenhouse gas emissions resulting from component and manufacturing processes, as well as the contributions of product use for diverse electronic devices. Given the drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, the research proposes strategies to reduce emissions, which translate into proposed performance criteria.

GEC is now convening Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review and draft criteria for climate change mitigation. Stakeholders interested in participating in criteria development are encouraged to contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The State of Sustainability Research for Climate Change Mitigation is the first of four analyses supporting GEC’s initiative to develop modular criteria that will apply across all EPEAT product categories. In 2021 GEC will release additional State of Sustainability Research to support modular criteria for its three other priority impact areas: sustainable use of resources, reduction of chemicals of concern, and corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

Please contact Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org) with any questions.  

On setting carbon reduction goals in alignment with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

GEC thanks stakeholders for providing comments on our State of Sustainability Research (SOSR) report for Climate Change Mitigation. As a result of comments received, GEC would like to convene experts to develop criteria on setting SBTi-based carbon reduction goals for manufacturers and their supply chains. SBTi criteria development will either be added to an existing Expert Ad Hoc Group or an additional group formed.

Stakeholders interested in providing expert input on setting SBTi aligned goals are asked to notify GEC by sending an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by June 2, 2021.

Stakeholders who previously expressed interest in participating in Expert Ad Hoc Groups for Climate Change Mitigation will receive meeting scheduling information soon.

Please contact Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org) with any questions.

GEC is excited to announce the availability of the final State of Sustainability Research for Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices (HWWED) – covering fitness trackers, smartwatches, and wearable medical devices. This research includes a dedicated chapter on data privacy concerns, prepared by the Future Privacy Forum, and strategies to protect sensitive personal data.

This final State of Sustainability Research incorporates comments submitted by stakeholders during the public consultation process. GEC thanks the stakeholders whose substantive feedback helps ensure that this document represents the best currently available data on sustainability impacts and reduction strategies for wearable technology.

Leveraging the science and information in the State of Sustainability Research, GEC is forming Expert Ad Hoc Groups as the next step in criteria development for the HWWED EPEAT category. Stakeholders with relevant expertise are invited to express interest in participating in these groups, which are focused on clusters of closely related criteria. Ad Hocs will start work in June, and are expected to continue for 8-10 weeks. We are currently forming the following Expert Ad Hoc Groups:

• Scoping and Definition of HWWED Product Category
• Data Privacy and Information Security for wearable devices
• Chemicals of Concern: Substances in Product, Alternatives Assessment, and Skin Sensitizers
• Design for Reuse, Repair, and Recycling; and Recycled Content
• End-of-Life Management
• Corporate ESG Performance

If you have expertise in any of these topics and would like to participate, please contact the project lead, Ben Levin (BLevin@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org) by May 19, 2021. Please identify the Ad Hoc Group(s) that you are interested in from the above list and provide a brief summary of your background and experience on the topic.

Read more about the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT category for Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices.

GEC develops criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel in accordance with its Dynamic Criteria Development Process. With its Dynamic Criteria Development Process, GEC develops criteria based on sustainability impacts and in voluntary consensus processes that encourages broad and balanced stakeholder participation. Documentation of the GEC Criteria Development Process (P74) and how stakeholders can engage in the process is now available for download.

For additional information on GEC criteria development and stakeholder engagement, view the recording of GEC’s March 2021 webinar -- Developing EPEAT Criteria Using GEC’s Dynamic Criteria Development Process.

If you have questions about the process or how to participate, contact Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is pleased to announce that the intake screens for the Network Equipment Category are now available on the EPEAT Registry.

Beginning May 3, 2021, Participating Manufacturers can begin working with their Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) to register their network equipment.

Participating Manufacturers are encouraged to contact EPEAT@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org for more information on participation and to schedule an individualized demo session of the new intake screens.

Products covered by the new EPEAT Network Equipment category include switches and routers for data centers and other enterprise applications, as well as customer-premise routers.

The new Network Equipment criteria address the life cycle impacts of equipment, from raw material extraction to component and product manufacturing and end of life, across four sustainability impact areas:

• Climate change mitigation
• Reduction of chemicals of concern
• Sustainable use of resources, or circularity
• Corporate environment, social and governance performance

GEC expects the Network Equipment Category to be available on the public-facing EPEAT Registry in Summer 2021.

Purchasers interested in specifying or buying EPEAT-registered Network Equipment should also contact EPEAT@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org for information on getting started.

The deadline for expressing interest in participating in Expert Ad Hoc Groups for the Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices (HWWED) EPEAT category has been extended to May 19, 2021. Ad Hocs will start work in June, and are expected to continue for 8-10 weeks.

As a reminder, we are currently inviting stakeholders to participate in the following Ad Hoc Groups:

• Scoping and Definition of HWWEDs
• Data Privacy and Information Security
• Chemicals of Concern: Substances in Product, Alternatives Assessment, and Skin Sensitizers
• Design for Reuse, Repair, and Recycling; and Recycled Content
• End-of-Life Management
• Corporate ESG Performance

In particular, we continue to look for experts in Data Privacy and Information Security to support the Wearables criteria development.

If you are interested, please contact Ben Levin (BLevin@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org), indicate the Ad Hoc Group(s), and provide a brief background of your expertise.

Read more about the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT category for Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices.

GEC invites stakeholders to participate in the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT sustainability impact module for Climate Change Mitigation.

Below is a list of Ad Hoc Groups that GEC is currently forming:

• Conducting life cycle GHG emission assessments;
• Implementing energy efficiency measures in product and component manufacturing to reduce embodied carbon;
• Sourcing electricity from renewable energy sources for manufacture of product and components to reduce embodied carbon;
• Reducing use of high global warming potential chemicals in component manufacturing; and
• Product energy efficiency.

Ad Hoc Groups will review, provide feedback, and make recommendations on draft criteria and definitions. The work of the Ad Hoc Groups will start in June 2021 and are expected to continue for 8-10 weeks. The Groups will meet by teleconference and provide offline review and comment on drafts. Stakeholders with expertise in the Ad Hoc topics are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, non-governmental organizations, academics, and component and material suppliers.

If you have expertise in any of these topics and haven’t already notified us of your interest in participating, please send an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by May 19, 2021. Please identify the Ad Hoc Group(s) that you are interested in from the above list and provide a brief summary of your background and experience with the topic.

Please contact the project lead, Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org) with any questions.

GEC is pleased to announce the publication of criteria for the Sustainability Assessment of Network Equipment and the launch of its new EPEAT product category. Products covered by the new EPEAT Network Equipment category include switches and routers for data centers and other enterprise applications, as well as customer premise routers.

The new Network Equipment criteria address the life cycle impacts of equipment, from raw material extraction to component and product manufacturing and end of life, across four sustainability impact areas:

• Climate change mitigation
• Reduction of chemicals of concern
• Sustainable use of resources, or circularity
• Corporate environment, social and governance performance

GEC expects this new product category to be available through the EPEAT Registry in Summer 2021. The Registry will be available to Participating Manufacturers on May 3, 2021 - Participating Manufacturers can begin working with their CABs to register their network equipment and are encouraged to contact EPEAT@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org for more information.

Purchasers interested in specifying or buying EPEAT-registered Network Equipment should contact EPEAT@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org for information on getting started.

GEC invites stakeholders to provide comments on the draft State of Sustainability Research for ultra low-carbon solar photovoltaic modules. The State of Sustainability Research provides the rationale and science-based foundation for developing EPEAT criteria, along with a conceptual framework for drafting the ultra low-carbon solar criteria.

Comments must be submitted no later than May 7, 2021 using the SOSR Public Comment Form. Comments should be sent to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

Read more about the ULCS criteria proposed for EPEAT.

GEC invites stakeholders to comment on its State of Sustainability Research on Climate Change Mitigation for ICT products, including:

• Identification of additional lifecycle analyses and data on climate change impacts;
• Mitigation strategies and best practices leading to demonstrable impact reduction;
• Errors, omissions, and affirmative feedback (e.g., if priority sustainability impacts are adequately addressed)

This SOSR will serve as the scientific basis for development of EPEAT sustainability performance criteria.

Comments must be submitted by May 7, 2021 using the attached SOSR Public Comment Form and submitting it via e-mail to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by May 7, 2021 .

Read more about climate change criteria development.

GEC Invites stakeholders to participate in the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT category for Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices (HWWED), including fitness trackers, smartwatches, and wearable medical devices. Below is a list of Ad Hoc Groups that GEC is currently forming:

• Scoping and Definition of HWWED Product Category
• Data Privacy and Information Security
• Chemicals of Concern: Substances in Product, Alternatives Assessment, and Skin Sensitizers
• Design for Reuse, Repair, and Recycling; and Recycled Content
• End-of-Life Management
• Corporate ESG Performance

If you have expertise in any of these topics and would like to participate, please contact the project lead, Ben Levin (mailto:BLevin@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org) by April 15, 2021.

Read more about the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT category for Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices.