Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool EPEAT Implementation Team October 26, 2005 © Zero Waste Alliance, 2005

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, What is ? An environmental procurement tool designed to help institutional purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate, compare and select desktop computers, laptops and monitors based on their environmental attributes.

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, What is ? 1.Set of voluntary environmental performance criteria 2.System for identifying and verifying products which meet this criteria

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Voluntary participation Market recognition for qualified products Life cycle environmental attributes Easy to use tool for purchasers Builds on U.S. & international requirements and standards –E.g., Energy Star ®, RoHS, IT Eco-Declaration Self declaration with spot verification Without delay in time to market Credible, verifiable outcomes Scaleable to other products Basic Features

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Why ? Promote product design changes that reduce environmental and health impact of electronics throughout the life cycle Growing demand by institutional purchasers for easy to use tool to compare and select “green” products Manufacturers’ need for clear and consistent procurement criteria to drive design change

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Development Consensus of multi-stakeholder Development Team over 18 month period -- June 2003 to November 2004 Implementation team currently working on operational details Launch expected early 2006 Funded by U.S. EPA through a cooperative agreement with Zero Waste Alliance

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Development Team Participants Institutional Purchasers Manufacturers Trade Associations Non-Profit &Advocacy Organizations Government Recyclers Academia

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Principles Used in Selecting Criteria Promote Toxics Reduction/Phase Out Promote Materials Efficiency Promote Energy Efficiency Promote Extended Product Life and Sustainable End-of Life Management Promote Environmentally Sound Manufacturing

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Structure Three tiers of environmental performance – Bronze, Silver and Gold Bronze: 22 required criteria in 8 performance categories Silver: All required criteria plus at least 16 optional Gold: All required criteria plus at least 25 optional criteria

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, EPEAT Environmental Performance Categories Environmentally Sensitive Materials Materials Selection Design for End of Life Product Longevity/Life Cycle Extension Energy Conservation End of Life Management Corporate Performance Packaging

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Qualified Bronze Level -- Required Criteria (p. 1) 1. Reduction/Elimination of Environmentally Sensitive Materials Compliance with European RoHS directive Report on amount of mercury in light sources Elimination of intentional use of SCCP flame retardants & plasticizers 2. Materials Selection Declare post-consumer recycled content Declare renewable/bio-based content Declare product weight 3.Design for End of Life Identify materials requiring special handling No incompatible paints & coatings Easy disassembly of housings Marking of plastics Identify & remove batteries & circuit boards 4. Product Longevity/Life Cycle Extension Additional warranty or service agreement available Upgradeable with common tools

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Qualified Bronze Level -- Required Criteria (p. 2) 5.Energy Conservation Energy Star 3.0 Documented power management features 6.End of Life Management Provision of product take back service 7.Corporate Performance Corporate environmental policy consistent with ISO Self-certified environmental management system for manufacturing facilities Corporate report consistent with Performance Track 8.Packaging Reduction/elimination of toxics Separable packing materials Declare recycled content

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Performance CategoryRequiredOptional 1. Reduce/Eliminate Environmentally Sensitive Materials X7 2. Material SelectionX3 3. Design for End-of-lifeX6 4. Product Longevity/Lifecycle ExtensionX2 5.Energy ConservationX7 6.End-of-life ManagementX1 7.Corporate PerformanceX2 8.PackagingX4 Total32 Bronze Silver & Gold

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Sample Criteria Required – Compliance with European RoHS directive

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Step by Step – How It Will Work Manufacturer –Signs MOU with EPEAT –Completes annual report on corporate performance and end-of-life management criteria –Evaluates and self-declares products against criteria –Submits data on web-based system, which calculates award level EPEAT Organization –Random after-market spot checks –Request for documentation to verify claims –Periodic review and update criteria

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Trust but Verify Manufacturers self-declare conformance with criteria –Commitment signed by executive management Claims supported by evidence –Verification requirements for each criterion –Data provided within 30 days of request EPEAT host org conducts spot checks –Review of supporting evidence –Request independent verification, if needed

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Trust but Verify Users can request verification Technical committee of independent experts –Review spot checks and other challenges Correction then consequence –Ultimately may disqualify manufacturer from participating in EPEAT

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Implementation Status  Finalizing EPEAT Criteria into an IEEE American National Standard (Spring 2006)  Identifying and selecting Host Organization –RFP issued Spring 2005 –Host Organization announcement pending  Web-based application for product listings has been developed  Promoting EPEAT in the manufacturing and purchasing communities  Launch expected early 2006

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Who is Using ? Dept. of Defense, Army5.0B Dept. of Homeland Security6.0B Dept. of Energy0.4B Veterans Administration4.2B Dept. of Interior0.2B Environmental Protection Agency?.?B State of California?.?B State of Massachusetts ?.?B Total$15.8B+

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Who’s Interested in Using ? Federal Electronics Challenge partners, including 11 Federal Agencies and the Executive Office of the President representing over 80% of Federal IT budget for FY2006 State and Local Government Purchasers Private Sector Purchasers

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Interim Use of Recommended that purchasers wait until launch Interim guidance for purchasers who need to use before launch: -Apply only to desktops, monitors and laptops -Use required criteria only (i.e., bronze level) -Realize that products might not be available yet -Include option of specifying EPEAT qualified products when products become available -Do not add criteria or adjust criteria values -More details at

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Draft Contract Language "During the term of the contract, [Agency/Department] reserves the right to purchase exclusively or otherwise provide preference for specific models of desktop computers, notebooks and monitors qualified through the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) or its successor.”

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Benefits of For Institutional Purchasers -Easy way to specify, evaluate and purchase computer products that meet challenging yet realistic environmental criteria -An efficient and credible means of verifying that equipment meets criteria -Flexibility of selecting products that meet minimum performance criteria or giving preference to products that qualify for higher performance levels -Same set of criteria used by purchasers nationwide to ensure competitive pricing and product availability

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, Benefits of For Manufacturers -One clear set of performance criteria -Market advantage for environmentally preferable products -Flexibility on how to meet higher levels of EPEAT qualification -Low cost, user-friendly system that will not delay getting products to market For Environmental Stakeholders -Credible assessment of electronic products based on agreed upon criteria -System that promotes continuous improvement of electronic products throughout life cycle ……..and benefits for the environment and public health!

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool © Zero Waste Alliance, For more information on Website – EPA Contacts –Viccy Salazar, OSW and R10, –Holly Elwood, OPPT, –John Katz, R9, Grantee Contact –Larry Chalfan, Zero Waste Alliance,