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

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

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

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

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

Technical Committee launching for Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters (PVMI) Criteria for the EPEAT® ecolabel – now is your opportunity to get involved!

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) is revising its PVMI Criteria for the EPEAT ecolabel; NSF-457 and EPEAT-ULCS-2023 Criteria. 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, circularity, chemicals and responsible supply chain impacts. GEC is partnering with NSF International, an organization with extensive expertise in managing voluntary consensus processes, to convene and manage the Technical Committee.

Stakeholder Participation in the Technical Committee

The Technical Committee is the consensus body in the GEC criteria development process. The Technical Committee is responsible for ensuring that proposed criteria address priority sustainability impacts identified in the State of Sustainability Research and will move the industry and its supply chain to innovate and adopt best practices that achieve credible, verifiable reductions in sustainability impacts and increase transparency. This Technical Committee is expected to begin its work in Q4 2025 and continue for up to 12 months. Technical Committee meetings will occur monthly via teleconference. One hybrid (in-person with call-in ability) meeting may also be held. Members are expected to review documents in advance of meetings, provide comments on criteria and actively engage in discussion (either on calls or by electronic means), and participate in the ballot process to approve criteria and reconcile stakeholder differences.

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

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

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

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

If you are interested in applying to participate on the Technical Committee, please complete the Technical Committee Application Form, and return it by September 17, 2025 to Cassandra Leone, Sustainability Standards Lead, NSF International (cleone@nsf.org).

Technical Committee Observer Status

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

If you are interested in applying Technical Committee Observer status, please complete the Technical Committee Observer Application Form, and return it by September 17, 2025 to Cassandra Leone, Sustainability Standards Lead, NSF International (cleone@nsf.org).

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

GEC is pleased to release its final State of Sustainability Research on Photovoltaic Modules and Inverters, which reflects stakeholder comments and data-supported recommendations submitted during the public consultation process. This research serves as the scientific foundation for EPEAT criteria development.  

GEC is now convening Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review and draft updated criteria for photovoltaic modules and inverters. This will include prioritized updates to the NSF-457 standard and adoption of corrections for the Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria to facilitate consistent implementation and conformity assurance. Stakeholders interested in participating in criteria development are encouraged to contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org by June 25, 2025.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Global Electronics Council (GEC) today released the updated Imaging Equipment Consumables Criteria for its EPEAT ecolabel. These criteria will be applied to the EPEAT Imaging Equipment product category only and establish requirements for the design of imaging equipment to: minimize the use of consumables, allow for the use of recycled content paper and remanufactured cartridges and meet internationally recognized indoor air quality standards. The criteria also address consumables take-back programs to enable circularity.

GEC thanks members of the Technical Committee and other stakeholders for bringing their time and expertise to the revision process!

GEC is undertaking a multi-year initiative to update EPEAT Criteria to address priority sustainability impact areas – Climate, Circularity (Sustainable Use of Resources), Chemicals of Concern, and Responsible Supply Chains. The Climate Criteria were published in May 2023, and development for the other impact areas is nearing completion.

The updated criteria from all impact areas, including the Imaging Equipment Consumables Criteria, will be activated on November 1, 2025, when products meeting the updated criteria will begin to appear on the Registry. The accompanying Conformity Requirements and Guidance Documents will be available for these criteria on November 22, 2024. Imaging equipment manufacturers and CABs will be able to access these under the Resources section using their EPEAT Registry accounts. However, manufacturers can begin working towards the Consumables Criteria immediately.

Please contact epeat@gec.org with any questions or to learn more about the Imaging Equipment Consumables Criteria and how they fit among the full set of updated EPEAT Criteria by priority sustainability impact area.

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.

GEC has updated the development schedule for EPEAT criteria by sustainability impact modules. This update of the GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview also includes information on the second public consultation and schedules for the development of product-specific criteria for imaging equipment consumables and additional product energy efficiency criteria.  

If you have any questions about EPEAT criteria development, the sustainability impact modules, or how to engage in the process, please contact CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

GEC 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.

GEC invites stakeholders to participate in a Zero Waste Manufacturing Expert Ad Hoc group. This work will support the EPEAT sustainability impact module for Sustainable Use of Resources, focusing specifically on criteria to incentivize conservation of resources or “zero waste” in upstream supply chain manufacturing operations. Expert Ad Hoc Groups provide technical feedback on draft criteria and definitions. The work of this Expert Ad Hoc Group will start in early 2022 and is expected to continue for 1 month. The Expert Ad Hoc will meet by teleconference and provide offline review and comment on drafts.

This work adds to the Sustainable Use of Resources Expert Ad Hoc Groups previously communicated, specifically Materials Selection, Critical Minerals, Product Longevity (including design, circularity innovation, secure data deletion), Packaging Design, End-of-Life and Water Resources.

Stakeholders with expertise in zero waste manufacturing are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, non-governmental organizations, academics, and component and material suppliers.

Please notify GEC of your interest in joining this Expert Ad Hoc Group by sending an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by January 3, 2022. Please also provide a provide a brief summary of your background and experience with the topic.

 Please contact the project lead, Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org), with any questions.

GEC invites stakeholders to participate in the technical review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT sustainability impact module for Chemicals of Concern.

Below is a list of Expert Ad Hoc Groups that GEC is currently forming and the criteria topics they will address.

1.    Management of substances used in product – assessing and controlling chemicals of concern.

2.    Substance inventory & transparency – reporting of chemicals within products is to inform responsible supply chain management.

3.    Alternatives assessment for chemicals of concern & public disclosure –identifying, assessing, and making informed risk-based toxicological determination of the acceptability of use of materials and chemicals to replace high hazard chemicals with safer alternatives.

4.    Safer manufacturing chemicals -replacing high hazard cleaners and degreasers with safer alternatives.

Expert Ad Hoc Groups will review and provide technical feedback on draft criteria and definitions. The work of the Ad Hoc Groups will start in January 2022 and are expected to continue for 8-12 weeks. The Groups will meet by teleconference and provide offline review and comment on drafts.

Stakeholders with expertise in the Ad Hoc topics are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, non-governmental organizations, academics, and component and material suppliers.

If you have expertise in any of these topics, please send an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by December 17, 2021. Please identify the Ad Hoc Group(s) that you are interested in from the above list and provide a brief summary of your background and experience with the topic.

Please contact the project lead, Rachel Simon (rsimon@globalelectronicscouncil.org) with any questions.

GEC invites stakeholders to participate in the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT sustainability impact module for Sustainable Use of Resources.

Below is a list of Expert Ad Hoc Groups that GEC is currently forming and the criteria topics they will address.

1.     Materials selection – Selecting lower impact materials (metals/plastics) and use of recycled content.

2.     Critical minerals – Focus on recovery and recycling of critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs).

3.     Product longevity

a)    Design for durability, repairability and recycling and provision of product service and spare parts. Some specific topics include longer life batteries, product durability testing, utilization of repairability indices, component part failure rates and availability of spare parts, part markings and information for recyclers to facilitate safe handling.   

b)    Business practices to incentivize circularity – how to incentivize and recognize transformative business practices to enable a more circular economy.

c)     Secure data deletion – Best practices to ensure data is securely removed from end-of-life equipment, such that it can be reused or repurposed.

4.    Packaging design – Promoting material efficiency and use of recycled and responsibly sourced renewable content.

5.    End-of-life – Addressing take-back (collection and recovery mechanisms), environmentally responsible processing, capacity building for developing markets, and reporting on recovery and recycling achievements.  

6.    Water resources – Assessing and reporting water use in the electronic product value chain.  

Expert Ad Hoc Groups will provide technical feedback on draft criteria and definitions. The work of the Expert Ad Hoc Groups will start in November 2021 and is expected to continue for 2-4 months depending on the topic. The Expert Ad Hocs will meet by teleconference and provide offline review and comment on drafts.

Stakeholders with expertise in the above topics are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, non-governmental organizations, academics, and component and material suppliers.

If you’d like to participate in any of the above Expert Ad Hoc Groups, please send an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by October 13, 2021. Please identify the Expert Ad Hoc Group(s) that you are interested in from the above list and provide a brief summary of your background and experience with the topic.

Please contact the project lead, Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org), with any questions.

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.

On setting carbon reduction goals in alignment with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

GEC thanks stakeholders for providing comments on our State of Sustainability Research (SOSR) report for Climate Change Mitigation. As a result of comments received, GEC would like to convene experts to develop criteria on setting SBTi-based carbon reduction goals for manufacturers and their supply chains. SBTi criteria development will either be added to an existing Expert Ad Hoc Group or an additional group formed.

Stakeholders interested in providing expert input on setting SBTi aligned goals are asked to notify GEC by sending an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by June 2, 2021.

Stakeholders who previously expressed interest in participating in Expert Ad Hoc Groups for Climate Change Mitigation will receive meeting scheduling information soon.

Please contact Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org) with any questions.

GEC is excited to announce the availability of the final State of Sustainability Research for Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices (HWWED) – covering fitness trackers, smartwatches, and wearable medical devices. This research includes a dedicated chapter on data privacy concerns, prepared by the Future Privacy Forum, and strategies to protect sensitive personal data.

This final State of Sustainability Research incorporates comments submitted by stakeholders during the public consultation process. GEC thanks the stakeholders whose substantive feedback helps ensure that this document represents the best currently available data on sustainability impacts and reduction strategies for wearable technology.

Leveraging the science and information in the State of Sustainability Research, GEC is forming Expert Ad Hoc Groups as the next step in criteria development for the HWWED EPEAT category. Stakeholders with relevant expertise are invited to express interest in participating in these groups, which are focused on clusters of closely related criteria. Ad Hocs will start work in June, and are expected to continue for 8-10 weeks. We are currently forming the following Expert Ad Hoc Groups:

• Scoping and Definition of HWWED Product Category
• Data Privacy and Information Security for wearable devices
• Chemicals of Concern: Substances in Product, Alternatives Assessment, and Skin Sensitizers
• Design for Reuse, Repair, and Recycling; and Recycled Content
• End-of-Life Management
• Corporate ESG Performance

If you have expertise in any of these topics and would like to participate, please contact the project lead, Ben Levin (BLevin@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org) by May 19, 2021. Please identify the Ad Hoc Group(s) that you are interested in from the above list and provide a brief summary of your background and experience on the topic.

Read more about the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT category for Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices.

The deadline for expressing interest in participating in Expert Ad Hoc Groups for the Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices (HWWED) EPEAT category has been extended to May 19, 2021. Ad Hocs will start work in June, and are expected to continue for 8-10 weeks.

As a reminder, we are currently inviting stakeholders to participate in the following Ad Hoc Groups:

• Scoping and Definition of HWWEDs
• Data Privacy and Information Security
• Chemicals of Concern: Substances in Product, Alternatives Assessment, and Skin Sensitizers
• Design for Reuse, Repair, and Recycling; and Recycled Content
• End-of-Life Management
• Corporate ESG Performance

In particular, we continue to look for experts in Data Privacy and Information Security to support the Wearables criteria development.

If you are interested, please contact Ben Levin (BLevin@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org), indicate the Ad Hoc Group(s), and provide a brief background of your expertise.

Read more about the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT category for Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices.

GEC invites stakeholders to participate in the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT sustainability impact module for Climate Change Mitigation.

Below is a list of Ad Hoc Groups that GEC is currently forming:

• Conducting life cycle GHG emission assessments;
• Implementing energy efficiency measures in product and component manufacturing to reduce embodied carbon;
• Sourcing electricity from renewable energy sources for manufacture of product and components to reduce embodied carbon;
• Reducing use of high global warming potential chemicals in component manufacturing; and
• Product energy efficiency.

Ad Hoc Groups will review, provide feedback, and make recommendations on draft criteria and definitions. The work of the Ad Hoc Groups will start in June 2021 and are expected to continue for 8-10 weeks. The Groups will meet by teleconference and provide offline review and comment on drafts. Stakeholders with expertise in the Ad Hoc topics are encouraged to participate, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, government policy, purchasers, non-governmental organizations, academics, and component and material suppliers.

If you have expertise in any of these topics and haven’t already notified us of your interest in participating, please send an email to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by May 19, 2021. Please identify the Ad Hoc Group(s) that you are interested in from the above list and provide a brief summary of your background and experience with the topic.

Please contact the project lead, Erica Logan (elogan@globalelectronicscouncil.org) with any questions.

GEC Invites stakeholders to participate in the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT category for Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices (HWWED), including fitness trackers, smartwatches, and wearable medical devices. Below is a list of Ad Hoc Groups that GEC is currently forming:

• Scoping and Definition of HWWED Product Category
• Data Privacy and Information Security
• Chemicals of Concern: Substances in Product, Alternatives Assessment, and Skin Sensitizers
• Design for Reuse, Repair, and Recycling; and Recycled Content
• End-of-Life Management
• Corporate ESG Performance

If you have expertise in any of these topics and would like to participate, please contact the project lead, Ben Levin (mailto:BLevin@GlobalElectronicsCouncil.org) by April 15, 2021.

Read more about the review and drafting of criteria for the upcoming EPEAT category for Health and Wellbeing Wearable Electronic Devices.