Consumers in the UK will be able to check the ‘green’ rating of electrical products as part of a worldwide expansion of the Electronic Product Environment Assessment Tool (EPEAT) product standards.
Previously only available in the US, the EPEAT registry rates over 1,000 products on their electricity use and environmental impact.
The EPEAT system will allow purchasers in over 40 countries worldwide to compare and select products based on their environmental performance.
Jeff Omelchuck, Executive Director of EPEAT, said: “Since launching EPEAT in 2006, we have been overwhelmed by the positive response from large purchasers, manufacturers and consumers across every sector of the global marketplace.
“With the international registry launch, EPEAT now makes it easy for purchasers to choose green electronics that cut costs, green IT environments and help lead the transition to a prosperous, low-carbon economy.”
The ratings system gives electronic products a bronze, silver or gold rating depending on the number of green criteria the product fulfils.
Tashweka Anderson, Sustainable IT Business Manager at ComputaCenter (UK), said: “We recognised early on that EPEAT provided an effective, credible tool to identify computer hardware solutions for our clients that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, eliminate toxic substances, increase recycled content and reduce energy usage.
“This expansion of the registry will make the procurement process even easier and more effective.”
EPEAT ratings can be looked up online at the EPEAT website. The products have been rated by manufacturers, recyclers, researchers and government officials. Since the introduction of the registry, the US government requires federal agencies to buy EPEAT-registered products for at least 95 percent of their needs.
EPEAT estimates the registry helps to save 124,000 tonnes of hazardous waste and 42.2 billion kWh of electricity – enough to power 3.7 million homes - a year.
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