Waste & Recycling News: EPEAT Registry Expands

The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), a rating that helps identify “greener” electronics, has been expanded to include printers, copiers and other imaging equipment, EPEAT has announced.

Initially intended for PCs and displays, the EPEAT rating system was created more than six years ago and is today used by eight national governments, including the U.S., a news release indicates.

A device must meet at least 33 environmental performance criteria to be registered, and can achieve a higher rating by meeting up to 26 additional criteria, the release indicates. Rating points include the use of recycled and recyclable materials, design for recycling, energy efficiency, packaging and corporate performance.

Seven imaging equipment manufacturers currently have EPEAT-registered products: Canon, Dell,Epson, HP, Lexmark, Ricoh and Xerox. Two more – Konica Minolta and Samsung – are in the process of registering, according to the release.

“World markets will now be able to easily and reliably identify and purchase greener printers, copiers and scanners based on EPEAT ratings,” Robert Frisbee, EPEAT CEO, said in a statement. “I applaud the leadership of everyone involved with achieving this important milestone.”    Original here.