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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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!

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 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. 

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.

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.

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.