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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

• Starting Today: Public Comment on Draft Wearables Criteria

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

• Wearables Technical Committee

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

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

The 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.

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

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

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

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

Coming Soon: Public Comment on Draft Climate Change Mitigation Criteria

GEC’s draft Climate Change Mitigation criteria will be released for public comment in the first week of October. The public comment period, open for 60 days, is an opportunity for all interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft criteria.  A notice will appear in these EPEAT Announcements and in the GEC Newsletter when the public comment period opens.

Upcoming Webinar: Draft Criteria on Climate Change Mitigation

Join this webinar on October 13, 11:00 am -12:30 pm Eastern for an overview of the draft criteria for Climate Change Mitigation, including the rationale for the criteria and the requirements. The webinar also will review the process for submitting public comments on the criteria.  REGISTRATION LINK

Climate Change Mitigation Technical Committee

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

For more information on the Climate Change Mitigation criteria, see the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact. Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with questions.

Earlier this year, GEC launched a multi-year initiative to revise its EPEAT criteria to align with sustainability impacts of electronic products and their supply chains, including Climate Change Mitigation, Sustainable Use of Resources (or Circularity), Reduction of Chemicals of Concern, and Corporate ESG Performance. When complete, these “modular” criteria will be applied across all EPEAT product categories, including computers and displays, mobile phones, imaging equipment, servers, televisions and network equipment. This GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview includes a summary of the criteria development process, opportunities to engage, and an update on the anticipated project implementation schedule. Stakeholders are encouraged to send questions to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is developing criteria for its EPEAT ecolabel to calculate and identify low embodied carbon solar panels. This Call for Participation is to notify stakeholders of the opportunity to participate on the multi-stakeholder Technical Committee that will evaluate and reach consensus on these leadership criteria. GEC is partnering with Anthesis, an organization with extensive expertise in life cycle analysis, to convene and manage the Technical Committee. The State of Sustainability Report on Ultra Low Carbon Solar provides the scientific-basis and background documentation for criteria development.

The Technical Committee is the consensus body in the GEC criteria development process. The Technical Committee on ultra-low carbon solar criteria is expected to begin its work in October 2021 and continue for up to 4 months. Technical Committee meetings will occur monthly via teleconference. See the Call for Participation for more information on the role of the Technical Committee and how to apply for membership. Applications for Technical Committee membership are due by midnight ET on September 11, 2021. 

For questions about this initiative, please contact: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

GEC facilitated a Technical Conformity Assurance Committee (T-CAC) meeting on June 29, 2021. The purpose of the T-CAC is to provide input about specific technical issues about the criteria that EPEAT uses in its various product categories, including when and how updated criteria should be implemented in EPEAT. During this meeting, the following agenda items were discussed:

1.      Servers 2019 and Computers and Displays 2020 amendments

2.      Testing plastic parts vs plastic pellets

3.      Definition of electronic components

4.      Definition of product end-of-life and product no longer available for sale

GEC would like to thank all stakeholders who participated and provided feedback. Please contact Cara Beatty if you would like to receive a copy of the issue papers and slides reviewed during the meeting.

Technical Committee launching for Climate Change Mitigation criteria for EPEAT ecolabel – now is your opportunity to get involved!

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

The criteria will address best practices for mitigating climate change impacts, inclusive of criteria to address embodied carbon in the supply chain through manufacturing energy efficiency and renewable electricity sourcing, product energy efficiency, reduction of high global warming potential chemicals in manufacturing, carbon footprint analysis to identify product-specific hot spots, and manufacturer carbon reduction goals aligned with climate science.

See the Call for Participation for information on how to participate in the Technical Committee. Applications for Technical Committee membership are due by midnight ET on July 16, 2021. 

If you have questions about the Climate Change criteria or the criteria development process, please send an email to: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

Technical Committee launching for Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel – now is your opportunity to get involved!

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is developing criteria to address the life cycle environmental and social impacts of Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices. This Call for Participation is to notify stakeholders of the opportunity to participate on the multi-stakeholder Technical Committee that will evaluate and reach consensus on sustainability leadership criteria to reduce these impacts. GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee.

The Technical Committee will consider criteria for wearables covering data privacy and information security; chemicals of concern; chemicals alternatives assessment; skin sensitizers; design for reuse, repair, and recycling; recycled content; and end-of-life management. This product category will also leverage the Climate Change criteria currently in development.

See the Call for Participation  for information on the scope of criteria and how to participate in the Technical Committee. Applications for Technical Committee membership are due by midnight ET on July 16, 2021. 

If you have questions about the Health and Wellness Wearable Electronic Devices product category or the criteria development process, please send an email to: Criteria@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org.

GEC will be facilitating a Technical Conformity Assurance Committee (T-CAC) meeting on June 29, 2021 at 9am Eastern Time North America / 3pm Central European Time / 9pm China Standard Time.

The T-CAC is open to all stakeholders including Participating Manufacturers, GEC-approved CABs, and Purchasers. The T-CAC is not a standing committee and there are no standing members.

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

GEC anticipates that the following agenda items will be reviewed during the June 29, 2021 meeting:

1.      Servers 2019 and Computers and Displays 2020 amendments

2.      Testing plastic parts vs plastic pellets

3.      Definition of electronic components

4.      Definition of product end-of-life

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