About EPEAT

Overview of the EPEAT Ecolabel

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) manages the EPEAT ecolabel. GEC has met the requirements of ISO 14024, which is necessary for managing a Type 1 ecolabel. GEC sets the policies for the EPEAT ecolabel, which are available in the EPEAT Policy Manual

The EPEAT ecolabel is the leading global Type 1 ecolabel covering products and services from the technology sector. It identifies more products from a broader range of manufacturers than any other comparable ecolabel. Products currently meeting EPEAT criteria, known as “active” EPEAT-registered products, are listed on this Registry. View the criteria for each EPEAT product category here. Purchasers can search for products based on product category, manufacturer, where the product is expected to be used or by EPEAT rating (Bronze/Silver/Gold).

Manufacturers and/or brands interested in getting their products registered under EPEAT must choose a Conformity Assurance Body (CAB). CABs are the third party organizations that work with manufacturers to verify that their product meet the EPEAT criteria as claimed. The Conformity Assurance Bodies providing third party verification services are experienced testing and certification organizations that must meet ISO/IEC 17020 Conformity assessment – Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection or ISO/IEC 17065 Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services. GEC staff manage the CABs, making sure they maintain their required certifications, are trained on ecolabel criteria, and meet both technical and service performance requirements set by GEC. Further details on EPEAT's verification process are available in a short educational video.

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

Continuous Monitoring occurs as part of annual Documentation Review activities conducted by GEC-approved CABs for the Certification Pathway (called Annual Renewal) and in the form of Investigations planned by the EPEAT ecolabel and implemented by GEC-approved Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) within discrete timeframes (called Continuous Monitoring Rounds). Some Investigations involve CABs evaluating documentation submitted by Participating Manufacturers, and others involve CABs facilitating laboratory evaluation of products, where products are acquired without the Participating Manufacturer’s involvement, where possible.

GEC is committed to transparency; therefore, the annual Schedule of Continuous Monitoring Rounds and their results are made publicly available. GEC believes that this public disclosure of outcomes (Outcomes Report) is an incentive for Participating Manufacturers to ensure ongoing conformance with EPEAT criteria. The annual schedule is also made available to both Participating Manufacturers and CABs to facilitate their resource planning for the year.

EPEAT Continuous Monitoring

EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Schedules
EPEAT Continuous Monitoring Plans and Outcomes Reports

A list of products found non-conformant with EPEAT criteria are publicly viewable. This transparency is necessary to ensure the credibility of the EPEAT ecolabel. Below are the Continuous Monitoring Round Plans and Outcomes Reports for current and previous monitoring activities for the last four years. For Plans and Outcomes Reports prior to this, please contact us.

Computers and Displays

Imaging Equipment

Mobile Phones

Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters

Servers

Televisions

Accessing EPEAT Criteria

EPEAT criteria are life-cycle based and developed through a balanced voluntary consensus process using an innovative process developed by GEC called the Dynamic Criteria Development Process (DCDP). The DCDP contains the five elements of a voluntary consensus process: openness, balance, due process, appeals process and consensus. A summary of the criteria development  process is available in GEC Criteria Development Process

Details regarding the process GEC follows to select product categories are also publicly available in GEC Selection of Product Categories. 

EPEAT Climate Criteria

  • EPEAT Climate Criteria  These are updated EPEAT Criteria that will be applied to the Computers and Displays, Imaging Equipment, Mobile Phones, Servers and Televisions categories. 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.

Computers and Displays

Imaging Equipment

Mobile Phones

Network Equipment

Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters

Servers

Televisions

 

How do products get covered under the EPEAT ecolabel?

Manufacturers/brands who are interested in registering their products with EPEAT must have an officer of the company sign the  EPEAT License and Participating Manufacturer Agreement. Manufacturers must also complete the  EPEAT Participating Manufacturer Information Form and pay the EPEAT Participating Manufacturer fees for the device categories in which they wish to register products. The manufacturer then engages one of the certification and testing organizations that make up EPEAT’s global network of  Conformity Assurance Bodies (CABs) and pays the appropriate fee for that service. After becoming a Participating Manufacturer, the brand owner will receive credentials to access the Registry and may begin making product declarations.

EPEAT Program Forms

EPEAT License and Participating Manufacturer Agreement

EPEAT Participating Manufacturer Information Form

EPEAT Policy Manual