EPEAT Registry: Navigating Sustainable Electronics Standards

What Is EPEAT Registry?

EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) is a Type 1 sustainability ecolabel developed by the Global Electronics Council (GEC). Officially launched in 2006 and supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPEAT is designed to assess the environmental impacts of electronic products throughout their life cycle.

This tool helps businesses and consumers identify and choose more environmentally friendly electronic products and is widely recognized around the world.

Scope of EPEAT Registry

EPEAT registry covers a wide range of electronic technologies and services, including computers and displays, imaging equipment, mobile phones, photovoltaic modules and inverters, televisions, and more.

GEC has also launched a specialized program called EPEAT Climate+, which focuses on products with limited impact on climate change. As of now, the “Computers and Displays” category alone includes over 33,195 registered products from 40 leading electronics brands.

Requirements for EPEAT Registry

To obtain EPEAT registry, products must meet requirements across four key sustainability pillars:

1. Climate: Manufacturers must publicly disclose product lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or product carbon footprints (PCF), and establish science-based GHG emission reduction targets.
2. Circularity: Emphasis is placed on repairability, disassembly, recyclability, and the use of renewable materials to extend product lifespan.
3. Chemicals of Concern: The use of hazardous substances must be reduced or eliminated, promoting the adoption of safer alternatives.
4. Responsible Supply Chains: Environmental and social responsibility in the supply chain must be ensured, covering energy use, carbon emissions, labor conditions, and more.

EPEAT Registry Tiers

EPEAT registry is awarded at three tiers based on the extent to which a product meets the required and optional criteria:

• EPEAT Bronze: Meets all required criteria
• EPEAT Silver: Meets all required criteria + at least 50% of optional criteria
• EPEAT Gold: Meets all required criteria + at least 75% of optional criteria

EPEAT Registry Fees and Timeline

Fees

The EPEAT fee structure is relatively complex and primarily consists of an annual fee, which is determined based on the manufacturer’s revenue within each product category. This fee applies to all products sold in the category, regardless of whether they are EPEAT-registered or meet the environmental criteria.

Additional costs may include testing fees and conformance verification costs, depending on the product type and manufacturer scale.

Timeline

The timeline for EPEAT registry varies depending on product complexity and the manufacturer’s readiness. Since conformance declarations must be verified by approved conformity assurance bodies, preparing documentation and completing necessary testing may take significant time.