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HONG KONG, June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- TUV Rheinland, a leading global provider of testing, inspection and certification services, today announced that it will provide a full suite of services for the EPEAT rating system. EPEAT, which stands for Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, is the definitive global registry for greener electronics.
Through an agreement with the Green Electronics Council, TUV Rheinland can now offer product registration entity (PRE) services to manufacturers that wish to register their products in EPEAT. As a PRE provider, TUV Rheinland will work with manufacturers to identify whether their electronic products are eligible for a Bronze, Silver or Gold EPEAT rating based on their attainment of environmental performance criteria.
"TUV Rheinland is one of the world's best recognised testing and certification bodies, and we are pleased to welcome them as an EPEAT PRE", said Robert Frisbee, Green Electronics Council CEO. "Their commitment to sustainability and expertise in electronics makes them a prime partner as we continue to expand the PRE network to serve a global audience."
EPEAT is an easy-to-use resource with which purchasers, manufacturers, resellers and others can evaluate, compare and select electronic products based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT registration is currently available in 43 countries. The system is free of charge to purchasers of electronics.
"TUV Rheinland is excited to be joining the EPEAT PRE family to promote the development and usage of green electronic products in the marketplace," said Uwe Halstenbach, Vice President of the TUV Rheinland Greater China Electrical Division. "By taking advantage of TUV Rheinland's comprehensive PRE services, our clients will be able to translate EPEAT registration into new demand and new revenue."
TUV Rheinland to provide a full range of EPEAT registry services
TÜV Rheinland will soon help brand owners to demonstrate their commitment to environmentally preferable electronics to the hundreds of businesses, schools, hotels, hospitals and governments worldwide that look to EPEAT to help them make informed purchasing decisions.
EPEAT rates products according to a wide range of factors, from raw material selection and energy efficiency to packaging and end-of-life disposal. TUV Rheinland has thus designed a comprehensive and effective solution package for manufacturers and brand owners to list their products in the EPEAT system within a shorter timeframe.
The PRE services that TUV Rheinland will provide include a desk review of declarations made by EPEAT-using manufacturers, product verification investigations, and completeness and accuracy checking of product information declared by manufacturers.
TUV Rheinland's comprehensive portfolio of services to substantiate EPEAT conformance include hazardous substance testing, bio-based/biodegradable material testing and certification, product energy efficiency testing and certification, recycled plastics verification, product lifecycle assessment, ISO 14001/Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification, GRI sustainability reporting and the management of conflicting mineral use in products.
Thanks to its extensive testing and certification experience in the global electrical and electronics industry, TUV Rheinland will help product manufacturers and brand owners to gain recognition and an advantage as environmental leaders.
EPEAT criteria represent comprehensive environmental leadership
EPEAT evaluates the environmental attributes of a product in 10 lifecycle areas. The criteria address such aspects as the reduction of environmentally sensitive materials, material selection, product longevity/lifecycle extension, energy conservation, end-of-life design and management, corporate performance, packaging, consumables and indoor air quality. Depending on the product category (e.g., PCs and displays, televisions and imaging equipment), the EPEAT system includes 23-32 required criteria and 26-35 optional criteria.
EPEAT rates products on three tiers – Bronze, Silver and Gold – based on the number of environmental criteria each product meets. Products meeting all of the required criteria are rated EPEAT Bronze, those meeting all of the required criteria plus at least 50% of the optional criteria are rated EPEAT Silver and those meeting all required criteria and at least 75% of the optional criteria are rated EPEAT Gold.
Over their lifetimes, EPEAT-registered electronics purchased globally since 2006 will deliver significant environmental benefits compared to products that do not meet the EPEAT criteria. To date, purchasers choosing EPEAT-registered electronics over products that fail to meet the system's criteria have eliminated enough mercury to fill 4.6 million fever thermometers, avoided more than 528,000 metric tonnes of hazardous waste and decreased solid waste by the equivalent of 248,000 US households' annual waste.
About EPEAT
EPEAT is the definitive global environmental rating system for electronics. The EPEAT Registry includes the most products from the broadest range of manufacturers and spans the widest array of countries. EPEAT combines strict, comprehensive criteria for design, production, energy use and recycling with on-going independent verification of manufacturer claims. More than 757 million EPEAT-registered products have been sold worldwide since 2006, resulting in significant environmental benefits. EPEAT was developed through a stakeholder consensus process and is managed by the Green Electronics Council, a non-profit organisation based in Portland, Oregon. Learn more at epeat.net.
About TUV Rheinland
Founded over 140 years ago, TUV Rheinland is a global leader in independent inspection services. The group employs 19,300 people in 69 countries worldwide and has an annual revenue of more than Euro 1.7 billion. Its independent experts stand for quality and safety for people, technology and the environment in nearly all aspects of life. TUV Rheinland inspects technical equipment, products and services and oversees projects and processes for companies. Its experts train people in a wide range of careers and industries. To this end, TUV Rheinland employs a global network of approved labs and testing and education centres. Since 2006, TUV Rheinland has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. See www.tuv.com for more details.
Media Inquires
For TUV Rheinland:
Simon Hung, Public Relations Manager
Simon.Hung@tuv.com
+852-2192-1948
For EPEAT/Green Electronics Council:
Jonas Allen, Director of Marketing
JAllen@GreenElectronicsCouncil.org
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