IEEE 1680.1 – Environmental Assessment of Computers, Tablets and Monitors

The revised standard for the environment assessment of computer, tablets and monitors (IEEE 1680.1-2018) was officially published on March 19, 2018.  The standard is used by the EPEAT(tm) ecolabel program[1] to recognize products that meet specific environmental and social responsibility requirements. Product manufacturers are now assessing their products and corporate programs and adjusting where necessary to meet the requirements specified in the revised standard. The Green Electronics Council (who operates the EPEAT program) has said that the new requirements will need to be met by November 2018 for products to remain registered in the EPEAT system.

The EPEAT ecolabel is used by many governments (including US and Canadian federal governments) and other organizations for IT purchasing. It influences significant annual computer, monitor, and tablet purchasing.

The requirements in the standard are organized into “criteria” which may impose requirements on the product (product criteria) or on the manufacturer (corporate criteria) and the criteria may be either “required” or “optional”.  All required criteria must be met; optional criteria count towards qualifying for a silver or gold rating.  The criteria are grouped into the following categories:

  • Substance management
  • Materials selection
  • Design for end of life
  • Product longevity/life-cycle extension
  • Energy conservation
  • End-of-life management
  • Packaging
  • Life cycle assessment and carbon footprint
  • Corporate environmental performance
  • Corporate social responsibility

Some of the major changes in the revised standard include the addition of corporate social responsibility requirements and requirements associated with the suppliers to the finished product manufacturers.

A complete list of all criteria in the revised IEEE 1680.1-2018 standard is provided in Annex 2.

The standard may be purchased on the IEEE standards store[2].

ECD Compliance can assist manufacturers with implementation of the requirements in the standard or with a audit.

[1] EPEAT, https://www.epeat.net/

[2] IEEE webstore, https://www.techstreet.com/ieee/standards/ieee-1680-1-2018?product_id=1999671