As part of GEC’s effort to provide more sustainable EPEAT registered data storage equipment products and improve data center sustainability, we are releasing for public comment, DRAFT EPEAT Circularity Criteria for Enterprise Data Storage. The public comment period -- open for 60 days -- is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide technical comments on the draft Limited Criteria Revision.

As previously described in GEC’s Final Product Category Proposal for Enterprise Data Storage products, which was refined prior to finalization based on public comment, GEC will apply the newly updated next generation sustainability criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, Reducing Chemicals of Concern and Responsible Supply Chains to enterprise data storage products. Prior to application of GEC Circularity Criteria, GEC is initiating a Limited Criteria Revision voluntary consensus process to update EPEAT Sustainable Use of Resources Criteria that have product specific thresholds and/or functional performance requirements, such as for recycled content and availability of replacement components.

NSF International manages the public comment process on behalf of GEC. Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on March 29, 2026 using the NSF Online Workspace, available here:

SUR Data Storage for Public Comment

NSF Public Workspace (can sort by “Groups”)

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 Cassandra Leone (cleone@nsf.org), NSF Sustainability Standards Secretariat, for assistance with the comment submittal process.

Please contact  Criteria@gec.org with questions regarding the technical content of the criteria.

Early next year the Technical Committee will launch to add Enterprise Data Storage to GEC’s Sustainable Use of Resources Criteria for the EPEAT® ecolabel – now is your opportunity to get involved!

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is conducting a Limited Criteria Revision of its Sustainable Use of Resources Criteria to add Enterprise Data Storage. 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 circularity criteria. GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee.  

Stakeholder Participation in the Technical Committee

The Technical Committee is the consensus body in the GEC criteria development process. The Technical Committee is responsible for ensuring that proposed criteria address priority sustainability impacts identified in the State of Sustainability Research and will move the industry and its supply chain to innovate and adopt best practices that achieve credible, verifiable reductions in sustainability impacts and increase transparency. This Technical Committee is expected to begin its work in Q1 2026 and continue for less than 6 months. Technical Committee meetings will occur monthly via teleconference call.

Membership on the Technical Committee is open to all interested parties by submitting the Technical Committee Application Form. The Technical Committee will include up to 20 voting members, representing a balance of stakeholders from four categories:

• Manufacturer: Manufacturer of products or services covered by the scope of the criteria and their trade associations
• Other Industry: Other businesses commercially engaged with the products or services such as: 
  • Suppliers and their trade associations.
  • Recyclers, repair and refurbish companies, asset management service providers, and their trade associations.
  • Other types of businesses commercially engaged with the product.
• Sustainability Advocates and Government Policy: Individual from a public agency (local, regional, state, federal, or international) or represents a professional public/environmental health/safety organization, data privacy and/or IT security, academia, or not-for-profit environmental organization.
• Purchasers and Ecolabel Criteria Users: An individual whose organization purchases, uses, or specifies products or services covered in the scope of the criteria. User/consumers and their trade association representatives, institutional purchasers, third-party conformity assessment bodies (e.g., testing laboratories), and retailers are included in this membership classification.

 Technical Committee member applications will be reviewed and members selected by NSF using the following considerations:

• technical competency and qualifications of the applicant relevant to the criteria;
• balance of stakeholder interests;
• geographic and product representation;
• date of receipt of application; and
• participation in recent or concurrent processes.

If you are interested in applying to participate on the Technical Committee, please complete the Technical Committee Application Form, and return it by December 1, 2025 to Cassandra Leone, Sustainability Standards Lead, NSF International (cleone@nsf.org).

Technical Committee Observer Status

It is also possible to apply for Technical Committee observer status. Observer status allows individuals to attend Technical Committee meetings and receive documents provided to the Technical Committee, such as meeting agendas and updates to Full Draft Criteria Documents. Technical Committee Observers may only observe meeting discussions, unless invited by the Technical Committee Chair to contribute to the meeting, either verbally or electronically. Technical Committee Observers are limited to two representative from an organization. Organizations that have a representative with Technical Committee Member status are eligible to have one Technical Committee Observer. All Observers must complete a Technical Committee Observer Application form, which includes signing an Observer Agreement before receiving Technical Committee documents or attending meetings. The names and affiliations of all Technical Committee Observers are publicly available.

If you are interested in applying Technical Committee Observer status, please complete the Technical Committee Observer Application Form, and return it by December 1, 2025 to Cassandra Leone, Sustainability Standards Lead, NSF International (cleone@nsf.org).

Questions? Please contact Cassandra Leone (cleone@nsf.org) with any questions regarding the Technical Committee application process. Please contact Rafaela Brito Portela Marcelino (rafaela@gec.org) at the Global Electronics Council about the overall GEC criteria development process and application in EPEAT. Additional information on the GEC criteria development process is publicly available.

In 2025, GEC completed an ambitious, multi-year initiative to update EPEAT criteria. These criteria appear in five separate documents: Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources, Reduction of Chemicals of Concern, Responsible Supply Chains, and Consumables (for imaging equipment products only) and are currently being implemented across EPEAT ICT product categories, starting with Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones, Servers, and Televisions.

To ensure different definitions for each product type were not developed for each of the five Criteria documents developed through the balanced, voluntary consensus, definitions for each product type within each product category were vetted and reviewed with stakeholders as part of EPEAT’s Conformity Guidance Group process. Examples of different product types include monitors, printers and rack-mounted servers.

Definitions for each of product type can now be found on the About EPEAT Page and at this link. The source for each definition is provided, and this document may be updated to reflect updates made to sourced definitions.

Please contact EPEAT@gec.org if you have any questions on this document.

GEC is pleased to have taken next step towards expanding GEC’s data center stack to increase the sustainability of data centers by releasing its Final Product Category Proposal for Enterprise Data Storage products.

GEC will  activate this new EPEAT Product Category by applying the newly updated next generation sustainability criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, Reducing Chemicals of Concern and Responsible Supply Chains, and working with stakeholders to  make necessary changes to apply the next generation EPEAT Sustainable Use of Resources (SUR)Criteria to data storage equipment. GEC will convene Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review draft proposals for a Limited Criteria Revision of the SUR Criteria. Where select Sustainable Use of Resources criteria have product specific thresholds and/or functional performance requirements, such as for recycled content and availability of replacement components, GEC is seeking Expert Ad Hoc Group input on the applicability of server specific SUR requirements to data storage products. No other revisions to EPEAT SUR-2025 Criteria or other next generation EPEAT Criteria are proposed.

Following conclusion of the Expert Ad Hoc Group vetting process, GEC will initiate a Voluntary Consensus Process with NSF International for a Limited Criteria Revision of EPEAT SUR-2025. The work with NSF is expected to begin in Q1 2026.

We ask that only one representative per organization join the Expert Ad Hoc Group unless they represent different stakeholder categories/areas of technical expertise.

Please contact Erica Terek (eterek@gec.org) with questions and to notify us of your interest in joining the Expert Ad Hoc Group by September 24, 2025.

GEC is pleased to have taken the next step towards expanding GEC’s data center stack to increase the sustainability of data centers by releasing its Final Product Category Proposal for Enterprise Data Storage products. GEC will engage technical experts to refine and finalize sustainability criteria for this product category by convening an Expert Ad Hoc Group in Q3/Q4 of 2025. A reminder and call for participation will be sent in coming months.

The final Product Category Proposal reflects stakeholder comments and data-supported recommendations submitted during the public consultation process and outlines the rationale for adding enterprise data storage to the EPEAT portfolio, including market analysis, summary of sustainability impacts and strategies to reduce impacts, and stakeholder interest. It also provides an overview of product composition and makes recommendations on the scope and approach for developing criteria for this product category.

GEC will  activate this new EPEAT Product Category by applying the newly updated next generation sustainability criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, Reducing Chemicals of Concern and Responsible Supply Chains, and working with stakeholders to  make necessary changes to apply the next generation EPEAT Sustainable Use of Resources (SUR)Criteria to data storage equipment.  GEC will convene Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review draft proposals for a Limited Criteria Revision of the SUR Criteria. Where select Sustainable Use of Resources criteria have product specific thresholds and/or functional performance requirements, such as for recycled content and availability of replacement components, GEC will seek Expert Ad Hoc Group input on the applicability of server requirements to data storage products. No other revisions to EPEAT SUR-2025 Criteria or other next generation EPEAT Criteria are proposed.

Following conclusion of the Expert Ad Hoc Group vetting process, GEC will initiate a Voluntary Consensus Process with NSF International for a Limited Criteria Revision of EPEAT SUR-2025. This work is expected to begin in Q3/Q4 of 2025.

Please contact Erica Terek (eterek@gec.org) with questions.  

GEC is pleased to release its Final Product Category Proposal for Enterprise Data Storage products, which reflects stakeholder comments and data-supported recommendations submitted during the public consultation process.

This document outlines the rationale for adding enterprise data storage to the EPEAT portfolio, including market analysis, summary of sustainability impacts and strategies to reduce impacts, and stakeholder interest. It also provides an overview of product composition and makes recommendations on the scope and approach for developing criteria for this product category.

In order to activate this new EPEAT Product Category, GEC will apply the newly updated next generation sustainability criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, Reducing Chemicals of Concern and Responsible Supply Chains. GEC will also make necessary changes to apply the next generation EPEAT Sustainable Use of Resources Criteria to data storage equipment by convening Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review draft proposals for a Limited Criteria Revision. Where select Sustainable Use of Resources criteria have product specific thresholds and/or functional performance requirements, such as for recycled content and availability of replacement components, GEC will seek Expert Ad Hoc Group input on the applicability of server requirements to data storage products. No other revisions to EPEAT SUR-2025 Criteria or other next generation EPEAT Criteria are proposed. Following conclusion of the Expert Ad Hoc Group vetting process, GEC will initiate a Voluntary Consensus Process with NSF International for a Limited Criteria Revision of EPEAT SUR-2025.

Stakeholders interested in participating in the Expert Ad Hoc Group are encouraged to contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org by 11:59pm ET on April 30, 2025.  

Please contact Erica Terek (eterek@gec.org) with any questions.  

Today the Global Electronics Council (GEC) released its Final Product Category Proposal for Enterprise Data Storage products, which initiates coverage of this category under the EPEAT ecolabel, and development of the EPEAT “data center stack” to enable more sustainable data centers.  The final proposal reflects stakeholder comments and data-supported recommendations submitted during the public consultation process.   

This document outlines the rationale for adding enterprise data storage to the EPEAT portfolio, including market analysis, summary of sustainability impacts and strategies to reduce impacts, and stakeholder interest. It also provides an overview of product composition and makes recommendations on the scope and approach for developing criteria for this product category.   

In order to activate this new EPEAT Product Category, GEC will apply the newly updated next generation sustainability criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, Reducing Chemicals of Concern and Responsible Supply Chains. GEC will also make necessary changes to apply the next generation EPEAT Sustainable Use of Resources Criteria to data storage equipment by convening Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review draft proposals for a Limited Criteria Revision. Where select Sustainable Use of Resources criteria have product specific thresholds and/or functional performance requirements, such as for recycled content and availability of replacement components, GEC will seek Expert Ad Hoc Group input on the applicability of server requirements to data storage products. No other revisions to EPEAT SUR-2025 Criteria or other next generation EPEAT Criteria are proposed. Following conclusion of the Expert Ad Hoc Group vetting process, GEC will initiate a Voluntary Consensus Process with NSF International for a Limited Criteria Revision of EPEAT SUR-2025.   

EPEAT’s sustainability criteria are built and finalized via a community driven process.  Stakeholders interested in participating in the Expert Ad Hoc Group are encouraged to contact criteria@gec.org by 11:59pm ET on April 16, 2025.    

Please contact Erica Terek (eterek@gec.org) with any questions.    

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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 

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.  

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.