Unique Product Identifiers Required for Active EPEAT-registered Products beginning February 1, 2022
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.
