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.

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.

At the request of stakeholders, GEC will provide a quarterly update on the schedule for criteria development for the 4 sustainability impact modules. The schedule in the attached update of the GEC Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impacts Overview, reflects the current public comment period for Climate Change Mitigation criteria (closes December 7) and the upcoming public comment period for the State of Sustainability Research for Chemicals of Concern (opens November 10). We’ve also now included in this overview document the proposed implementation schedule for the sustainability impact modules that was previously shared on public webinars.  

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 GEC releases its draft Climate Change Mitigation 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 Climate Change Mitigation 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 December 6, 2021 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 October 13, 11 am - 12:30 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 Climate Change Mitigation criteria, see the overview of Criteria Modules by Sustainability Impact. Please contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org with questions.

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.

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.

GEC is pleased to release its final State of Sustainability Research for Climate Change Mitigation, 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 identifies priority contributors to climate change across the life cycle of ICT products and strategies to reduce these impacts. It critically analyzes greenhouse gas emissions resulting from component and manufacturing processes, as well as the contributions of product use for diverse electronic devices. Given the drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, the research proposes strategies to reduce emissions, which translate into proposed performance criteria.

GEC is now convening Expert Ad Hoc Groups to review and draft criteria for climate change mitigation. Stakeholders interested in participating in criteria development are encouraged to contact Criteria@globalelectronicscouncil.org.

The State of Sustainability Research for Climate Change Mitigation is the first of four analyses supporting GEC’s initiative to develop modular criteria that will apply across all EPEAT product categories. In 2021 GEC will release additional State of Sustainability Research to support modular criteria for its three other priority impact areas: sustainable use of resources, reduction of chemicals of concern, and corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

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

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 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 comment on its State of Sustainability Research on Climate Change Mitigation for ICT products, including:

• Identification of additional lifecycle analyses and data on climate change impacts;
• Mitigation strategies and best practices leading to demonstrable impact reduction;
• Errors, omissions, and affirmative feedback (e.g., if priority sustainability impacts are adequately addressed)

This SOSR will serve as the scientific basis for development of EPEAT sustainability performance criteria.

Comments must be submitted by May 7, 2021 using the attached SOSR Public Comment Form and submitting it via e-mail to CRITERIA@globalelectronicscouncil.org by May 7, 2021 .

Read more about climate change criteria development.