The EPEAT® ecolabel has been a vital market signal in the technology market for nearly 20 years, aligning purchasers, electronics brands, and other stakeholders on a shared definition of what it means for an electronic product to be “sustainable”. This definition has evolved after a multi-year, multi-stakeholder effort to revise the EPEAT Criteria, creating a new benchmark to meet growing market expectations and advancements in the ICT industry. With over 40% of the updated EPEAT criteria extending into the supply chain, suppliers play a key role in helping manufacturers attain EPEAT Bronze, and act as strategic partners in achieving Silver and Gold.
To meet the ambitious target of a truly sustainable industry, we must work together to ensure that the electronics supply chain is fully equipped and enabled to deliver. The Global Electronics Council® (GEC) seeks to assist the supply chain partners of electronics brands by offering them the Supplier Engagement Program (SEP) for EPEAT, a support program and platform designed for suppliers of EPEAT Participating Manufacturers across the electronics value chain. The program offers suppliers an opportunity to:
- Learn and develop sustainability and EPEAT capabilities for product design and manufacturing
- Access tools and guidance for EPEAT implementation, including prioritized materials offered in Mandarin for optimal accessibility
- Direct access to the GEC team for support
- Connect and collaborate pre-competitively with other suppliers on shared challenges
- Engage in the exploration of a channel for pre-qualified data transfer with customers to ease the reporting burden and respective follow-up
What does the program include?
As each supplier company in the value chain is unique, with their own needs and challenges, the six pillars of the program are designed to appeal to a variety of supplier company profiles to meet each of them where they are.
Who can sign up?
This e-learning platform is primarily designed for suppliers of EPEAT Participating Manufacturers. For suppliers that sign up, an account in the name of the company will be registered on the program portal.
SEP is primarily designed for suppliers of EPEAT Participating Manufacturers. Once registered, the company receives the log-in details of their SEP online platform account.
Suppliers wishing to provide their customers access to the implementation tools on the SEP platform, can enter their customer of choice as a Referral Customer during the registration process. GEC ensures EPEAT Participating Manufacturers with suppliers in the SEP program receive access so that both parties can always access the latest versions of program resources.
Benefits of Supplier Engagement Program
- Clarity and context:
SEP helps you understand the “why” behind customer sustainability requests—so you can respond with confidence instead of confusion.
- Practical, accessible support:
With simple tools, clear guidance, and translated resources, SEP meets you where you are and makes compliance easier.
- Save time and build trust:
SEP reduces back-and-forth with customers, helping you deliver accurate information the first time.
- Stay ahead of shifting requirements:
SEP equips you with tools to manage EPEAT demands across multiple customers—reducing complexity and duplication.
- Strengthen customer trust
Demonstrating proactive EPEAT readiness positions you as a partner of choice for manufacturers under growing scrutiny.
- Be part of the conversation
Your voice matters. SEP provides a space to share challenges and help shape solutions that benefit the entire supply chain.
What's included with the subscription?
- Yearlong unlimited access to the SEP online platform for an administrator and five user accounts. We invite you to contact us as sep@gec.org if your company is interested in more user accounts.
- Access to courses, online and in person events, guidance materials and templates of which a growing number will be offered in both English and Mandarin.
- A supplier helpdesk for direct questions related to EPEAT to the technical team at GEC.
- Continuous access to updates of new EPEAT content, including conformity materials, recently answered questions, training sessions, webinars, and more!
How much does it cost?
A small annual fee of US$ 2,500 per supplier helps sustain this program, its independent platform and the continued investment in supplier-focused resources. Payments can be made with credit card upon enrollment on the platform site. Contact us at supplier@gec.org for other payment options.
